something in my duodenum??

[vganus]

i found this site and thought maybe it was a place to get answers and advice. My stomach has hurt me for probably the last year---maybe longer. I would go for a few weeks and never hurt and then hurt every day for a week. Gradually it has gotten worse. It normally hurts below my belly button and sometimes extends down to the pelvic area. Usually I can curl up in a ball and the pain will ease some. The last eposide I had was severe pain for about 5 days. It has hurt everyday since then--but has been bearable. I had a checkup with my ob/gyn a few weeks ago and told her about my stomach hurting. She felt a strong pulsating above my belly button and was afraid I might have an aortic aneurysm. She sent me to get an abdomen ct scan. It showed no aneurysm but did show something in my duodenum that was 2.5 cm. I didnt have contrast so the test didnt show much about it. Now I'm supposed to be going in for an upper GI. I have been researching about the colon. My bowels are not regular. I always eat high fiber cereal every morning and then take two herbal lax pills at night to make sure I have a bm every day. But it still doesnt always work. I went for 3 or 4 days last week without a bm, and then when I did go, it hurt extremely bad and there was blood. I was so sore and had blood for the next 4 bms. If i had cancer or something in my colon, would that cause the pain like I've been having?? Also will an upper GI check my colon and stuff too or do I need to have more tests run?? Thanks for all your help in advance!!

[tdsamal]

If you have blood in your stool I would make an appt ASAP to get a colonoscopy!

[Twinsmom]

An upper GI will not check your colon. Get a colonscopy! Insist on it. There could be many other explanations other than cancer but you need to check everything out.

Best wishes,
Wendy

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, if you're having blood in your stools, get both the upper GI endoscopy and the colonoscopy at the same time. I had both in one procedure and it's nothing to worry about at all. They knock you out, you don't remember a thing, and when you wake up, it's happy time with the great drugs they give you . Don't play around with blood in the stools. Even if it's something like ulcerative colitis, or chrons, you still need a scope to confirm

[dianetavegia]

I never had blood and was dx'd Stage III. Even the occult blood tests were clear.

You'll be knocked out for the GI scope so insist on a colonoscopy at the same time. I had both at once and my only complaint was they gave me something to dry up my throat and I couldn't cry when they told me I had colon cancer. Please see about this right away.