Symptoms of a Bowel Disorder, But What? - Bowel Disorders Message Board

Joe4951 · 07-24-2005, 12:42 PM

Not that I think I have colon cancer, but the mind thinks the worst.

About a year ago, I noticed problems with stools. Half the time it was diarhea, half the time it was healthy. Thought it may be the fast food, so about 8 months ago I cut out bad food altogether. I now eat stuff like tuna, chicken, rice, lowfat/nofat stuff, etc. I noticed a little change, and I had realitively healthy stools for around 3 months. Since that time, I have had abnormal stools about 25% of the time, not necessarily water, but much softer than normal. It seems to come and go, and is very frustrating as I was thinking ibs and was trying to pinpoint what it was.

About 6 months ago, I had rectal bleeding. Bright red blood on the stool, paper, or dripping into toliet. I am one of those guys that takes a vacation on the john, so I cut that, and straining, out, and have no reoccurences since then. I believe it is not related.

About a month ago, I got very sensitive in the bowel area. In other words, it seemed as though whenever anything was moving around down there, it would get to a point on the upper right (my right) side of my pelvic region and irritate the crap out of me as it moved through. Within the last two weeks, it seems that I have grown sensitive to gas, as just a little passing through will cause sharp gas pains in the dead center of my pelvic region just above my groin (pain=6 out of 10). If my bladder is full, it adds to that pain. Sometimes it feels as if the gas is just about to the end point, and I strain (a little) to try to get it out, but it does not come. It eventually comes on its own a short time later.

Family history: mom had hodgkins in 1980, no other cancer.

Does this sound like cancer or just a disorder (i.E.: crohns, ibs, etc)?

Thanks,
Joe

quincy · 07-24-2005, 02:09 PM

Hi...you should get a referral to a gastroenterologist for sure and get the ball rolling through the waiting period of appointments.

In the meantime, your symptoms sound like mine did before I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

It could be IBS, and that's mostly controlled through food and stress reduction.

Since cancer is in your family, you're ready for at least a colonoscopy with biopsies done to make sure. That would be a good start.

A gastro would put you through fecal tests, blood tests, colonoscopy, biopsies,..etc.

Cancer can mimic many diseases/disorders....and the only way to know anything is to be thoroughly tested. I would suggest a specialist rather than going through testing by a GP.

Please let us know the outcome.
quincy