Can you ever feel your colon (from the outside!) ?

[TheSpottedZebra]

Ive been talking to the Dr about persistent diarrhoea, anaemia and discomfort. Big weight loss without trying.
Coeliac, calprotectin and fit tests all fine.

But I can regularly feel a sort of lumpy bit in what I presume is my colon. I've mentioned it to the gp online online chat thing (in a conversationprimarilyabout anemia), but she didn't seem concerned. I've not actually seen her.

I've now been asked to come in for appointment with physican associate. Im probably about to be told it is ibs. Maybe it is!

So my question -is it normal to feel a regular sort of swelling in what I think is my colon. Right where the appendix is. It's uncomfortable but not awful pain. I can poke it, so it's not appendix. It's probably just wind getting stuck there, but should i highlight this again and ask to see gp?

Nb the weight loss could also be explained by a bereavement, and/or rheumatoid arthritis and the medications I've been put on.

Lump/swelling is like a sausage but 2/3 in length!

Could it be a hernia? I think whatever it is, it needs some kind of scan to find out. Don't be fobbed off with 'just IBS' from a non-doctor.

I think you'd be wise to ask for a colonoscopy. FIT tests are limited in their accuracy.

When I consulted my doctor about a change in bowel habits, he ordered a FIT test and a test for anaemia. He said that if one or both was positive, he'd order a colonoscopy.

Fortunately both were fine, but if he'd been your doctor, the anaemia would have triggered a colonoscopy.

are you sure it's not a hernia?

It could be a hernia? I have no idea what they feel like!

How would they be diagnosed?

An ultrasound scan

Hmm. Maybe I need highlight to the docs the fact I have a lump/swelling. And maybe that got missed before.

I'm not really one to bother the Dr much. Or wasn't until the past year when i was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and it feels like all I do now I'd have blood tests and new medications, and, and, and...

Has a doctor palpated your stomach yet? If not then they definitely should.

Your doctor should be taking this seriously - ask him to be referred for an imaging scan and CA125 blood test at the very least - I’m sick of hearing people being dismissed without investigation

I think it’s possible if you’re very thin, to feel a stool in your lower left abdomen. Or as others have said, if there’s a hernia or a blockage.

can be normal. Not sure a PA will add very much to the diagnosing though - takes quite a bit of experience to know what's normal/not on abdominal palpation - GP probably be better having a feel.

Nope. I've actually only seen a gp once in 16 years! That was to very quickly look at a mole, which was fine. We've had one phone call, and maybe 5 text chat things.
But as I said, I see nurses and have bloods etc A LOT and just wonder if I'm overthinking it.

I'm slim, but certainly not very thin! Doesn't feel like a blockage, but could be a hernia? Or just persistent wind in the same place for some reason?

Oh, can it? What, just feeling normal digestive transit?
Yep, the PA thing surprised me. Which is why I presumed they be saying oh, just ibs...

I think I'll call back and restate the lump/swelling and suggest I see a gp not PA.

When I was slim I could feel lumps and bumps. I have had a lot of bowel issues and have been investigated. A lot better since I had my appendix out. Im sure I was getting low grade appendicitis. I still have IBS, but other things ruled out by colonosopy and biopsy and various other tests.

Sorry for worrying you with what I’m about to say, but my partner had all your symptoms, and a palpable lump. The lump was a large cancerous tumour in his cecum. Please make sure you have a colonoscopy ASAP.
thankfully the tumour was removed (along with a third of his bowel which was resectioned) and he is now 8 years cancer free.

Yep, that was a thought. Persistent bloating I missed from my list of symptoms. Which again I know is a very vague one.

Gosh, poor both of you, and glad he's doing well.
Nope, you're kind to share and not worrying me at all, I'm very sensible and obviously I know some things that ought to be ruled out.

Which is why I was surprised to be assigned to a physician associate!

Thanks, as you can imagine it was rough at the time, but he now has a yearly colonoscopy to keep on top of any new polyps which may have appeared.
If you don’t know the appendix is located in the cecum, so your lump is in the same area as his was, and tumours do have the chance to grow bigger in the cecum than in other areas of the bowel (hence the ability to feel them externally) as your poo is still pretty liquid there, and they have more room to grow with less chance of causing a blockage.
Of course your lump could absolutely be something far less sinister (and fingers crossed it is) but you do need to get it properly checked out.

I did not know that about the cecum!
My lump/swelling thing is located exactly where I think my cecum is.

I do think it is probably wind getting trapped there (the glamour! ) but I'll definitely go back and re-emphasise all of my symptoms and ask to be seen by a gp.

I often have this. I’ve just assumed it’s poo. I suffer from intermittent constipation and I think it correlates with that

Please INSIST on seeing a GP. Physician associates are not medically qualified and should not be diagnosing patients according to the Royal college of physicians . They should not be using PAs in this way . There is no role for them in general practice . If you have any bother about this ? Quote RCGP rules on PAs to the GP practice .

I can feel poo in my right side from time to time

I was listening to a podcast with Bridget Christie (I think it was the one where she did Off Menu Tasting Menu) and she referred to this exact thing - it was v funny which I appreciate medical worries are not but she just has a very specific way of wording things which is hilarious.

Anyway, she was worried about it and I think had an MRI and it turned out it really was just poo.