Bowel Cancer Screening Test positive

Very best wishes doodledog

Thinking about you doodledog. Soon be over.

Best wishes Doodledog

Not long now Doodledog. Sending best wishes to you. 💐

Thanks chums. I'm getting to the end of the 'clearing out process' 😩

The appointment is in the morning, so it will be all over soon, all going well.

Best wishes Doodledog

Not much longer to wait doodle.

You're welcome

Indeed! And thanks.

We're all behind you, Doodledog.
Only figuratively, which is just as well, given the events of tomorrow. 🤭

Thanks. This time on Thursday (the day after tomorrow😳) it will all be over, and I should know one way or the other. Tomorrow is the dreaded purgative day.

Ps should say I am fine. They tell you straight away if it’s ok. I am just a bit polypy with an out of sync gut biome.

Doodle dog I have had about 6 or 7 colonoscopies over the past 10years and honestly they really aren’t too bad. Take sedation and watch the tv screen show your pink insides it’s truly fascinating.
I used to have health (and every other sort of acute anxiety) but decided it wasn’t doing me any good and have worked hard over a few years to stop catastrophising and am much more laid back, almost casual now. It’s quite liberating.
Sillyoldbird am really happy for you. You did it. Well done.
Join the club.
Oops vertigo is really horrible. I know. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Thank you both (and good luck with your results, Oops).

I know it's fear of the unknown, mixed with embarrassment and not liking the idea of something probing my innards . Obviously the big thing is the fact that it might reveal a serious illness, which would make a scan seem like a walk in the park. I do have a bit of health anxiety, which means I catastrophise when it comes to health issues at the best of times, and it's not helping at all.

Doodledog I swear on my ACs lives that it is nothing to worry about! I have had had several as I am Med - High Risk of Bowel Cancer.

The staff are so well trained and they have seen hundreds of patients as anxious as you. Take the sedation and tell yourself it will all be over in half an hour or so.

I have reassured so many people - most recently my friend’s husband who was very worried about it. He didn’t even realise the procedure had started!!

You will be fine!!

Doodledog I sympathise, I’ve now had several, each time they have removed a polyp or 2, totally painless with sedation.

I still worry though, I’ve just done another test and am anxiously waiting results, I also have Vertigo at the moment, so I could really do without it!
General Anxiety disorder thrown into the mix and I’m a mess most of the time. I can rationalise with the best of them but inside………..

It’s happening on Thursday. I start the low fibre diet tomorrow and fast on Wednesday. To say I’m dreading it is an understatement. I’m trying to tell myself that this time next week it will all be over, but I’m struggling to believe it. Annoyingly, when I feel stressed I always get stomach cramps, so it’s a vicious circle. I’m not sleeping well either.

Thanks, but I wasn’t very wise when it was my turn🙄

I had an endoscopy without sedation and it was grim. Would much rather have a colonoscopy if truth be told. It really was easy.

Regarding your appointment, I had a choice of which hospital I wanted and chose one other than my home city to get it over more quickly. Perhaps that might be an option for you?

I hope you manage to still enjoy your holiday

Thanks, Sillyoldbird. You should change your name to Wiseoldbird . It's good to hear that the procedure isn't too awful. I've had endoscopies before, but was sedated. I will definitely ask for maximum sedation for this too - I'm dreading it.

I've spoken to the GP, and he has put the referral in on the 2 week pathway. He did point out that there are possible outcomes other than cancer, but as you know yourself, your head can tell you one thing, but your anxiety hears another.

We are going away on Friday, and had planned to stay for a week, but he's asked for me to be informed of the appointment by phone, so we can come home if necessary. Given that the Easter weekend is coming up, it will probably be after we'd planned to come back (on Easter Monday) anyway, but we'll see what happens.

Thanks again for the reassurance.

Doodledog, as you can see from this thread, I was as terrified as you are. I also suffer from HA and it’s torture, so I really do know how you’re feeling.

First of all, I’d say please don't be scared of the colonoscopy itself . The preparation was a bit unpleasant but manageable and the colonoscopy was painless and quick - the easiest part of the whole thing.

Also, the two week pathway is standard for anyone with a positive FIT test and doesn’t reflect any urgency in terms of your own specific result.

I understand completely that what you are fearing the most is the outcome. Whilst no one can give you a guarantee about that, the most likely thing is that all will be fine. If you read the info the NHS will send out with your appointment etc, you’ll see that only one person in 10 will have anything sinister. Though I’m sure you’d rather the odds were even better, 1/10 is pretty good!

You don’t need me to tell you that consulting Dr Google, though understandable, is usually not the best idea. I’m not a medical professional but the symptoms you’ve described in your post can be attributed to other conditions that are far more common than what you’re worried about - but as a HA sufferer, all that you will read into the search results is the worst case scenario.

I know it’s easy for me to say but try not to worry. It’s definitely a good idea to distract yourself in some way and I found talking to people I trusted helpful too. The support on here was a lifesaver too, so keep posting. No one seems to mind if you blather on about it (as I did) and people were so kind.

Keep your chin up and all will be well
{flowers}

Hi Sillyoldbird
Agree with all the posts here. The test just picks up the blood, it doesn't "pick up cancer" so maybe nothing wrong.
Even if they do find polyps they're not necessarily cancer and can easily be removed.
A consultant once told me that the Colonoscopy is the Gold Standard diagnostic test for bowel issues whatever they may be so although you hate it at the moment you are getting the very best treatment to diagnose then help you if necessary.

Doodledog

Thanks, Miss A. I know it's good that it's going to be checked, but I'm so scared - both of the colonoscopy and what it will find.

I'd be absolutely terrified of anything to do with my bowels!
All we can do is wait with you, and support you as best we can.

I hope you can get an appointment for a colonoscopy asap, Doodledog.

To reassure you, most positive FIT tests do not result in a diagnosis of cancer and, even if it is found, the earlier intervention the better.

Thanks, Miss A. I know it's good that it's going to be checked, but I'm so scared - both of the colonoscopy and what it will find.

Oh that's horrible for you.
There aren't any platitudes to smooth it away for you, really.

Except to say that it's really better that everyone with something going on should be referred straight away, so at least you have the right option being given, rather than having to almost beg to get attention paid to your issues.