2ww bowel issues

Stevey 26 days ago

14 replies
106 subscribers
605 views

I have always suffered from IBS and piles which had caused bleeding.

I had a burst appendix 2 years ago and stomach was badly infected. It was removed and spent 2 weeks in hospital on anti biotics and a bag to drain fluid from my stomach.

6 months later I had an mri scan on lungs and stomach totally unrelated. Nothing concerning was highlighted.

Over the past year I have been getting dull pains where my appendix use to be. My bowel habit goes from constipated to diarrhea and feel bloated. It feels different from my ibs symptoms.

Saw GP last week and they need 2 stool samples and full bloods.

Gp scales state I have lost 4kg in weight in a year. However, my home scales state 2.5kg. I'm 6ft 3 and 56 years old.

I'm rather concerned of the notes on my nhs app

if NAD on lower GI pathway, this may be ? post appendix adhesions and IBS, but this remains a diagnosis of exclusion given the weight loss and CIBH ; given the rectal exam changes I will do 2ww pathway referral today (accepting bloods need to be attached) but pls could the lower GI team image higher up the tract also as pain is RIF

And

Coded entry - Fast track referral for suspected lower GI cancer (Xaalp) - (Added from Questionnaire)
Problem - [D]Change in bowel habit (R078.)

Is this serious? Thanks

Kareno62 26 days ago

Hi Stevey Obviously you need to get to the bottom of your issues and a colonoscopy is a good way of checking out issues with the bowel. Changes in bowel habits can be caused by ibs, colitis, diverticulitis, crohns as well as bowel cancer.

Only 1 in 10 colonoscopies results in a bowel cancer diagnosis. GPs have a 5 point checklist and if you meet 2 of the criteria - in your case a change in bowel habit and weight loss - then you are fast tracked under the 2 week wait for a colonoscopy.

From your notes it sounds as though it could be related to your ibs and adhesions but they want to rule out any other options?

Hopefully you’ll get an appointment through soon and please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Stevey 25 days ago in reply to Kareno62

Okay nurse took 3 lots of bloods and results have come back but can't get in to see a doctor. All results say abnormal but expected? Also looked at rectal exam results and it says 12oclock mass in anal canal. Sounds scary. Any idea what all of this means? Thank

Kareno62 25 days ago in reply to Stevey

Hi Stevey Not sure what they mean by 12oclock mass unless they mean it’s something straight up from your anal opening? There’s obviously something there of concern and it’s low down so hopefully you’ll get your colonoscopy appointment through soon then they can biopsy it to see if it’s cancerous or not?

The support desk on the number below is open 8-8 if you want to chat to someone in person about things?

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Stevey 25 days ago in reply to Kareno62

Thank you.

Alonso55 25 days ago in reply to Stevey

Hi Steve I saw your post and just wanted to say they use 12 o clock and 6 o clock to say 12 is anterior. I might be wrong but I think that’s what it means. Good luck to you. Jan

Stevey 24 days ago in reply to Alonso55

Thanks still don't know what anterior means.

Alonso55 24 days ago in reply to Stevey

It refers to colon resection. Meaning cutting out the bad bit and sewing it back together. Lots on here have had it.

Susan13 24 days ago in reply to Stevey

Anterior means front side of the body. Posterior would mean back side of the body.

I think Alonso55 is correct that 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock refer to anterior and posterior although I am not sure which is which.

TLDL, it's nothing to worry about, just a description of the location.

Waiting is very hard, by far the hardest part for me. When you have no plan of action your mind starts creating wild scenarios and you can fall down a worry rabbit hole over and over again. As best you can, try not to worry.

Good luck! Sending you a hug.

Stevey 24 days ago

My blood test entries all read abnormal but expected. However, are the figures in brackets normal range?

Liver

Coded entry - Serum alanine aminotransferase level (XaLJx) 23 iu/L [10 - 49]
Coded entry - Serum bilirubin level (44E..) 8 umol/L [< 21]

Prostate

Coded entry - Prostate-specific antigen level (XE25C) 0.37 ng/ml [0 - 3.5];

Stevey 17 days ago

Fit test has come back normal. Does that rule out cancer as still booked in for sigmoidoscopy at weekend? Thanks