Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

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ColonMan317
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:50 am

Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby ColonMan317 » Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:55 am

Hey everyone, just registered to get some input from folks on here. I've had 3 episodes of rectal bleeding over the last few years. The first time was a few years back (can't remember exactly when) and happened when I was pushing so it was chalked up to hemorrhoids and had no other symptoms. The second time it happened was January of this year - no pain, no pushing, just happened. Again, chalked up to hemorrhoids. Last time it happened was two weeks ago and so I went to a GI this time.

They found internal hemorrhoids but, luckily, they want to be safe and do a Colonoscopy. Now, I can't stop freaking out. I'm thinking about every possible other side effect I may have. For instance, my poop lately has not been coming out in a long strand but in multiple pieces. It's easy to pass and I have no pain but it makes me think there is a tumor that is messing things up in there. I know that I won't truly know anything until the Colonoscopy but just wanted to vent. It seems no one I speak to really understands how much I'm freaking out.

erins
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 12:41 pm

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby erins » Thu Sep 13, 2018 11:47 am

Good for you getting checked out (and kudos to your GI for playing it safe).

I also had several weeks between my GI visit and the colonoscopy, so unfortunately the wait is normal—For the interim I found it helpful to remind myself that getting a colonoscopy was the best and only thing I could do, and that I was ahead of the game for doing it—it IS doing something, it isn’t just ‘waiting around’. Give yourself a pat on the back and keep doing it whenever those nerves show up—for some reason it really helped me to take credit for listening to my body.

Finally, Someone on here said Dr Google is a good mortician but a poor doctor. It’s hard, but try not to self-diagnose online—it only made me anxious.

Keep us updated—we’ll be cheering you on for a clean scope!
38 yr old female
Rectal bleeding for 1 month—>
5/4/18 colonoscopy found mass in sigmoid colon
5/21/18 LAR
stage 2a, 0/17 lymph, clean margins
T3N0M0 G1
LVI neg, PNI neg, MSS
9/21/18 CEA 0.8
11/16/18 CEA 0.8 & CT clear
12/7/18 iron infusion
2/1/18 iron improved, CEA stable.

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby NHMike » Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:43 pm

It's hard not to worry about what it might be but there are a of things that can cause rectal bleeding besides cancer. So one step at a time. I personally know several people that have had this and they had other conditions.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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O Stoma Mia
Posts: 1709
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby O Stoma Mia » Thu Sep 13, 2018 2:16 pm

O Stoma Mia wrote:Here are some hints on how to get a good colonoscopy:
How to get a good colonoscopy
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=51653&p=401721#p401721

If you're going to have a colonoscopy done, then it is very important for you to follow your doctor's instructions for colonoscopy prep. If you are not given any written instructions, you can look at a sample set of instructions here:

Colonoscopy prep brochure
http://www.westchestergi.com/docs/WCGI_colonoscopy_brochure.pdf

Also, be sure to ask for a printed copy of the colonoscopy report that they generate (with photos, if possible). Here is an example of one such report:
Colonoscopy Report
http://www.md-reports.com/colon_rpt.pdf

You may also want to read the following journal article to check if they did, in fact, do a good, complete colonoscopy:

Colonoscopy: Quality Indicators
https://journals.lww.com/ctg/Fulltext/2015/02000/Colonoscopy__Quality_Indicators.3.aspx

Also, here are some questions to ask about colonoscopies.
Questions about colonoscopies
Colonoscopy - What to Expect

10 Questions You Need to Ask About Colonoscopy

Frequently Asked Questions About Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy

Colonoscopy preparation guide UnivMich

Frequently Asked Questions about Colonoscopy

Common Colonoscopy Questions... Answered!

Ask About The Quality Of Your Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy Prep Solutions
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58394&p=460250#p460250
..
.
Remember, the most important thing is to have a good prep and a complete clean-out.

ooooo
Last edited by O Stoma Mia on Mon May 06, 2019 12:20 am, edited 3 times in total.

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby Lee » Thu Sep 13, 2018 5:09 pm

ColonMan317 wrote: . . . They found internal hemorrhoids but, luckily, they want to be safe and do a Colonoscopy. . . .


Chances are it is just hemorrhoids, butt it is wise for the colonoscopy to determine that. Anything else is just a speculation. Yes avoid Dr. Google, you can diagnoses yourself with anything with Dr. Google.

Does colon cancer run in your family?

Try not to worry, odds are you are going to be okay.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

benben
Posts: 324
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:18 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby benben » Thu Sep 13, 2018 6:37 pm

Hey mate, you're on the ball with the scope.
And your doctors are GOOD to double check. It should be standard in my opinion.
Unfortunately I was in your shoes about the same age and my docs took the other method.
3 GI docs in 7 year period told me the rectal bleeding was most likely just roids and fissures.
I blindly followed their expert advice until 44. My PCP didn't even want me to do a scope until
I pressed and blood was found in a stool sample. This time I refused to not be scoped and WHAM stage 3b.

Obviously if you're seeing blood its most likely lower colon - sigmoid to rectum and probably very early on - it may just be some polyps or not even related.

You're golden to be proactive. Don't fret. You're doing all you can.
----------------------
3/29/17 diagnosed CRC - 44 y/o Male
4/17/17 ULAR - Straight anastomosis - no ostomy.
Path: low grade T3n1m0 - moderate diff.
KRAS - NO, MLH1/PMS2/MSH6/MSH2 - Normal.
5/3 med port install
5/22 folfox - first treatment.
3rd treat, delayed - low ANC - reduced to 90% OXI
zarxio all treats
Treat 7 - 75% OXI
Treats 8-12 - NO OXI, Luke & 5FU
10/20/17 CT- NED
3/18 Scope - Clean
11/8 PORT OUT!
7/22 CT - NED (5 years!)

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:12 am

I'm glad you're getting a colonoscopy and hope it goes well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

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O Stoma Mia
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Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby O Stoma Mia » Wed Oct 03, 2018 3:38 am

Good luck on your colonoscopy this Friday. Keep us posted on the outcome.

ColonMan317
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:50 am

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby ColonMan317 » Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:26 am

Thank you for everyone for the responses. Tomorrow is the day and I'm ready to just get it over with, whatever the result...

Today is the dreaded prep day. I freaked myself out by looking at reviews of Suprep online and am hoping I don't barf it up tonight. Other than making sure it's very cold, anyone else have successful ways for drinking the Suprep quickly and easily?

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby Lee » Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:51 pm

ColonMan317 wrote: . . . anyone else have successful ways for drinking the Suprep quickly and easily?


If it says to drink 8oz every 15 min, it okay to bump it out to every 20 mins or what works for you. The best thing is to try and not throw it back up.

Good luck tomorrow.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

ColonMan317
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:50 am

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby ColonMan317 » Fri Oct 05, 2018 6:34 pm

Hey all - just finished up. I’m completely clean and it was just hemorrhoids!! Thank you so much for the well wishes - I am extremely happy I checked and feel 100% better now that it’s all done.

jmn
Posts: 48
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:20 pm
Location: New York/Philadelphia

Re: Colonoscopy October 5th, Age 30. Freaked out.

Postby jmn » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:25 pm

Great news! Glad it was hemorrhoids and nothing more serious.
DX: CC, 7-9-18 @ age 61, male
Severe anemia (4.5 g/dl), 5-11-18; colonoscopy, 6-29-18
Lap-assisted right hemicolectomy, 7-16-18
G2, cecal adenocarcinoma, 4.2 x 3.7 x 0.7 cm
Stage IIB, pT4aN0 (first pathology DX: pT3N0)
0/24 lymph nodes, LVI present, PNI present, surgical margins clear, MSS
CEA: 3.0 (pre-op, 7-10-18); 0.7 (post-op, 8-8-18)
TX: Xeloda (capecitabine), 10-16-18 to 4-21-19
5 years of clear scans and colonoscopies :D
Released from MSK surveillance, 7-20-23 - NED :D


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