Convinced myself I have cancer

[incogneto]

I know I am probably being ridiculously unreasonable but I've worked myself up and need MNers to calm me down 😥

Back story - I had a C section almost 4 weeks ago. Originally I didn't pass a bowel movement until about 3 days after birth. Then after that my bowel movements changed dramatically. I would get terrible stomach cramps and a sudden urge to pass stools. They've been pretty much like liquid (sorry for TMI). I thought it may be normal or a reaction to the many drugs I had during my labour.

Anyway, it calmed down for a little while so I thought nothing of it. Fast forward to the last couple of days and the same things happening again, except this time there's a significant amount of blood in my stool and when I wipe. I've also just passed a small blood clot.

I made the mistake of googling the symptoms and I've come across bowel cancer. A lot of the symptoms sound like me 😢

I am so scared and panicked but what else could it be? I'm going to my GP as soon as I can on Tuesday but I really need to calm down before then.

Did you have any symptoms before giving birth? If none then surely it's more likely to be related to the birth?

So it is probably piles, which are a hazard of having babies. Too much strain and they can ‘pop’.

Is in in the stool or on the outside? Outside and bright red, probably piles, dark and mixed with stools, get it checked.

@janetforpresident I have had bleeding from the back passage before but not a significant amount and never passed a blood clot.

I used to suffer from terrible constipation and I only ever had a bleeding episode when I strained too much

Fissure

The blood could well be from a fissure or from a tear future in the anal passage, so try not to panic too much.

The clot could also well be the remnants of a hemorrhoid. Book a GP appt ASAP to get it checked and stay off of google!

@Caplin outside. The thing that worries me the most is the persistent change in bowel movements that has come with the bleeding

@DinoBite agree I wish I'd have stayed off google!

The change in bowel movements is most likely what's causing the bleeding though, because you have a tear or piles. The sudden change could be a sign of all sorts of things for example, like you said, a reaction to medication you have taken. Obviously you are right to see a GP but if the blood is red and on the outside it's less concerning I think

Stop thinking and googling. Speak to your GP. Congratulations on your baby. I hope you're setting into a wonderful routine.
A c section is massive surgery. Childbirth is massive. Hormonal changes are massive. Having a newborn is massive. Sleep deprivation is massive. Google is, err, perhaps not taking into account the huge medical, hormonal and emotional changes in your life. Speak to a medical professional. Eat healthily, drink water, exercise and sleep. All things which can be hugely challenging with a newborn.
Again, congratulations on this immensely scary and big time of your life. However you feel, please share it with your nearest and dearest, good, bad or scary. They need to know and can help you find balance xx

The bleeding is probably down to the ‘force’ of the changes, anal fissure is the term I was searching for.

I wouldn’t be too worried. You may want to be checked for IBS though.

@Caplin IBS affects a lot of people in my family so I think that is a very strong possibility

Change in bowel habits after abdominal surgery is really common and often takes several weeks to resolve.

Yes, get it checked by your doctor or MW, because you are clearly very worried, and I think you need to talk this through with someone you know has medical qualifications (not just people on the internet, who could be anyone)

I suggest you step away from google - easier said than done, I know - but all it is bringing to you right now is a worst case scenario when there are so many other possibilities, including the really quite likely one that this is a frequent post-section thing which should resolve itself

Thank you @NiceViper ❤️

I really hope so

@ingogneto Think about cause and effect. Major abdominal surgery i.e C-section. I've had 3 emergency sections and anything that comes out after for weeks on end is due to that. I had to get my DP to buy lactulose for me each time on the sly, so I could get discharged. (They won't let you leave without having a bowel movement - I am one of those odd people who can't have a bowel movement if not at home, regardless of the surgery). Give yourself time. It is not cancer. The drugs they give you after a section (either opiates or the likes of difene play havoc with the bowels) and can take weeks to sort out back to normal.Stop worrying, take your time and congratulations.

I work in gastro and with GPs and honestly, they talk about these types of issue multiple times a day and don't worry about talking or seeing anything

Make an appointment Tuesday, just get yourself seen and stop the worrying - perhaps ask to see a female doctor if you're worried

Bear in mind you've just been pregnant and had a section - it's most likely due to this (all sorts of choices as pp have said) rather than cancer - PLEASE don't worry yourself, cancer is soooooo unlikely ... but do go!