Toughts, please? - Cancer: Colon Message Board

Missjen · 10-13-2003, 11:17 PM

Haven't been feeling great for the last few months. Tired. Light headed. Feel like it's hard to catch my breath.

Went to the Dr and sure enough I was anemic. Not by much (10.7). She suggested fecal blood test or colonoscopy. Coward that I am, I chose the former.

In the meantime finally acknowledged that I bowel movements have changed. Very constipated. Hard to do the fecal blood test if you have a hard time going!

Had ortho surgery 2x in the last 4 months and put the constipation down to use of Percocet and the fact that GA makes me so sick I can't eat for 4 - 5 days after surgery. Recognized it had gone on far too long and stool was much different (think: marbles). And everything felt wrong "back there".

Have had lower back pain (from straining I thought). No blood in stool, however. Feeling so tired still despite iron pills.

Called today and opted for the colonoscopy after all.

NOT in the risk group. Eat mostly Asian food (low on meat and fat). Everything low fat (not fat milk, reduced fat everything else). Lots of veg. little red meat. Exercise 6 - 7 times a week. Drink water.

Scared s***less (no pun intended) because watched a friend's mom die frohorribly fro colon cancer 2 months ago.

If it were "just" polyps would I get these symptoms? Is no visible blood a good sign?

whtnowblonde · 10-14-2003, 10:53 AM

I am glad I saw your comments this morning! Please have your colonoscopy done! Wish they would have been more thorough with my Mom when she passed out about 4 years ago and had an overnight stay in the hospital. She was also anemic, which was unexplained and no further tests were done. They told her to eat more red meat. Well, last year she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer! The surgeon removed a tumor that he said was quite large and was probably there for about 4 years! Not a coincidence by any means. There was the unexplained anemia and also she was getting tired all the time and just wasn't feeling "herself". She is in her 60's, but was always an energetic person. She was on 6 months of chemo and thought she was cured, but now her cancer is back and has spread. She is now stage 4 and is terminal. Do yourself and your family a favor and get as many tests as you can to see what is wrong. My Mom never really explained all her symptoms, in fact I had to tell the doctors at the hospital many things she failed to mention and it still didn't make them do anything more. You really have to be your own advocate. If one doctor won't do it, then switch! I wish you the best and don't mean to sound harsh, but if it helps one family avoid what we have been through (and still are) then it will be worth it all. Good luck.

jaydees · 10-14-2003, 09:09 PM

Coward that I am, I chose the former

Well if a colonoscopy scares you imagine abdominal surgery to remove a large tumour! Having a c'scopy maaay.. avoid the later.

One day of pooping your brains out with the prep and one day of discomfort versus 10 days in hospital with pain and a scar from your privates to just below your ribs. I think you see how easy a colonoscopy is now.

One thing.... follow the prep instructions to the letter, drink lots and lots of clear fluid. The prep tastes awful and the last thing you want is to have to do it all over again if you aren't "cleaned out" enough for the surgeon to see properly.

smiley2u · 10-15-2003, 07:19 AM

Go ahead and have the colonoscopy. It will ease your mind. You have been on a lot of pain meds and that does constipate, however you have other symptoms. Find out what it is and get it fixed. You will be so much better.

Missjen · 10-15-2003, 09:38 AM

Yes, as mentioned above, I did decide to go ahead with the colonoscopy, my question is whether, give the syptoms, it is possible that it could be the worst case scenario.