FIIT test, low iron, constipation, scared

[painintheargh]

NC for this.

Since having covid and changing my diet to lose weight last November I've had constipation. It's responded well to lactulose. No pain, no diarrhoea, no bleeding.
The GP tested for coeliac and a full blood count, liver, thyroid, hormones, kidneys, the full works. All fine except for an iron level of 8. My diet is rubbish on the iron front and the GP wasn't concerned about the iron and just told me to up my veg. Because the constipation has continued I've been asked to do a FIIT stool sample to check for blood which I will take to the GP tomorrow.
Im 46, pretty fit and do a lot of cardio exercise daily, I don't smoke, don't drink, I haven't eaten meat since 1990, my BMI is 21 and was 26 at its highest so my risk factors are low but im scared.

Does anyone have any experience of this who can offer any advice or handholding please? Im sure it's just that I don't eat enough and there's not enough food passing through my gut to make me poop regularly. I live on porridge, yogurt, fruit and soups. Very little in terms of stodgy high volume foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta. Portions of those are infrequent and small.

I'm a single parent of 3 with little to no help and terrified of cancer.

Thank you so much

honestly - i know its very scared before your first colonoscopy
A nurse held my hand - they have a whole team in there - they really will look after you

Tbh in a weird way i found it semi fascinating waiting on the monitor and listening and i did ask questions

Mines tues early afternoon

Im not having any high fibre from today - cutting fibre 5 - 6 days earlier

I had a laugh with them on the phone yesterday about how my prep was graded excellent last time - im aiming 4 same grade 4 my peace of mind...

Awaiting the letter and instructions in post

I have jumbo paper straws
Im guna buy plastic straws too
As they feel different / better with the horrible mixture

I will put mixture in fridge as minimises some of the vile taste

White bread - white pasta - plain crackers etc 4 me from thurs
Lemon squash etc ...

The prep is worse than the actual thing

Some people have no pain.
It hurt me the higher / deeper they got last time - which is even more concerning now i have serious upper gi and left lobe liver issues

They rang yest 4 next week and i took the first they offered - i just want it done tbh

Honestly though - many people walk away with a diagnosis and no polyps.
Those that do have bowel polyps - many are not cancer.

Your qfit is not that high - pretty sure u said u had a qfit thats under 30 ... score..
Correct me if im wrong

Not too nervous 4 private liver mri fri - more nervous re results - theyll be by next Wednesday/ thurs....

Taking piriton with me fri as contast with mri is a contrast i havent had b4
I react to a lot.

Honestly tho - after your first colonoscopy - youll understandably be less scared in future - incase u have any after / any surveillance ones

Writing is one of my fav methods of comms and helps me process

Without meaning to sound a negative ninny - given the size n status of what they found in me last time - mentally im expecting them to find 1 or 2 polyps - then theyll be removed and biopsiesed
Its the biopsy wait i dont like

Might be an hr away from a train to beach

Just guna look at train times

Distract your brain
Try not to worry

Most people get wind after

I neeed3d day after to just sit and be and relax and process

Thanks so much

You sound very together. I will be thinking about you Friday. Thank you for your advice, it is so helpful to hear from someone who understands and has been through similar. Yes my qfit was 29.

If it was like 500 or 1000 then yes worry

I know im not a medic. And nothing is 100 percent
But honestly with that score - so much is in your favour

Im far from together - my partner and i have cried so so much
And been so angry
Radiologist told me im allowed to be and validated everything

4 hrs sleep last night tho - il take that.

Lots was productive yesterday
I feel better for having private mri bkd.
Better 4 having liver nhs bloods bk
Better 4 colonoscopy being bkd.
Nhs liver mri is bkd.

Now just to chase upper gi - gastroscopy - was quite quick in summer - aslong as its in next 3 weeks - il manage - private mri results and / or next colonoscopy results could also help nudge it

Taking myself 2 a beach 4 afternoon

@worldwidetravel2017 "I feel better for having private mri bkd."
If it helps, I benefit from wearing additional (swimming) earplugs under those supplied to reduce what I hear. Where I live music is not provided. To override a sense of confinement, I don the specs which enlarge the space I see out of the machine.

Re results: In my experience and that of friends, if there's something which needs to be dealt with the customary wait period is jumped, the GP alerted within 24 hours and contact made with you to discuss.

Have a good afternoon at the beach. x

Thanks so much

As private mri is just one organ - guess il close my eyes unless not allowed to

NHS have said they have music 4 theirs

Nhs have said i can have someone with me

Dont know if im allowed someone with me 4 private one

Good luck for tomorrow @worldwidetravel2017.

Thanks so much

Thinking of you @worldwidetravel2017 and wishing you all the best.

Thinking about you today @worldwidetravel2017 . Hope you are doing ok this morning ❤️.

Thanks guys
Appreciate it
On the way
Procedure is lunch time

Was your colonoscopy yest or did i get that wrong ?

Well first ever mri done with contrast

Was jusr liver.

Was an ok procedure

They said i did v well

Now to await results

Not guna lie - i did wear an eye mask - think that helped my brain

They did offer to play music on you tube
But then didnt

OGD & colonoscopy tomorrow. Just about to start the prep.
How long until you get the results?

Sending all the luck

Im confused cuz with gastroscopy - isnt it no food or drink 6 hrs b4..

Mine r different days

Maybe that's as im in bigger trouble - who knows.

Private liver mri results - within 3 working days

Which prep did they give u 4 colonoscopy @Allthecatseverywhereallatonce ?

Last time i had movi prep
This time its a brand starting with p
And apparently mango flavour

@Allthecatseverywhereallatonce colonoscopy they often give u report on the day

Plenvu? That's what I have, not a hint of mango but just sipping it through a straw. Its fine! The second one is supposed to be a fruit punch which I have been told is better.

Glad you were ok @worldwidetravel2017 and good luck for tomorrow @Allthecatseverywhereallatonce

Yea they sent me that one too

Its lesser volume than the moviprep

I put an eye mask on and shut my eyes.
It was ok :)
Was happy when they said 7 min left
Last 5 mins was super noisy n lotsa stuff n cuz the contrast was in me
They didn't put contrast in right away

Also had 2 get pricked twice
As my veins / body showed ' resistence ' apparently when they tried to set me up/ set body up b4 procedure

Good luck for tomorrow @Allthecatseverywhereallatonce. The prep will soon be over. This time tomorrow you’ll have had feedback.
@worldwidetravel2017, you did really well, especially as the promised music wasn’t forthcoming and you had to be pricked twice. Fingers crossed for your results.

Just got results this week- bit of a long wait! Diagnosed with coeliac disease and have a follow up appointment to make. Blood test showed negative but the colonoscopy surgeon did say that the blood tests are not conclusive. Now on a gluten free diet.

I know this is a serious condition but I’m relieved I now have a diagnosis and there is an explanation for my poor blood results. I’m hoping that if I stick to the GF diet then next set of bloods might be more normal. Even taking the iron tablets, folic acid and b12 supplements I was still showing a deficit.

Best wishes to all of you going through these tests. They are horrible but hopefully get you closer to better health.

How are you @Allthecatseverywhereallatonce ?

How was your colonoscopy ?

Was it bowel polyps?

Plain chicken & mash potato 4 sun lunch tomorrow

Ive cut fibre ready 4 colonoscopy on tues

White bread
White pasta
Egg
Tuna
Rich tea biscuits
White rice
Custard

^ me 4 a bit