I'm a 26 year old male. I've been having daily headaches since the beginning of February. Although I'm slightly worried about the pain in my head, I'm more concerned about the stomach 'episodes' I've been having of late.

I have a pain in my right side, roughly where my appendix is situated. I also feel bloated now and again. I had diarrhea a few days ago but that seems to have cleared up. My stool since then has been normal but contains tiny red dots. I'm not convinced that this is blood; more something I ate, but who am I to know for sure?

I had haemerroids just after Christmas, and bled quite heavily at one point. But all of this cleared itself up within a week or two. My GP gave me a rectal examination and didn't find anything but I'm a chronic worrier and I don't feel any better.

I'm considering going for a colonoscopy, just to be 100% sure, but part of me feels that this is an excessive measure. If I had cancer, would I be getting these headaches? I think (I hope) it's more a case of my brain creating the problems. That's what my doctor thinks anyway.

Any ideas? Thanking you.

Dear Genius:

Please read my post back to Pulse 15. Same applies for you. As far as the headaches go, I would say unrelated. Do you have allergies. Here on the Eastern seaboard, we are heavy into pollen. Try some claritin over the counter and see if it helps. Also, Tylenol will be easier on your stomach then advil. Don't exceed 4000mg/24hr. So 1000 mg every 6 hours along with 1 Claritin (loratadine) 10mg every day for a couple days and see if it helps.

Definitely, go for the colonoscopy. You don't say if you have a family history, but after you read the other post, keep in mind, I only had a grandfather who was 53 when he died post op with colorectal cancer. I am WAY younger than ANY physician would suggest I'd be at risk (unless they bothered to check me appropriately!!) Anyway, same goes to you, I wish you the best of luck, and keep us posted. :)

Thanks for the suggestions, CancerDad. I'll set an appointment up when I next get paid (Wednesday).

Do you think there has to be bleeding in order for the cause to be something like cancer?

Yes, there is usually intermittent bleeding. But it can be occult. Meaning you can't see it. Usually if you can't see it, that's a good sign. But then again, you did have a bout with heavy bleeding that they say was hemmorhoids. But did your GP do a sigmoidoscopy or anoscopy at the time of the bleeding? I had two rectal examinations, and she couldn't (or didn't know) that she was feeling a golf ball size tumor 2 cm up!~ NOT TO FRIGHTEN YOU! But Prevention and being Proactive is the best defense.

Good Luck

The bleeding I had previously was a one off. I really think this is IBS, mainly because of the headaches, but I'll get it checked out all the same. My dad is a clinical pathologist so I'll get him to test my stool, also.

My GP didn't give me an examination with anything but his finger.

And going back to your original reply, there is no history of cancer in my family.