Positive FIT 172 - Terrified

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Hi All

I have always had a "bad tummy", always passed small rabbit like stool however normal a lot of the time too. First started getting bleeding at age 20, always put down to piles. I do normally have the piles symptoms with it.

About 8 or 9 years ago I had my first bout of bad illness, I got excrutiating stomach cramps, worst pain I have ever had, I would then get diarrhea for a couple of visits to the toilet and then it would just be blood, this would last from 24-48 hours then go and I would go back to normal. I have had this about once a year almost every year since. I have been in the hospital over night a couple of times, I have had blood tests everytime, rectal exams (finger), poked and prodded but only ever 1 abdominal xray. Other times I just had to wait it out at home while on phone to NHS 111.I feel fine between cramps, I get a cramp, go to the toilet, pass blood, pain subsides until the next one which could be 2 minites.I sometimes vomit along with this

My most recent episode was just before Christmas, I called doc to get codeine as they usually give me that to calm it down. The doc asked me to come in and said I needed referred to the hospital. I had a blood test a few days later which showed I was aneamic and I have just had a positive FIT of 172 which isn't suprising as I went there for bleeding but the test was done about 4 weeks after, now I am on the two week pathway and I am terrified beyond words. At the moment I have discomfort in my anus and episodes of itching and burning. Before starting iron my bowel movements were normal for me, since starting iron they are sticky and black. Also since I found out I was on the 2 week pathway anxiety has stopped me eating, ive had pain in my upper right side and stoll that floats and had an episode of diarrhea that was basically water with some bright yellow but that just happened once a few days ago.

My episode in 2021 ended with doctor feeling my stomach with was stillpainful from the inflammation and a finger rectal exam where she said she felt a lump and it would be a pile and gave me suppositories. Nothing happened after that symptom wise so never followed up. Now I can't stop thinking what if this lump was something else.

I have health anxiety and generalised anxiety and I have been doing the wong thing and googling and everything says bowel cancer however nothing is specific to my symptoms which have epsodes of severity followed by for lack of a better word...remission.

Ive felt fine since the episode cleared except some dicomfort after eating for a couple weeks in my upper stomach, high up but thats settled. For a couple years now ive had a dull pain in my lower right abdomen, below the hip, where I would think an ovary would be. It comes and goes.. Ive also suffered with bad flatulence for years

I am 39 and have a 6 year old and I keep thinking he is going to grow up without his mummy. Im hidibg in the bathroom to cry, i cant stop.

Sorry for the novel

AnxietyMama over 1 year ago

Kareno62 over 1 year ago

Hi AnxietyMama and welcome to the board. First of all I shall give you my usual advice which is to stay away from google - it can be out of date, scary and not helpful. There are lots of conditions that have symptoms that are similar to bowel cancer like ibs, diverticulitis, colitis etc. My sister in law suffers from crohns and can have flare ups where she is tied to the toilet, vomits and has severe stomach pains and then can be fine for months once it’s passed.

The important thing is that you’re going to get checked out. The 2 week pathway is standard treatment for your symptoms and not an indication of something serious. The stressing will upset your stomach and not eating will make it worse. Black stools is a side effect of iron tablets and the watery stools will probably be caused by the lack of food intake. Your body produces a clear sticky mucus to help the stools through your system - it’s not always obvious when passing a normal stool but may be what’s causing the itching. Using a nappy rash cream or something similar can help with the burning.

If, and it is a big if at this point, it does turn out to be bowel cancer then it is very treatable nowadays and considered to be a slow growing cancer.

Im glad you’ve reached out to us - we’ll be happy to support you through this and if you want to talk to someone in person then please ring the support team on the number below

Take care

Karen x

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

Mrs. S over 1 year ago

Hi AnxietyMama ,

I know it’s hard to fight the anxious thoughts at times but try to take one step at a time. The brain really does like to show how clever it is by showing us lots of options in flight it fight mode - I say to mine when it’s running off “thank you brain, you’re very clever, I’ll come back & consult you for decisions when I have more facts” This helps me acknowledge my anxiety rather than try to ignore it which also had unhelpful repercussions for me & it helps put it on pause for a while.

I hope you can find the support here to help you stay in the moment with facts, success stories & hope.

Ironically I had a short bout of health anxiety a year before my diagnosis. I self referred to a well-being team within our local MH Trust. I had a course of CBT & exposure therapy which really did help. I say Ironically because a year later when I suddenly had my diagnosis, the health fear became a reality, however, I was equipped with the tools to help me. The CBT tools & this group have helped me stay in the now, calm & positive.

I also have the helpline number in my phone at the ready just in case.

If you click on people’s pictures you’ll be able to read their personal stories & hopefully take some positivity & hope from them.

Well done for reaching out.

Hugs Bee x

AnxietyMama over 1 year ago in reply to Mrs. S

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

I am just off the phone to my GP as the stress was too much. I told her I had this bleeding and pain episode which Ive been having for 8 or 9 years once a year or 2 years and all of a sudden ive been given tests and not been told anything, I feel in the dark so really stessing.

She said that ny FIT was 72 not 172, after the bleeding I had it was most likely to be some inflammation or piles/fissure.

She said blood test showed I was borderline aneamic, I've been on iron for 1 month and my most recent blood test showed I am no longer aneamic.

She also said that my blood tests did not show any indication of Crohns or Collitis so that is kind of worrying as if its not that what is it ??

But she also said my blood tests along with my Fit score did not show signs of anything serious but colonoscopy would be done to see whats happening.

I dont know if I feel better or not.So many positives there and all I can focus on is, if its not crohns or colitis then what is it. Urgh I hate my brain !!!