Mum initially noticed change in bowels in Sept 2024, very constipated and frank blood, very unusal for herself after living years with diverticiulites. Came back from holiday following a weeks of constipation and frank blood and seen a practice nurse who prescribed cream for internal piles that she could not see or feel and laxido.
Constipation remind, physically removing stool from rectum but bleeding improved a bit - more orange then frank.
Continued with laxido for weeks,until passed out in public due to sevre abdominal pain in Nov 2024, stayed home and rested and saw a GP following Monday. GP requested bloods and treated for a suspected diverticulites flare up (never had a flare up before, therefore unable to compare). Blood came back fairly normal, raised CRP, and slighty low WBC. Week of metronidazole prescribed, laxitives and a fit test.
Fit test was performed while stool a bit ‘mucas’ but still sent. Result back following week of 479.5 and referred for urgent colonoscopy (2 weeks suspected cancer due to positive FIT test).
Long discussion with GP who strongly suggested cancer. And although in pain declied to prescribed anything to help manage pain and await colonoscopy, referral sent on the 19th of Dec 2024, with 2 weeks of Christmas ahead very unlikely to have colonoscopy untill mid Jan, still awaiting date.
As family we are all concered, and the wait over Christmas period has been horrendus.
Update; 07/01/25, phoned Endoscopy to chase referral, the wait for an Urgent suspected cancer should be done within 2 week (give or take) but at our local hospital the current wait is 16 weeks and strongly suggested that an colonoscopy will not be done until April.
The wait is killing us, we have aslo asked the GP for a repeat FIT test to compare but said they don’t do a repeat.
Mum continues to be on laxido, if stops = constipated straight away. Does have a dull/uncomfortble tummy ache, (but this could be the stress of worrying). No obvious lumps to be felt but bloating. Bleeding has improved, the feeling of not fully emptiyng bowels remains.
I have seen it possible to buy online FIT test but unsure of how accurate theses tests are? Any suggestions please.
