if you are reading these posts because you think you have colon cancer

[worrywart]

I admit it, I am the queen of hypochondria.  I have been reading these posts and those on many other boards over the last few months hoping to find a little reassurance and have found everything but (however this board isn't as bad as some of them).  What took me to the doctor 2 months ago was SEVERE pain and slight bleeding when going to the bathroom.  It took me 3 months to get the courage to finally go.  Doc said I had a small fissure and being a good responsible doctor, he sent me to a GI specialiast to get a c-scope just in case there was something more going on.  It took 2 months to get that appt, none of the "demand an immediate colonscopy" stuff worked.  During this time I took great notice of what went on when going to the bathroom.  Between that and reading these boards I was convinced I had cancer.  Some of my symptoms included pain and blood, green stools, red chunks in my stools, orangy stools, black dots in my stools, mucus, blood and mucus, feelings of rectal pressure, crampy, alternating di and con, di and con at the same time, flat stools, burning, terrible abdominal noises. I was one very nervous woman.  The good news is - colonscopy showed nothing except small internal hemmeroids.  I just hope this will help to reassure others who are experiencing similar symptoms.  If you are having a problem see you doctor, they have heard it all and you shouldn't be embarrassed.  Don't look here for answers or reassurance, this just isn't the place for it. Colon cancer is almost unheard of if you are under 40 and even if you are over 40 the chances are much greater of you not having it and your problem being something much simpler.  But please, just for your own peace of mind see your doctor.  You will feel much better.

[katey]

I have had the EXACT same symptoms as you.  Today i had a sigmoidoscopy done, and it showed nothing, not even internal hemmoriods.  I'm still thinking about having the colonoscopy done, although i'm somewhat scared of the results.  I'm 18 years old.  I'm the queen of hypochondriacts as well, lol.  I just thought that i'd let you know that i've had the exact same symptoms and your post gave me a little relief from the anxiety!

[katey]

I forgot to ask you!!!!  I just wanted to know how bad the colonoscopy was.  Today i had a sigmoidoscopy, and i thought i was going to pass it out hurt so bad.  Everything i read said that it was just mild discomfort.  LIES.  it HURTTTTT!!!  I was also VERY nervous and panicing so that probably made everything worse, but before i go for the colonoscopy, i wanted to know if the seditive they give you numbs the pain.

[jrd33]

  Hi Katey,

     That's great news!  :)

   Yeah, my dad just had a sigmoidoscopy and said it hurt pretty bad, too.  8\

  But I'm glad that the tests were ok!




     ~ Jeff

[worrywart]

Katey,
I am glad the sigmoid showed nothing.  I know others who have had pain with it, one person it was so bad they had to stop (she had a colonoscopy later and that showed nothing).
As far as the colonoscopy I did feel a tiny bit of pain, but I just mumbled ouch and they gave me more drugs and I don't remember much of anything after that until the nurse told me everything was fine.  As many people will tell you the worst part of this procedure is the prep, mainly drinking that yukky stuff.  But if you have had a sigmoid then you know what that is like.  The colonoscopy itself was a breeze and the relief afterwards of knowing all was okay was worth the phoso-soda cocktail.
I would reccommend it for you, not because I think you have anything wrong, but because I know how much you are worrying over this and I know what that can do to you!! This will give you 100% assurance that your intestines are in fine health and you will feel so much better knowing that.