Young adult female with colon cancer related symptoms

[KJ2011]

PLEASE HELP!!!
I am a 21-year-old female and have been having gastrointestinal problems for the past 6 years.  It began with severe burning pain in my lower right abdomen that would come and go and was made worse with pressure.  I ended up having a barium enema and a colonoscopy in 2005, with inconclusive results.  

Most recently, I have had intermittent upper and lower abdominal pain and left flank pain. I am fatigued and feel weak at times, and I have had loose stools for 5 months and have experienced mucus, bloody stools, narrow stools, and black stools.  I typically have 3 - 6 bowel movements a day.  

I have had many tests run and all have been inconclusive.  I am exhausted from this ordeal and am losing hope for finding the cause and getting better.

PLEASE help me -- what should my next step be?  My doctor has been concerned it could be colon cancer, but she insists I am too young.  What do I do?  Have you seen any similar cases?

[CalGal]

KJ, be sure to mention the Acutane to the GI doc. Acutane had/has some unfortunate side-effects in some people.

Sit down and make a concise list of your symptoms and think through anything else you'd like the doc to know to maximize your time with the doc. Make sure you fully fill out the medical history intake form with all pertinent family history.

Make a list of any/all questions you want to ask the doc - write it out. That way you won't leave the office thinking 'I wish I had told him/her that.....'

[KJ2011]

I have no family history of IBD or other gastrointestinal illnesses.  I took acutane in 2005 and my symptoms started soon after.  I think that may have something to do with my current problems.  

I am bloated nearly every day and I also have not menstruated in nearly a year. I had kidney stones but no infection in August, concentration problems, and have lost weight without trying.

I have an appointment with a GI on Thursday.  Do either of you have any recommendations on how I should prepare?  

[ill13632]

you should get a colonoscopy and other tests- there are IBD diseases like Crohn's or colitis
definitely see a GI doctor

[CalGal]

Is there any history of any form of inflammatory bowel disease in your family? Or of something like celiac disease?

Have you read the pathology report results - not just listened to the doc saying the results were inconclusive? If not, do so and if you don't understand the language ask someone on the board to help with interpretation. Things can be buried in those results that are not conveyed to the patient in some cases - good doctor or not.