Urgent referral to Colorectal unit just dropped on the mat

[Borntobeamum]

Monday at 4pm.
Seriously scared out of my mind.
Please hold my hand whilst telling me positive stories 😓

We need a bit more information.

Did you know your GO had referred you? Does the letter say the word “urgent” anywhere? Might you have been given a cancellation so it’s sooner than you were expecting?

GP

What happened to trigger a referral?

Yes I know I was being referred urgently after moving house/drs and having a general health check. Blood test showed I was anaemic so prescribed iron tablets. As a safe check, I had to give a stool sample to check for blood. This came back positive so I've been referred urgently. I also had a ECG which shows a possible block in my heart so have an appointment with a cardiologist in Feb.
I take comfort that after googling colorectal cancer, the ONLY symptom I have is blood in my stools. Nothing else at all.
Bloody hell, I was 100% fit 6 weeks ago 😥

There are lots of causes of blood in stools that aren’t cancer - piles being the most common. So try not to assume the worst.

Thank you 💕
Despite good diet, I am very constipated and have been for about 30 years, so I also take laxatives a couple of times a week. The leaflet does say it can cause bleeding.
I'm trying to stay as positive as I can however I got the phone call from my Dr as i was waiting to fly off on holiday, literally sat on the plane, to USA for 2 weeks so the flight was just awful and it was hard to really enjoy the holiday with this at the back of my mind x

When I had an abnormal ECG I had an echocardiogram which in my case was a leaking aortic heart valve. that was in 2007.

In 2016 I had a CT angiogram with contrast dye to look at my coronary arteries due to shortness of breath and weakness in legs.
A 70% blockage was found in one of these arteries, but I was 72 then.

Drs told me that ECG and echocardiogram do not show coronary artery blockages and only angiograms can diagnose this.
Your many years of constipation and taking laxatives regularly will most likely be piles but should be checked out further to rule out anything more serious.
Good luck

@digerd ... you're talking about a completely different type of block. ECG's can very definitely show electrical heart block. This is totally different to a mechanical blockage of a coronary artery.

OP, try not to panic. These 'urgent' referrals are common practice now for lumps, bumps and anything unknown because they ensure that you will be seen within a couple of weeks. They do not mean you have cancer - only that something is up and no-one knows what just yet. You are welcome to join us on the cancer support thread if you wish - hopefully your visit there will be very short.

Despite good diet, I am very constipated and have been for about 30 years, so I also take laxatives a couple of times a week.

Don't worry. Do you have any other symptoms? Passing mucus or any visible blood? On the Bristol stool chart https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristolstooll_scale#/media/File%3ABristolStoolChart.png
what type do you have?

Looking at the chart, when constipated I'd say type 2.
When I take a laxative, probably 5 or 6.
No other symptoms at all x x

Thanks all x x

Referred for Endoscopy and Colonoscopy within 2 weeks 😓

My dad went to the GP with bowel issues, blood/mucous/urgency and they referred him within a week after bloods/stool sample, he had the endoscopy on Saturday just gone so we were all scared by how quick it happened but luckily it was polyps which they removed and they don't want to see him for a follow up for a year. Fingers crossed

@Borntobeamum did they give you any indication of what they think it might be?

They need to rule out a GI bleed.
Possible CA x
😓

azulmariposa Thank you for asking.
As an aside, have you been to Mariposa? X

@Borntobeamum nope, don't know where that is?
They will find out what is causing the bleeding, try not to worry.
I've had loads of colonoscopies, the worst part is the stuff they get you to drink beforehand! It's not painful, but do have the sedative as it helps you to relax.

Mariposa is not far from Yosemite. We stayed there a couple of years ago.
Thank you. I had a colonoscopy about 12 months ago as my city sends for you routinely when you reach a certain age. I wasn't offered a sedative but ended up with gas and air as it was bloody painful! X

I've never been to America! Ah so now I understand why it's so quickly that you've got an appointment!
In the UK I was referred as an urgent case (they suspected bowel cancer, turned out to be IBD) and had a 12 week wait. Worst 12 weeks ever!
Well I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - I know how scary it is

azulmariposa I'm from the UK! I was on my way to USA on holiday when I was told I was being urgently referred.
I'm awaiting an endoscopy and colonoscopy in the next week x

I saw my GP a few months ago with bowel concerns and she said she’d refer me to the Coloretal Team urgently. I got a phone call from the hospital about two days later and they asked me to go in the next day. As you can imagine I was very panicked. I was then put on the waiting list for a Sigmoidoscopy (a bit like a colonoscopy) which I had done about two weeks later. The speed of which everything was taking place worried me because I assumed they all thought I had cancer.

Thankfully my Sigmoidoscopy was completely normal which they told me whilst I was still lying on the hospital trolley bed having the camera withdrawn

The gentleman who had performed the procedure wrote his report there and then, printed It off, gave it to me and then I was taken to the recovery room to get dressed before going home.

Please try not to worry about how hurried people are being, they have to be quick in case it is something serious but that doesn’t mean it will be.

Thank you Queen
I just think that as I'm bleeding somewhere they will most probably find something 😥
I have to begin a low residue diet tomorrow morning which is adding insult to Injury! X

Two years ago this was DH. He had one episode of rectal bleeding but our GP was ultra cautious. Low residual diet, the clear your bowel out medication and the indignity of the camera. DH did have several cancerous polyps which isn't what you need to hear but please bear with. He had a bowel resection which whilst it wasn't a walk in the park it did the job, he has made an amazing recovery. Good luck.

Windgate I'm pleased to hear your DH is doing well. I have Zero symptoms but a blood test showed I was lacking iron. As a precaution the GP asked for a stool sample and this was what showed blood. I've never actually seen any.
Endoscopy and colonoscopy on Sat, but I don't know when I will find out the outcome x x

Borntobeamum surgeon spoke to DH straight after the procedure.