Scared

Hi Cowgirl. Unfortunately the waiting for various appointments and results is very stressful. As it stands at the minute all that you know for definite is that you have a polyp. A lot of people have these removed and the tests come back that it is just a polyp - only 1 in 10 colonoscopies results in a bowel cancer diagnosis so please hold onto this thought. Also the nurses that perform the colonoscopies are very experienced and she wouldn’t lie to make you feel better - I was told at mine that they were 99% sure that it was cancer just by looking at it.

I won’t tell you not to worry because it’s easier said than done but thoughts are not facts and the facts are that you have a polyp that needs removing. Try to distract yourself until you know for definite what you’re dealing with otherwise the stress will throw up side issues and your mind will run away with you. 
Take some deep breaths and play with your little boy and if you’re really struggling then give the support desk a ring - they are lovely and will listen and chat things through with you

Take care and please keep us updated

Karen x

Hi, Just to say I had a polypectomy several weeks ago, it is quite a simple procedure, I chose not to be sedated, but I think majority of people do, but it was bearable, and I felt fine afterwards.  Mine was in the duodenum, so your procedure may be a little different, I am not to sure.  

Its easy to say "Do not worry" because of course you will, but try to be positive, in the majority of cases they are benign.  The nurse would not say what she did if she was concerned about it.  You have not too long to wait, so that is good news, its the waiting about which is the worse.

I wish you all the best for Monday, and do let us know how you get on...

Thank you, I am Keeping busy with work etc and trying to occupy my mind as best I can when not working, our minds really aren’t our friends at times like this are they? Always run away the thoughts of the worst. Think I’m most scared because of how big it is and just convinced myself the bigger it is the more chance their is of it being cancer. Any idea how long it takes to get the results back from The biopsy at all? 

Hi Cowgirl82  I had a 4cm polyp removed from my sigmoid colon found during a colonoscopy.  The biopsy came back low grade dysplasia with a focai of high grade dysplasia.  It was completely removed without the need for further treatment but will need regular monitoring. My first year colonoscopy after removal was clear and I will have another in 3 years time  or sooner if I have any symptoms.  Hope this is the same for you. Good luck x

hi glad to hear your fine im having similar surgery next week and read you have to inject yourself with blood thinners at home after surgery for a month did you have to do that?

Hi how and a warm welcome to the board. I think it’s quite common to have to continue the blood thinning injections for 4 weeks at home after discharge. I felt sick at the thought - I can’t watch injections on other people never mind myself - but also felt guilty that a district nurse might have to come out for a 5 second procedure.

The nurse in the hospital showed me what to do and it wasn’t too bad although I had to bribe myself eg. No lunch until you’ve done your injection! 
If you’re feeling worried about it then watch how the nurses do it and ask them for top tips

Hope the op goes well

Take care

Karen x

thanks Karen  stay well  regards How

Hi Cowgirl82

Sorry to read you are going through this. My sister has just had successful bowel cancer surgery and she is home doing well. I lost my husband in June this year to the same thing his was far more extensive though than my sisters was and think they caught her's very early. She found out after becoming very tired a few months back and losing a lot of weight. She had never done a home bowel screening test before and this was the first time she did one and well, it came back positive which meant going for a colonoscopy examination where they removed a polyp but also said she had `an area of concern` after just going through it with my late husband I knew exactly what that meant and couldn't believe that lightening had struck twice in a matter of months. She was also very anaemic and had to go into hospital for a blood transfusion. To cut a long story short she got her surgery on the 11th October and it went very well. She still has a polyp in her cervix but they are not too concerned about it but at the same time don't want to leave it so an appointment will be made to get that done once she recovers properly from her surgery. She had breast cancer 4 years ago but again beat that and was on the drug Tamoxifen to keep that away but she is on an alternative drug now because they felt that was causing the problems with her cervix. Your polyp could be a number of things but try not to worry too much. Easier said than done but try to stay as positive as possible. Good luck with everything.

Vicky x

Hi! You will find how easy it is to do the blood thinner injection! I too was nervous and yet unwilling to put extra stress on District nurses. But after diagnosis of a PE I pushed on and have mastered it.  6 weeks down the line and probably a lifetime of belly jabs in front of me I got this under control!! You be fine!!! X

Wow bless her, she’s certainly gone through it hasn’t she? I wish her all the best in this next part of her journey. 
i haven’t had any weight loss, just been struggling constipation and bloating. I find I’m either constipated or go several times a day. I had a positive fit test then a colonoscopy but they were unable to remove the polyp at the time for some reason. I’m trying to stay positive but then a thought comes to my mind and I’m in bits again. Hope it doesn’t take long for the results to come back.