Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

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magsss208
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Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:43 pm

Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby magsss208 » Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:19 pm

I’ve never posted on anything like this in my life but I’m really scared, I feel stuck and I need some advice. :? I’m from the U.S., and at the end of December I left for what was supposed to be a 3 month trip with my best friend. I first went to Thailand, and I was having some digestive issues and diarrhea which I assumed was normal since I was in a foreign place. I also had food poisoning that took me about 4 days to recover from on antibiotics. After that things went back to normal. We then went to Australia, and that’s when things got weird. When I was laying down one night trying to fall asleep I had an extremely sharp pain that went from my right side all the way to my back, it was so bad that it woke me up. I started to feel better and I fell back asleep. The right sided pains kinda continued for the nights after that, just when I was laying down at night and they weren’t as painful. Then there was a night where I was having pretty bad abdominal pain, and I felt off. I was up the entire night with severe pain and diarrhea and nausea. My friends mom was up all night with the same symptoms, as well as her cousin who was with us. I felt somewhat better the next morning although I kept having diarrhea all day. I assumed that it was the end of whatever it was. But the right sided pains continued for the days after whenever I was lying down. I have severe health anxiety which wasn’t helping anything. I made the decision to fly home a month early rather than spending 6 weeks in New Zealand. When I was in the airport about to fly back home, I was lying down and the right sided pains were occurring as well as pretty bad chills. A few hours later (this has been hard to explain to people) but it almost felt like something settled in my right side around the kidney area, and rather than being occasional sharp pains, it was kinda like a dull ache, almost as if there was a bubble there. It also became hard to pass gas, and my stools were kinda thin. It was either super soft or hard to pass. I took a 3 hour flight to Sydney, followed by a 13 hour flight to LA, then another 4 hour flight to NYC. It was the most terrible thing ever cause I didn’t know what was happening, I thought my appendix was going to burst on the plane. I had to have a doctor that was on board watching over me and checking my vitals every hour because I was so paranoid. As soon as I got off the plane in NYC, I went to the ER. They took blood tests and did a CT scan, ultrasound and a urinalysis. Everything came back normal except my urine which had some blood, bacteria and protein. I ended up being given flagyl for travelers diarrhea and Bactrim for a suspected UTI. They said that either the UTI could be causing the right sided pain or whatever bacteria was in my digestive system. They said whatever stomach bug I had a couple weeks earlier could be lingering. Someone also mentioned it could be a parasite. It’s been almost a week and yesterday, I thought I was starting to feel a little better. Although it was still hard to go to the bathroom and my stools were pretty thin. Also, when I tapped I the right side of my abdomen it sounded hollow, and the left side didn’t. Today, however, the ache in my right side has been pretty bad again. It hurts more when I’m gassy, which has been happening a lot lately. My stomach is constantly making noises. My stools have seemed to be more normal today though. I also keep feeling like I have to pee even though I just went. I’ve gone to so many doctors and ER’s and specialists, I am looking so hard for answers but they just keep telling me it’s probably nothing serious, and it probably has something to do with the fact that I’ve been traveling in foreign places. The pain makes it uncomfortable to walk and I’m so scared that I have something like colon cancer that I’ve just been sitting on my couch for days convincing myself I’m dying. I’m so frustrated and I feel like no ones taking me seriously!!! I really just want a colonoscopy but everyone keeps saying I’m too young for it to be cancer. I don’t know why I’m posting this I guess I’m looking for some kind of advice or reassurance. Honestly anything would help :( this is so long I’m sorry

Pemba
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Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:52 am

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby Pemba » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:26 am

Well that really sucks :(
You should do whatever makes you feel at ease, but i really dont think its CC since your travle friends had the same bug and similar problems. Health Anxiety is a bitch and plays with your head, i have it myself. Just remember a stomach bug kan linger for a long time, especially with some foreign bacteria and foods, like they have in Thailand and India etc. If the medicine you take is not a probiotic then go buy some to bring the good bacteria back.

hugs xx**
Age: 26
2017: 15mm Tubulovillous adenoma- Low grade dysplasi.
Next scopy: original 2020 probably 2018-19

magsss208
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:43 pm

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby magsss208 » Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:35 pm

Pemba wrote:Well that really sucks :(
You should do whatever makes you feel at ease, but i really dont think its CC since your travle friends had the same bug and similar problems. Health Anxiety is a bitch and plays with your head, i have it myself. Just remember a stomach bug kan linger for a long time, especially with some foreign bacteria and foods, like they have in Thailand and India etc. If the medicine you take is not a probiotic then go buy some to bring the good bacteria back.

hugs xx**


Thank you for replying!! I have been taking probiotics and so far I still haven’t seen much of a difference. I’ve just been spending so much time reading horror stories online about people my age that were having symptoms but were consistently told it was nothing for months until they were finally given a colonoscopy. I’ve been sitting at home sleeping and watching tv for days even though my friends have been asking to see me :( I keep saying I just want to figure out what’s going on before I get back into my normal routine. I just don’t feel like myself and I can’t tell if it’s just because of the anxiety or not

Deb m
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Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby Deb m » Fri Feb 23, 2018 3:58 pm

I have a history of kidney stones and it almost sounds like the symptoms I had with them. I had side pain, more so when laying down along with diarrhea, nausea, chills and blood in my urine. My stones did however show on the ct scan they did. That would explain the blood in the urine. Just a thought.

magsss208
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Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:43 pm

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby magsss208 » Fri Feb 23, 2018 4:46 pm

Deb m wrote:I have a history of kidney stones and it almost sounds like the symptoms I had with them. I had side pain, more so when laying down along with diarrhea, nausea, chills and blood in my urine. My stones did however show on the ct scan they did. That would explain the blood in the urine. Just a thought.


They suspected that but they said it would definitely show up either on the ultrasound or CT scan. The results of my urine culture came back today and it turns out I don’t have a UTI, so she wants to do another pelvic ultrasound. I can’t help but think it’s a waste of time since I already got one. I just think that the right sided pain and the rest of my symptoms are all connected. This is exhausting

MissMolly
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Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby MissMolly » Fri Feb 23, 2018 7:07 pm

Magsss:
Like Deb M, I have experienced the wrath of kidney stones and your symptoms have overlap with what I experienced with kidney stones.

The pain with kidney stones waxes and wanes as the small stones occlude the outlet from the kidney or the ureter. The fluid nature of urine production causes stones to move and shift, the stones bobbing about. Intermittent correlates to when a stone(s) is blocking ready flow of urine.

Traveling as extensively as you have over the many months certainly could have caused a low level of dehydration that may have provided a basis for kidney stones to develop.

A plain x-ray of the flank/kidney area can show the presence of stones. A basic urinalysis can reveal microscopic blood, often an indicator of stones that rub and irritate the lining of kidney and ureters.
Karen
Dear friend to Bella Piazza, former Colon Club member (NWGirl).
I have a permanent ileostomy and offer advice on living with an ostomy - in loving remembrance of Bella
I am on Palliative Care for broad endocrine failure + Addison's disease + osteonecrosis of both hips/jaw + immunosuppression. I live a simple life due to frail health.

KimT
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Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby KimT » Fri Feb 23, 2018 7:30 pm

I lived in Thailand for several years. Food poisoning and parasitic infections are very common for foreigners. The tap water is not safe to drink, a lot of the ice is not safe to consume, and the beaches are very polluted. Thais and people who live there do not go to the beaches because of the level of pollution. Even in the fancy resorts, food poisoning happens. Most expats keep antibiotics on hand in case of food poisoning. It can take several rounds of antibiotics and a couple of months sometimes with food poisoning. And parasites require a different medication than antibiotics. I think the doctors are being pretty reasonable in their assumptions.

Perhaps you need to talk to a doctor about your anxiety. In the meantime lay off dr google and live your life. Cancer is unlikely from what you describe and considering your recent travel to Thailand.
2/10 dx colon cancer
right hemicolectomy 3/19/10
Stage 2a 0/43 nodes
Lynch syndrome
3/14/10 colon resection/ removal of metal clips
Nov 11 dx ovarian cancer

MissMolly
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Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby MissMolly » Fri Feb 23, 2018 7:40 pm

KimT brings up several good points about traveling and the risk of intestinal parasites.

Most communities/cities have physician clinics that specialize in traveling, recommended traveling immunizations for specific areas of foreign travel, and diagnosis/treatment of acquired parasites, worms, fungi. A “Traveler’s Clinic” with an infectious disease physician would be worth consulting.
Karen
Dear friend to Bella Piazza, former Colon Club member (NWGirl).
I have a permanent ileostomy and offer advice on living with an ostomy - in loving remembrance of Bella
I am on Palliative Care for broad endocrine failure + Addison's disease + osteonecrosis of both hips/jaw + immunosuppression. I live a simple life due to frail health.

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O Stoma Mia
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Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby O Stoma Mia » Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:07 pm

magsss208 wrote:... so she wants to do another pelvic ultrasound. I can’t help but think it’s a waste of time since I already got one...

In my opinion, it might be a good idea to have another ultrasound, but one that includes the kidneys as well as the ureters. The reason is this: if the problem is indeed a kidney stone, and if it is small enough, then they can try to dissolve it with appropriate medication. However, if you wait too long to diagnose a kidney stone then it may require surgery to remove it.

    In 2013, O Stoma Mia wrote:
    Burntcookie wrote:... How are kidney stones treated for cancer patients? ...


    Hi Barb - Kidney stones can be treated several ways. It also depends on the kind of kidney stone (calcium stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones). In my opinion it would be best to start by trying to see if potassium citrate solution/syrup will dissolve them. This would avoid having to go through surgery.

    Potassium citrate for kidney stones

    But first ask your doctor about this. Tests should be done to try to determine what type of stones they are, how many there are, and where they are located,etc.

    Ref: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43977&p=314995#p314995
    .

magsss208
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:43 pm

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby magsss208 » Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:23 pm

O Stoma Mia wrote:
magsss208 wrote:... so she wants to do another pelvic ultrasound. I can’t help but think it’s a waste of time since I already got one...

In my opinion, it might be a good idea to have another ultrasound, but one that includes the kidneys as well as the ureters. The reason is this: if the problem is indeed a kidney stone, and if it is small enough, then they can try to dissolve it with appropriate medication. However, if you wait too long to diagnose a kidney stone then it may require surgery to remove it.

    In 2013, O Stoma Mia wrote:
    Burntcookie wrote:... How are kidney stones treated for cancer patients? ...


    Hi Barb - Kidney stones can be treated several ways. It also depends on the kind of kidney stone (calcium stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones). In my opinion it would be best to start by trying to see if potassium citrate solution/syrup will dissolve them. This would avoid having to go through surgery.

    Potassium citrate for kidney stones

    But first ask your doctor about this. Tests should be done to try to determine what type of stones they are, how many there are, and where they are located,etc.

    Ref: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43977&p=314995#p314995
    .


Thanks for the reply, they actually did take an ultrasound of my kidneys and nothing was found. Also, my mom has had kidney stones before and they sound much more painful than what I’m going through. Its not so much pain as it is discomfort. It feels like something is in there somewhere. Some days are worse than others and I can’t seem to figure out anything that makes it worse or better. I also should have mentioned that I skipped a period which is very unusual for me. It just can’t think of anything it could be besides something serious :/

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O Stoma Mia
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Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby O Stoma Mia » Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:27 am

magsss208 wrote:... what I’m going through. Its not so much pain as it is discomfort. It feels like something is in there somewhere...

Actually, this describes my experience in the days just before my rectal cancer DX. I had no actual pain, no blood in stool, no changes in bowel movements, no anemia,. Nothing. Nothing but dull discomfort. Finally, the GI doctor suggested doing a colonoscopy because he couldn't think of anything else to do, so I said "OK, why not...."

Well, when I woke up from the colonoscopy, I had a big surprise that I'll never forget. The GI doctor was there with a huge smile on his face, and he said, "I found it! I found it ! There's a tumor in there...".

I don't mean to frighten you, but sometimes this is just the way things happen.

Whether or not you need a colonoscopy at this point in time, I can't really say. I think it would be your doctor who would have to decide, after having done all of the non-invasive tests in advance.

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59429&p=471433#p471433

Pemba
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:52 am

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby Pemba » Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:48 am

O Stoma Mia wrote:
magsss208 wrote:... what I’m going through. Its not so much pain as it is discomfort. It feels like something is in there somewhere...

Actually, this describes my experience in the days just before my rectal cancer DX. I had no actual pain, no blood in stool, no changes in bowel movements, no anemia,. Nothing. Nothing but dull discomfort. Finally, the GI doctor suggested doing a colonoscopy because he couldn't think of anything else to do, so I said "OK, why not...."

Well, when I woke up from the colonoscopy, I had a big surprise that I'll never forget. The GI doctor was there with a huge smile on his face, and he said, "I found it! I found it ! There's a tumor in there...".

I don't mean to frighten you, but sometimes this is just the way things happen.

Whether or not you need a colonoscopy at this point in time, I can't really say. I think it would be your doctor who would have to decide, after having done all of the non-invasive tests in advance.

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59429&p=471433#p471433


No need to be dramatic, She experienced discomfort just like her travle companions, she had stomach problems, just like them... then its properly a bug and not rectal cancer. And she suffers from HA ( health anxiety ) just like me, HA can make you feel sick and give you phantom symptoms to match whatever you are afraid of at the moment. Therefore we HA people need very logical advice or no advice at all, because it feeds the anxiety and makes it much worse, we seek reassurance are the time to feel better for a moment, but when we get it the brain is confirmed that there was actually something to be afraid of and then the mill goes around and we need reassurance again and again.

Then there was a night where I was having pretty bad abdominal pain, and I felt off. I was up the entire night with severe pain and diarrhea and nausea. My friends mom was up all night with the same symptoms, as well as her cousin who was with us.


you said you skipped your period, i hope you have taken a pregnancy test if being pregnant is at all possible, because that can also cause stomach problems and discomfort, How old are you? if i may ask ? And if you are not on there go to a forum called "No More Panic" its better than surfing around a cancer forum.
Age: 26
2017: 15mm Tubulovillous adenoma- Low grade dysplasi.
Next scopy: original 2020 probably 2018-19

magsss208
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:43 pm

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby magsss208 » Sat Feb 24, 2018 11:03 am

Pemba wrote:
O Stoma Mia wrote:
magsss208 wrote:... what I’m going through. Its not so much pain as it is discomfort. It feels like something is in there somewhere...

Actually, this describes my experience in the days just before my rectal cancer DX. I had no actual pain, no blood in stool, no changes in bowel movements, no anemia,. Nothing. Nothing but dull discomfort. Finally, the GI doctor suggested doing a colonoscopy because he couldn't think of anything else to do, so I said "OK, why not...."

Well, when I woke up from the colonoscopy, I had a big surprise that I'll never forget. The GI doctor was there with a huge smile on his face, and he said, "I found it! I found it ! There's a tumor in there...".

I don't mean to frighten you, but sometimes this is just the way things happen.

Whether or not you need a colonoscopy at this point in time, I can't really say. I think it would be your doctor who would have to decide, after having done all of the non-invasive tests in advance.

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59429&p=471433#p471433


No need to be dramatic, She experienced discomfort just like her travle companions, she had stomach problems, just like them... then its properly a bug and not rectal cancer. And she suffers from HA ( health anxiety ) just like me, HA can make you feel sick and give you phantom symptoms to match whatever you are afraid of at the moment. Therefore we HA people need very logical advice or no advice at all, because it feeds the anxiety and makes it much worse, we seek reassurance are the time to feel better for a moment, but when we get it the brain is confirmed that there was actually something to be afraid of and then the mill goes around and we need reassurance again and again.

Then there was a night where I was having pretty bad abdominal pain, and I felt off. I was up the entire night with severe pain and diarrhea and nausea. My friends mom was up all night with the same symptoms, as well as her cousin who was with us.


you said you skipped your period, i hope you have taken a pregnancy test if being pregnant is at all possible, because that can also cause stomach problems and discomfort, How old are you? if i may ask ? And if you are not on there go to a forum called "No More Panic" its better than surfing around a cancer forum.


Im 21 but I’m not sexually active, I wish that was a possibility because that would be a lot less scary than whatever this could be. Thank you for the advice though I’ll definitely check out that forum! I need to stop panicking :|

Pemba
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:52 am

Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby Pemba » Sat Feb 24, 2018 2:11 pm

Ok hon! But you know periods are very sensitive, especially to stress and diet changes. I both have mine way way early and very late because of stress and anxiety.

The problem with HA is that it makes a fly into an elephant, to begin with there was clearly something bugging your stomach, but the your mind blow it up to the big C and now you have extreme stress and anxiety which also often cause stomach issues, both because you may change you're eating habits and excise lv but it can also cause diarrhea because of the natural "fly or fight system".

my advice would be to check it out, talk to your doc about all your worries, get the tests done and then work on how to escape this spiral of stress.

xoxo
Age: 26
2017: 15mm Tubulovillous adenoma- Low grade dysplasi.
Next scopy: original 2020 probably 2018-19

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betsydoglover
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Re: Should I ask for a colonoscopy?? Help meeee

Postby betsydoglover » Sat Feb 24, 2018 2:51 pm

I'm sorry about your problems.

I suffered from panic attacks several years ago that took the form of health anxiety - one minute I was having a heart attack, another I had an "awareness" of my armpit" - it must have been a tumor. There were other things too. I finally saw a psycho-pharmacologist / psychiatrist. Medication helped hugely - no side effects but huge decrease in anxiety. After feeling good for as long as I felt bad, I weaned myself off the med.

When many years later I was diagnosed I essentially had no symptoms.

Take care,
Betsy
diag. Stage IV, 5/05, liver met
lap sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
6 cycles Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin (NED after 2)
11/08 9x13mm right lower lobe lung nodule; removed via VATS 4/09
NED
6 cycles Xeloda + Avastin
Avastin only 10/09-5/11
Still NED 06/18


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