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Could this really 'just' be IBS - or more likely cancer??

7 replies

tobyj · 12/09/2023 23:07

My mum (in her 70s) has been having stomach issues for the last 3 or 4 years (having never had them before). To start with, she had some dark blood in her poo about four years back, and they sent her for a colonoscopy, but found nothing. It went away. Then about two years ago, she started getting really bad bloating whenever she ate, along with daily nausea (and occasional vomiting bouts). This time they did a trans-vaginal ultrasound - again, found nothing and sent her away. She went to see a private gastroenterologist who said it was probably IBS, and put her on a GF diet. It did seem to help quite a lot for perhaps a year.

In the last few months, her symptoms have started to come back, with bouts of diarrhoea and sickness (sometimes vomiting) quite frequently. She's tried to go back on the GF diet, but it hasn't helped. She's now got permanent bloating all the time - not just after eating - and says her stomach is enormous. She's also really lost her appetite. She doesn't really have pain, but her stomach was tender when the GP palpated it, high up under the breastbone.

She went to see a different GP last week who referred her immediately for an urgent 2 week wait ultrasound and told her to cancel her holiday next week. She had the US yesterday (transvaginal again) and is now waiting for the result. I just don't know what to think. She's been having issues for so long, that it makes me think it's something chronic rather than urgent - but the doctor's reaction suggested they're really worried. Obviously I hope they don't find anything - but also if this US doesn't find anything, I hope they follow up with more tests this time. I'm worried about something like pancreatic cancer, but they don't seem ro be doing any tests on the upper abdomen at all..? She's had bloods taken too, but no results yet.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

OP posts:
Chestnutz · 13/09/2023 01:42

Tender stomach high up under breastbone and they’ve not done an upper abdo US?
I have tenderness and pain in similar area (but not vomiting), I have IBS but also polyps on gall bladder and an enlarged spleen
Hope she gets some answers from the bloods.

twointhemorning · 13/09/2023 03:19

Yes... i had IBS type symptoms (no bleeding though) and bloating which unfortunately turned out to have Ovarian cancer. I had a lot of abdominal pain. The bloating could be ascites. Have a look at the symptoms for Ovarian cancer. Ask for a CA125 blood test and CT scan.

tobyj · 13/09/2023 06:56

@Chestnutz 'Tender stomach high up under breastbone and they’ve not done an upper abdo US?'

My feelings precisely. When she said she was having a scan, I was hoping that's what it would be. Instead, they're doing the same test again which didn't find anything last time. Not saying it shouldn't be repeated, but I don't know why they haven't ordered both.

@twointhemorning I'm sorry, and I hope you're doing OK. I imagine OC is what the US is looking for?

I can't really go to appointments with her (not that nearby, plus she's got my dad to go with her, so it would seem like muscling in). My dad's very capable, but they just don't research and question and push enough. They never seem to know what blood tests were looking for. I'm going to say very clearly to them what tests I think they need to ask for, if the US is clear. Mum's main focus always seems to be on whether or not the doctor was 'ever so nice'.

Thanks for the info on the blood markers.

NB the US operator said they should get results within three days - I don't know if that's normal or indicates they saw a problem.

OP posts:
Boredofmyguts · 13/09/2023 07:37

sorry to hear this. Ultrasound results are usually quick so that wouldn’t indicate anything, I’ve had a few T/V ones for various issues.
Agree with others she should get an adbo scan - my private one was more thorough than nhs and not that expensive- about £150 - if GP won’t refer. Also can get v quickly.

CallItLoneliness · 13/09/2023 07:48

There is a small spike in diagnosis of IBD (Crohn's and colitis) in your mother's age group, that is also a possibility. The reason they are doing the TV ultrasounds is because they're worried about ovarian cancer, for which bloating is a primary symptom, but I think (given she had a clear colonoscopy) that a CT scan is in order to see if she has signs of Crohn's.

itsmyp4rty · 13/09/2023 08:20

Is diverticulosis a possibility I know someone who was sent away from the doctors in a lot of pain and later died from it, it's quite common the older you are I believe. Not sure the exact symptoms though.

If it turns out to be IBS and not something more serious then I'd recommend looking at fodmaps, my pain and stomach issues are caused by onions and garlic which is very common. IBS doesn't have to mean problems with gluten/dairy, it's definitely worth looking at.

sm40 · 13/09/2023 09:02

Ask about ovarian cancer. Hopefully it's not that but better to rule it out.

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