I need calming down

[Thomastuchel]

I have another thread on the go about my stomach issues, high fit score 400 and moderate calprotectin score.

Ive just tried going to the toilet and all I'm passing is bloody mucus.

I have sent a message to my gp explaining this and to tell them I have taken pictures if I can show them.

I am in a massive panicked state now. Can anyone resssure me. The blood was bright red at first then streaked in the mucus when I tried to go again.

There are several things that could be causing your issues. Regardless of what is happening, you are doing everything you can to get seen and get treated and right now that is all you can do. Repeat that, out loud if necessary. "I am doing everything I can."

If reassuring stories are what you want, I have a family member who presented in exactly the same way and had a treatable condition which was managed swiftly.

Do you have family/friends who you can lean on?

It’s scary op (and I haven’t read your other thread) but as a personal sufferer of ulcerative colitis, I can tell you from experience that you can pass a lot of blood and mucous and still be OK.

Sounds like you need a colonoscopy for a diagnosis. Keep drinking plenty of fluids and I hope the GP can help helpful. Some will say go to A&E and that could work if your A&E doesn’t have a really long wait time

I have a gp appointment at 11am.

Im booked for a colonoscopy in 3 weeks time. Im terrified, I am already having cbt for health anxiety and I am scared of hospitals

So try and think this through..

You are seeing a medical expert within 2 hours
You already have an appointment for a procedure which will be the next step in finding out whats wrong.
You cant do both if you continue to be terrified of hospitals etc. so you need to see them as positive things - a step closer to getting better as opposed to places of illness.
Nobody can give you an instant cure , so you need to be able to plan for how you can manage your anxieties throughout the diagnostic process.
You cant control your stomach/bowel problem at the moment but you can control your thoughts.
Use all the techniques your CBT has given you - they are as important as taking medicine.

Deep breaths OP and one step at a time.

Thankyou I've just felt the urge to go again there was mucus but no blood this time.

I need to shower and get dressed to go for my appointment. I know I can't control what is happening. I'm terrified it is cancer and haven't been able to shake the feeling off since my fit came back high. I had no blood i could see when I took the test a week ago though.

Oh you poor thing. Your anxiety is doing a real number on you. You’ve done all
the right things. I’m sure you know there are several causes for a high FIT score and elevated calprotectin that aren’t cancer.

Could you ask for a FBC today as an interim measure?

I had bloods done for another issue about 5 weeks ago and it came back fine.
I may ask for it to be repeated though.
Im so scared its the worst scenario even though I know it can be many other things. GP has said unlikely to be IBD as calprotectin was low although I'm certain if I took that test again it would be much higher.

I

I got to the GPs and my appointment is tomorrow not today 🤦🏼‍♀️

Oh no! That’s your anxiety taking over! Use this time now to calm yourself. Make notes on what you want to discuss etc. Stay away from Googling symptoms.

How frustrating.

Right, you have less than 24hrs. Reassure yourself that you know what to do if anything gets worse (111, A&E if it warrants it). Tell your partner what you need today. Decide if that's to be supported/looked after or distracted and busy. Make a list of every question you have, even if you suspect there's no answer just yet and take it to tomorrow's appointment.

Try and get a little bit of exercise if you can. Short walks round the garden or up and down the road, plenty of fluids, anything and everything which comforts you - music, tv, film, reading, craft and so on - and hand the responsibility of investigation, diagnosis and treatment over to the professionals.

My very wise 19yo dd always says "don't worry twice" and she means that if you worry about something and it never happens, you've wasted precious energy. You could very well be worrying about something which will never happen. Easier said than done I know but I try and remember this in difficult times.

OP, I have severe ulcerative colitis. My last flare my calprotectin was 26 and my CRP was normal even though in hospital I wasn’t taken seriously until then did a colonoscopy. The doctor said it was the worst case he’d seen in along time. Tests don’t always show the true nature. Stay positive and hydrated

Is UC always loose bowels? I'm having a mixture every day some days constipated, some days looser.

Thankyou that is a really good way of thinking I waste so much time worrying.

I kept myself busy for a couple of hours and tried to not think about things too much and to calm myself down