This is my first post on this forum. I suppose im looking for an answer or at least some advice. Not Medical as i know that isn’t what this is all about. Maybe just need a sympathetic read.
My journey started around 3 weeks ago. I went to the toilet and had a bowel movement. When i got up I noticed blood on the toilet paper. I looked in in the bowl and that looked its normal brown colour. (Im on statins which for me made my poo a kinda orange, brown colour) However on the paper. it was a not so pretty mix of brown and red. Thinking about what i ate last couple of days before. After i had a little panic, I put it down to that. Still a little scared. I do suffer quite badly with anxiety. I have been into therapy which helped but once im going into a blind panic nothing stops me.So i thought i would wait till the next day trying not to eat anything that had a hint of red in its colour. Next day came. Once again. Blood on the toilet paper. But the contents of the bowl all looked normal. Of course, by now I’m getting really scared. Never use Dr Google. Hes a real doom bringer. I went to see my doctor (Emergency appointment) The did the rectal examination. and couldn’t find anything wrong. But on the plus side also never found any blood. Which was relief. Asked me the questions. Tired, Weight loss, abdominal pains, Bowl movement times etc. To which im am all pretty as i always have been. So said to me it was maybe a one off and sent me away saying. If it happens again come back.
Anyway. a week has passed It has started again. Of course, by now I’m convinced in my own mind I have cancer. So went back to the doctors. Couldn’t get an appointment this time but did get a call back... Of course, im in a real mess by now. I love my life and really do not want it to end prematurely. Which does make it worse. Got a call from someone at the doctors. Asked me the questions again. but this time also asked me what colour it was. Well, it’s a kind of maroon. So, she has put it down to haemorrhoids and has given me some suppositories. I did ask about a fit test and maybe taking my bloods. But i only had them done a few months back along with an abdominal ultrasound for another problem I had. So was told it’s not something they wouldn’t do unless i have other symptoms. Which don’t help me much but i can at least take some comfort that they were done just a couple of months ago and came back normal. On a good note. she did make me feel better. But i still have that fear a little. I haven’t eaten properly for two days. just with the worry. I’m going to try and eat tonight. But i don’t really fancy anything. However, i have to eat something Im a 57-year-old woman and as far as i know there’s no history of cancer of any kind in my family.
I do not suppose anyone can help me with my anxiety. But i really would like someone to maybe reply with some words of wisdom even kind words will do. I would call the cancer support line but im just so scared that I’m perhaps wasting peoples time if its just Haemorrhoids.
Hello AbiS
Welcome to the Online Community.
I am sorry to hear that you are having some bleeding and are worrying that it may be cancer.
You are not wasting anyone's time and if you are very welcome to call the Support Line and speak with one of the nurses if you feel it would help. Macmillan is not only for people who have cancer, it is also for people who are worried about cancer.
Well done for going to the Doctor so quickly. A lot of people can become scared and put it off but you have done exactly the right thing in getting checked out. Any bleeding needs checking. You say that you had some checks a couple of months ago and these were clear. And that also the symptoms you have now only started 3 weeks ago. It sounds as though you are saying that the bleeding really is the only symptom and the doctors believe this could be due to haemorrhoids.
If you have no other symptoms such as pain, weight loss, tiredness etc and the doctors are happy with that then perhaps the thing to do is to try the suppositories and see if they help. Then if the bleeding happens again then go back to the doctor for more checks. If anymore symptoms occur then also go straight back.
Having anxiety is hard and I know when I get anxious I do lose my appetite and this may well be part of it. However at the moment with the symptoms as they are I would feel reassured by the doctor.
As they have asked you about bowel movements, weight loss, abdominal pain etc - Why not in the meantime keep a diary showing when you are having your bowels open, if there is any bleeding, pain, constipation, diarrhoea, looseness etc so that you have that information ready if you need to go back to the doctors. If these did then show an issue and you had more bleeding, even after using the suppositories, then you would have more to back you up when asking for blood tests, FIT test or an ultrasound. Just a thought.
Do pick up the phone and call the Support Line tomorrow if you feel it would help. The nurses are really helpful on there. You can just say that you are worrying about bowel cancer and they will talk you through things.
Good Luck
Jane
Well done for calling the Support Line and getting some advice. Am glad it helped. You did the right thing in getting it checked out and can feel reassured by what you have been told. If anything changes or continues then do get checked again.
