New member-very afraid

Annabelle41415

Fear and Colonoscopy

My fear was so great when finding blood in my stool, but my doctor said a colonoscopy was due so he insisted.  Unfortunately, my doctor thought it was hemhroids (sp) and my hospital was not in any hurry to get me in so my wait was about 9 weeks.  Well, they found a tumor and it was a shock.  Never was expecting it but it was reality and it was a blow but you have to deal with it.  The fear can cripple you and it did me for months.  It still does.  I'm now going in for another doctor for something unrelated but I'm still afraid they are going to come back with a cancer diagnosis.  It's an unending cycle of worry for me.  It's been since 2008 for me and I'm still reeling with the worry, frustration and doubts.  Get it done so you know and then let us know.  It's a normal process for me to worry - now my husband is another story, he doesn't worry until he gets the news, me I'm worrying before worrying - uggg.

Kim

worrywort87

Hi friends, I'm here with an

Hi friends, I'm here with an update. Luckily, due to a cancellation, I was able to see a board-certified gastroenterologist yesterday. He performed another digital rectal examination that was normal and said there was no blood. He said the issue was hemorrhoids but gave me the option of having a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy. I scheduled a sigmoidoscopy for October 4. I was terrified at the prospect of having a colonoscopy and truthfully am still extremely worried about the sigmoidoscopy but since it requires less preparation and is far less invasive and doesn't require sedation I feel at least somewhat less anxious. 

 

Considering the blood I've passed is ON the stool and not IN the stool and it is red in color and considering my age of 30 and lack of family history and that 70% of colorectal cancers can be found with a sigmoidoscopy I think this less risky test is the better choice for me but I'd like opinions. 

 

Also has anyone here had a sigmoidoscopy that can tell me how it felt and if it was painful? Is it a safe test? 

 

Lastly, if I don't see anymore blood on my stool from now until the test should I still go through with it?

 

Thanks so so much to all of you great folks.

Trubrit

Yes, go through with it

because if you bleed once from hemeroids, you'll bleed again in the future, and then you will go through the same anguish as you are going through now. So, I would say, get it done and over with. They will tell you that you have hemeroids and you can go about your life not having the worry. 

I have had both a sig and a colonoscopy. And no, sticking something up your rear end is never going to be comfortable.  Its a camera, just like the colonoscopy, it just doesn't go up as far. Does it hurt? I would say hurt, no, uncomfortable, yes. Its not so much the camera that is uncomfortable, but the gas they use to extend the colon and push the other bits out of the way. I don't think they use as much for the sig, because they don't go as far up. And, for some it may be uncomfortbale, but for others, it may just be fine. You won't know which one you are until you have it. 

I wish you all the best on the 4th. Your mind will be put at ease, knowing that you do not have Cancer. And if, by some small chance they do find Cancer, then you know we're going to be here to support you. 

You'll be fine!

Tru

gsmith53

worrywort87 said:

Hi friends, I'm here with an

Hi friends, I'm here with an update. Luckily, due to a cancellation, I was able to see a board-certified gastroenterologist yesterday. He performed another digital rectal examination that was normal and said there was no blood. He said the issue was hemorrhoids but gave me the option of having a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy. I scheduled a sigmoidoscopy for October 4. I was terrified at the prospect of having a colonoscopy and truthfully am still extremely worried about the sigmoidoscopy but since it requires less preparation and is far less invasive and doesn't require sedation I feel at least somewhat less anxious. 

 

Considering the blood I've passed is ON the stool and not IN the stool and it is red in color and considering my age of 30 and lack of family history and that 70% of colorectal cancers can be found with a sigmoidoscopy I think this less risky test is the better choice for me but I'd like opinions. 

 

Also has anyone here had a sigmoidoscopy that can tell me how it felt and if it was painful? Is it a safe test? 

 

Lastly, if I don't see anymore blood on my stool from now until the test should I still go through with it?

 

Thanks so so much to all of you great folks.

GO THROUGH WITH IT

Go through with it. I would recommend the colonoscoopy. My results from Thursday found 2 polyps that would not have been found by the sig. They were in the ascending, very near the small intestine.

NHMike

gsmith53 said:

GO THROUGH WITH IT

Go through with it. I would recommend the colonoscoopy. My results from Thursday found 2 polyps that would not have been found by the sig. They were in the ascending, very near the small intestine.

I'm not familiar with the

I'm not familiar with the sigmoidoscopy but my second colonoscopy found an additional polyp which was removed during the procedure.

worrywort87

Need some reassurance

I have a colonoscopy scheduled for this Wednesday. I need some reassurance that it is a safe, easy, and painless procedure that won't cause permanent damage or kill me. I have panic disorder and hypochondrias and I am struggling with terror.

NHMike

worrywort87 said:

Need some reassurance

I have a colonoscopy scheduled for this Wednesday. I need some reassurance that it is a safe, easy, and painless procedure that won't cause permanent damage or kill me. I have panic disorder and hypochondrias and I am struggling with terror.

I had two in the past three

I had two in the past three months. Just about everyone in my group has had one or their spouse has had one (amazing what telling people that you have CRC does). Nobody has died. I will likely have to have them every year for a while after cancer treatment and then maybe less frequently if all goes well. There are folks that have to have them on a regular basis because they have various conditions. So they are routinely done. BTW, I'm over twice your age so you have youth going for you that I don't. I think that there are far more colonoscopies done on older rather than younger people. Just be sure that you follow the prep directions. The prep is the hard part. The actual colonoscopy is a piece of cake.

worrywort87

NHMike said:

I had two in the past three

I had two in the past three months. Just about everyone in my group has had one or their spouse has had one (amazing what telling people that you have CRC does). Nobody has died. I will likely have to have them every year for a while after cancer treatment and then maybe less frequently if all goes well. There are folks that have to have them on a regular basis because they have various conditions. So they are routinely done. BTW, I'm over twice your age so you have youth going for you that I don't. I think that there are far more colonoscopies done on older rather than younger people. Just be sure that you follow the prep directions. The prep is the hard part. The actual colonoscopy is a piece of cake.

Does the preparation make you

Does the preparation make you physically ill? I got Suprep. To clarify, does it only cause painless diarrhea or does it cause you to feel as if you are very ill (nausea, indigestion, bloating, etc.)?

NHMike

worrywort87 said:

Does the preparation make you

Does the preparation make you physically ill? I got Suprep. To clarify, does it only cause painless diarrhea or does it cause you to feel as if you are very ill (nausea, indigestion, bloating, etc.)?

I didn't feel ill, just tired

I didn't feel ill, just tired. I got a stool, laptop and loaded it up with videos and sat in the toilet for several hours. Some people take a pillow and blanket and sleep in the bathroom so that they don't have far to run if they have to go. There are forums threads (though not here) that discuss colonoscopies in a lot of detail. I went to one of those before I had mine.

Trubrit

worrywort87 said:

Need some reassurance

I have a colonoscopy scheduled for this Wednesday. I need some reassurance that it is a safe, easy, and painless procedure that won't cause permanent damage or kill me. I have panic disorder and hypochondrias and I am struggling with terror.

Nothing is painless

Life isn't painless!

Your panic disorder is not painless, especially emotionally. My heart goes out to you, as it must not be any fun living with such a traumatic disorder. 

But, the only pain you should feel, if you can call it pain, will be the needle they use to administer the Propofol (specifically ask what medication they will use to sedate. Propofol is the best, as you will be out of it completely).

ALl procedures come with a small chance of damage or death; but every single person on this forum has had a colonoscopy without death or damage. The odds are hugely in your favour. 

Good luck on Wednesday. We hope to see you back, posting on the forum just ONE more time, telling us that everything is fine and you have no signs of Cancer. 

Tru

worrywort87

Colonoscopy completed

I completed my colonoscopy and am very proud of myself for being able to accomplish such a feat. I understand to other people it may sound silly but to someone with severe anxiety disorders it truly felt like an insurmountable test of strength that I somehow (with the help and encouragement from all of you) was able to conquer.

No polyps, tumors, or cancers were found.

The findings were: "from rectal to the distal sigmoid colon, mild segmental inflammation was seen. The colitis had the following findings; erythematous. A few petechiae were seen. There was no mucosal bleeding."

He took biopsies that I will have to call for the results for in one week. 

Does anyone know what this means? And I can't thank all of you enough for your time, advice, encouragement, and support. This is truly something I didn't think I had it in me to do and I actually did it. 

NHMike

worrywort87 said:

Colonoscopy completed

I completed my colonoscopy and am very proud of myself for being able to accomplish such a feat. I understand to other people it may sound silly but to someone with severe anxiety disorders it truly felt like an insurmountable test of strength that I somehow (with the help and encouragement from all of you) was able to conquer.

No polyps, tumors, or cancers were found.

The findings were: "from rectal to the distal sigmoid colon, mild segmental inflammation was seen. The colitis had the following findings; erythematous. A few petechiae were seen. There was no mucosal bleeding."

He took biopsies that I will have to call for the results for in one week. 

Does anyone know what this means? And I can't thank all of you enough for your time, advice, encouragement, and support. This is truly something I didn't think I had it in me to do and I actually did it. 

I'm a little neurotic and

I'm a little neurotic and paranoid myself although it has declined with age. I am very, very happy that you are cancer free and that you have peace of mnd. I am not familiar with what they found but I know others that have GI issues that aren't cancer and there are treatments for some and some others aren't well understood yet.

worrywort87

Thank you so much

Thank you so much to each and every one of you wise and strong persons. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers and I am eternally grateful. 

Trubrit

We don't think you're being silly

I don't think there is one person here on the forum who has not experienced anxiety in some form or another, and sympathize with you for having sever anxiety. 

I am so happy to hear there was no Cancer found, and that they are on their way to some kind of diagnosis for your bleeding. 

I can't help you with your question, but others here may be able to. 

Keep yourself healthy and live life to the fullest. 

Tru