DustToDust

Okay... Where to start...

The only family member that has had colon cancer (To my knowledge...)was my Great Aunt, and she died in her late-50's after a 7 year struggle...

Other medical briefings pertaining to family history:

I also have prior knowledge that diabetes as well as smoking/heavydrinking is linked to colon cancer. My mother is a Type-1 diabetic, and my Grandmother has hypoglycemia...
My fathers' side of the family also has a history of Gallbladder problems and most of them have had their Gallbladders removed in later years...(This is just to rule out some possibilities.)

I also like to think that severe stress and depression may have a hand in this as well ...My Grandfather had recently died of bladder cancer at the age of 63 (But he had been a serious smoker since 13... and started drinking in his 20's... which merely added to the damage over the years.) I really miss him... And he's probably a major reason I suddenly grew concerned with cancers and sicknesses in general...aside from my Aunt...

As for my history: I've not had any serious medical problems.. I'm not diabetic, I've been exposed to a fair-amount of second hand smoke when I was younger (Grand-father/father/mother had been smokers). I've lead a fairly active life-style up until 2 years ago. As another detail: I'm 15 pounds overweight and my diet has been rather poor to add to that.)

...About two weeks ago, there has been a gradual change in my bowel movement. I'd like to believe that it's just unbalanced digestive issues, however.. I am a little unsure. Possible symptoms of colon cancer? Something else...? I just turned 21 so I'd like to doubt colon cancer.


I've also been thinking that this may be a potential bacterial infection...

It started out with thick and pasty stool (of a normal color) no cramping.. no gas. As well as having the feeling of not 'completely emptying'. Then, it began to drift toward pasty and watery-- Then back to pasty. Then to light and airy. Then to 'healthy' movements. Firm and compact, but soft enough to pass without pain. I've only had 'narrow' aka 'pencil-thin' once, and only once.. and it hasn't come back. It's been various shades of brown with a lot of mucous passage (Sorry about getting too descriptive.) = =

No fever, some chills... Body feels a little achy at the joints.

I lack any form of serious abdominal discomfort, have only had a little bloating and a little gas.. sometime, I even lack gas. (Possible inflammation?) Also, my stomach seems to cause a dull cramping every once in a great while... Nothing agonizing. I don't seem to have passed any blood, either. I don't feel sick, I haven't had any need to vomit... However, some of my food turns up undigested. (Mostly vegetables)
And this odd(grease?)... or that's what it looked like to me. I've passed a strange orange grease-like substance that was separate of the stool 2 times so far.

It seems like something is not breaking down properly...? and it's also got me concerned.

I had also suffered from a frequent hunger and a little fatigue. But other than that; I feel like myself. I recently bought some probiotics and it seemed to relieve the constant hunger and is correcting some of the issue (been using them for 3 days so far...) Which leads me to believe that I am lacking "Good" bacteria and/or am suffering a bad bacterial infection.

I've also been belching quite a bit... moreso than typical.

...I also know that a bacterial infection causes similar symptoms.

I'm uncertain though... and... this came out jumbled and unorganized...sorry. I'm just under a lot of stress.

Everyone says that I'm going to be fine, that it's most likely a minor issue and will pass... I feel like a hypochondriac. But-- I feel like I should be concerned.

Any clues on what this could possibly be... would help.