Hi,
im a 30 year old male, been having really bad month in terms of my health. My troubles started with back pain that’s progressed to upper back pain, extreme fatigue, joint pain and now digestive issues. I’m showing all the signs of pancreatic cancer (oily stools, extreme fatigue, constipation, stomach pain under the right rib that’s constant and worse when eating, reduced appetite, mid back pain, rapid weight loss).
Today my symptoms have really flared up, I’m struggling to eat anything because of the abdominal pain. I’ve laid in bed all day due to the fatigue (there have been multiple days like this) and have had to take days off work because of it. All my pains have flared up.it just feels my body has given up on me, and I’m really struggling, to a point where I can barely take care of myself.
I’ve been to multiple GP’s, 6x A&E visits this past month relaying my concerns that I am worried that this is pancreatic cancer, and I’ve been fobbed off with blood tests, ultrasound showing normal results, therefore, they won’t investigate it further (and I’ve also been told to smile more and enjoy life on my last A&E visit). The most I’ve been investigated was a CT urinary tract because I started having urinary issues (turned out to be a kidney stone). I know how hard this thing is to diagnose, and hence why I keep pushing, but the health system doesn’t allow it. My GP did request a CT pancreas but the radiology department declined it because I didn’t have any red flags (I.e. not >65 years old and showing the above symptoms).
On top of all this, I’m currently living in London on a working visa but my family and friends are back home in Australia, so it’s hard having to deal with this without them. I absolutely fear I’ll get to a point soon where I’m not well enough to go back home if things get dire. I also am working a locum job role, so I don’t have any sick leave, and pay rent. So there’s multiple stressors.
My next GP appointment is Tuesday, but realistically, the most she would do is request a CT pancreas again, which would take a week to get back, two weeks to get the appointment, and then another week for results.
i don’t have a diagnosis, but ALL my symptoms are pointing towards it and it’s getting worse, I don’t know what else to do. Sorry about the lengthy post, but I am at a loss as to what to do.
Hi Blico,
Sorry to read what you're going through, it's horrendous when you're in so much pain and nobody is doing anything.
I also received the same treatment from doctors initially, when I had really bad right side and right rib pain, along with digestive issues. I was told the pain was in my head and sent awsy
, so I've just lived needing to take painkillers daily, since nobody would do anything at that time.
I've been left like this for 18 months. Recently I started having blood when passing stools and then had a high positive FIT test, so they gave me a colonoscopy where they discovered a large bulge on my appendix. They then did a CT scan which showed my appendix had doubled in size in a year. Turns out it's been this causing the pain all along as it was borderline enlarged last time apparently. So I'm now awaiting my histology results with dread, since it's been left for 18 months, so if it's bad news, then the wait won't have helped anything.
Therefore, if they're not doing anything for you and you're in pain, then I think you might be best to pay to see a private GP/consultant to get proper answers, if you can afford it. Or there are options such as just paying for your own scan which would be cheaper and could give you some answers.
Your GP would likely give you a referral letter for a private scan, since they were referring you for one anyway. It's better than leaving things. If anything came up on that scan, obviously your GP could then use that to get you treatment. I seriously wish I'd done that 18 months ago.
Unfortunately my experience of the NHS had been dire, and the way I was treated initially was appalling. If your symptoms don't neatly fit into their idea of a condition, then it can be overlooked, like mine was. That's the excuse I'm being given, that and the fact it is rare, but I suppose at least they're doing something now, 18 months on!
Other people seem to have better experiences, but if you're not one of the other people, then a private scan is your only option.
Good luck, I really hope you get things sorted x
