what is wrong? - Cancer: Colon Message Board

casimar148 · 09-14-2002, 08:24 PM

I have been having some digetive problems for about one year now. I kept hoping it would all just go away, but things just keep getting progressively worse. One would think I am in perfect health since I only eat low fat, healthful foods, I am a vegetarian, I exercise constantly, and I get plenty of rest. I am really scared that something is very wrong with me, and my worrying and the symptoms are affecting my entire life. Here are my current symptoms:

-Very narrow stools.....difficult to pass....sometimes very hard, sometimes as diarrhea.

-Can see pieces of anything I ate in the stools.

-Severe gas that is difficult to pass.

-Bloating.

-An abnormally large lower abdomen (I am so tiny everywhere else!)

-I can hear and feel food moving through my intestines.

-My stomach gets air in it so when I breathe using my diaphragm muscles, the air gurgles and grinds and snaps in my stomach. This is very loud and happens on both full and empty stomach.

-Stools never completely come out. There is always some that will not empty.

-I haven't seen any blood in the stools, but the other day I did have some bleeding for the first time (the reason why i am so scared right now.)

Please help!!!

1Dove · 09-15-2002, 12:50 PM

You need to make an appointment with a doctor. Get a blood test to see if you are anemic, and also request to have a colonoscopy. You probably don't have anything serious at all. Most of the symptoms that you mention happen to all of us at one time or another. Worry can magnify the symptoms in your mind, that is why you need to get everything checked out. Once you find out that everything is okay, you will relax and you will probably feel a lot better. I have had a lot of the same symptoms as you, but my main problem is rectal bleeding. My dad had colon cancer, so I'm not taking any chances. I will be getting a colonoscopy on October 9. After talking to the doctor that will perform the procedure, I feel very good about it. So, don't worry, just take action. Best of luck to you.

Dustyinohio · 10-07-2002, 08:51 PM

Hi Cass It seems to me as though you really have a bad case of nervous digestive tract. All of the symptoms you have mentioned seem to lean in that direction. I had colon cancer surgery 5 years ago and am fine now. By the way I had none of the symptoms that you are having, However after my surgery my husband had about all of these symptoms and yep your right it was nerves. He is also fine. Tell your Dr. everything and after he gets things settled down then make him do a colonoscopy on you. This is for safety sake. You see if you have any polops he can remove them right there and then. That keeps cancer away. Any when you receive a clean bill of health you will feel like a new person.