Sigmoid stricture?

  I'm a 52 year old male in good physical condition.  6ft. / 175 lbs.  I take tagamet for recurring ulcers, use a stool softner, and now drink tons of liquid with citrucell every day.  I've had irregular bowel movements - build up for 2 days or so, constipation, lower left back pain and then dumping with cramps for years.  I've also complained that everything I eat turns to gas - bloating is a big problem.  A few weeks ago my prostate infection came back.  The digital exam was negative, and the Dr. put me on Cipro - 1000 mg per day.  Prostate symptoms got worse, and three weeks later he put me on trimox 1500 mg per day.  I've been on it for a week now, and at times it seems to be helping.  In the past he has always used trimox in lower doses, and the interesting thing here is that it has always made me feel better all over, even lessening the bowel problem symptoms.  Not this time.  I still urinate 2 - 3 times during the night (that's down from 6), wake up with a flat tummy and burning like tightness (stiffness) across my entire lower back in the AM.  As the day goes on the back pain seems to linger on the left side - just above the hip.  The pains in my groin area I'm told are related to the prostitate infection.  My family MD has always treated the lower back pain as a "mechanical" -(I do have a pinched nerve in the lower back that gives me big problems once or twice a year) and attributed the other symptoms to poss. IBS.  My lower back pain on left side is worse, sometimes it's even uncomfortable just walking and I still dump every 2 days with cramping and pain, but no blood in the urine, stool or semen.  The lower left back pain seems to lessen after a good bowel movement.  During sigmoid exam 18 months ago the MD couldn't get past the first tight turn, and attributed that to the fact that I have a "very sensitive colon".  Now I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy in two weeks, and as the time goes on I get more and more scared of what this might be.  The Doctors orders for colonoscopy state "Rule out Sigmoid Stricture" - One Doctor I saw for a second opinion said that it's likely not cancer, because if it was I'd be dead by now.  Another told me that some cancers are very slow.  Any insight by anyone who recognizes these symptoms would be appreciated....I'm really getting scared.      
Dear Jay,
The fact that the physician performing the sigmoidoscopy could not make a turn does not necessarily indicate that a stricture (narrowing) is present. Since sigmoidoscopy is routinely performed without sedation, it may be difficult to pass a particularly angulated area due to spasm, discomfort and poor tolerance. It is very likely that during colonoscopy while you are sedated the area will be passed and will not be found to be narrowed or strictured. Colonic strictures may be malignant particularly in association with irregularity or a mass or in association with inflammatory bowel disease. Diverticular disease, radiation colitis and ischemic colitis may be associated with the development of benign strictures. I hope you find this information helpful.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
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