Terrified it’s colon cancer

Limon87 · 2025-09-15T03:47:35+00:00

Hi all So I’ve always had ibs, and I’m on metformin so suffice that stomach being a bit all over the place is the norm form me. However it’s never been anything extreme or consistent, until now… / A month ago I had horrendous nausea but nothing came of it. My husband had similar symptoms but nothing came of it. Three weeks ago I had two urgent and slightly loose stools. After that nothing. Since then I’ve struggled to go and can only go with a glycerin suppository. I’ve had lots of wind also. At first stools were hard and lumpy, so I put it down to constipation and took stool softeners and a fibre supplement. This has helped soften stools but I still can’t pass without a suppository. Stools are narrower then normal sometimes ribbon like but normally ok. I have no pain unless I’ve not been and get wind but I have a constant feeling of fullness in my rectum. Currently feel like I need to poo but just fart. However I did an enema and suppository yesterday so I know I can’t be constipated. I also feel intermittent nausea, sometimes indigestion. im tired and anxious. Worried it’s a tumour etc. What on earth would stop me being able to pass stools?

HoppingPavlova · 15/09/2025 04:49

Have you thought about visiting the GP and organising g a colonoscopy?

Original poster

Limon87 · 15/09/2025 04:51

Yes I have the GP tomorrow

OP posts:

Original poster

Limon87 · 15/09/2025 05:04

sorry meant to put this in general health. Hoping an MN mod can move it

OP posts:

MNHQ

JoMumsnet · 15/09/2025 08:36

Hi OP, we've moved your thread over, as requested.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 15/09/2025 08:40

Changes like this are ALWAYS worth getting checked out. Have you seen any blood or very dark stools, are you losing weight?

How are old are you OP? I ask because hormones can also make our bowels downward things.

Original poster

Limon87 · 15/09/2025 09:15

No changes in stool colour or blood, no great pain either although feeling discomfort today. I’m 38 and had a miscarriage in May. Very anxious and stressed but this just feels very different.

OP posts:

Original poster

Limon87 · 15/09/2025 11:51

Doctor thinks I am extremely backed up. Prescribed some arachis oil - also getting a FIT sample done. No haemorroids or anything felt in rectum and no lumps or hard things felt in stomach. Wish me luck!

OP posts:

Greysowhat · 15/09/2025 12:32

Good luck @Limon87 with the arachis oil.

I wonder if your pelvic floor might be a problem. Apparently most cases of constipation are down to this. With stress and anxiety sometimes it can become tense and there's one part that loops around the colon keeping poo in until it's time to release it all. Sometimes if tense this does not relax to let out the poo. You can feel like it's on the way but then it feels stuck. The more you get anxious about going to the loo, the less likely it is to release. And if not fully released then it can cause those narrow stools you mention.

To test if the pelvic floor is relaxed try doing some deep breaths into your belly and down into your pelvis. If that's difficult then your pelvic floor might be tight. To compare try doing the belly breaths when you know you are very relaxed, usually when just waking up in the morning is a good time.

I had that for years and went through all the laxatives and tests including colonoscopy. All tests were fine and eventually I figured out it was pelvic floor tension. I have to make sure and stay relaxed in the mornings until I go to the loo or it can all tighten up on me purely because I think about it.

Hope it all works our for you, I'm sure it will. And very good no lumps or hard things found.

Original poster

Limon87 · 15/09/2025 15:33

Greysowhat · 15/09/2025 12:32

Good luck @Limon87 with the arachis oil.

I wonder if your pelvic floor might be a problem. Apparently most cases of constipation are down to this. With stress and anxiety sometimes it can become tense and there's one part that loops around the colon keeping poo in until it's time to release it all. Sometimes if tense this does not relax to let out the poo. You can feel like it's on the way but then it feels stuck. The more you get anxious about going to the loo, the less likely it is to release. And if not fully released then it can cause those narrow stools you mention.

To test if the pelvic floor is relaxed try doing some deep breaths into your belly and down into your pelvis. If that's difficult then your pelvic floor might be tight. To compare try doing the belly breaths when you know you are very relaxed, usually when just waking up in the morning is a good time.

I had that for years and went through all the laxatives and tests including colonoscopy. All tests were fine and eventually I figured out it was pelvic floor tension. I have to make sure and stay relaxed in the mornings until I go to the loo or it can all tighten up on me purely because I think about it.

Hope it all works our for you, I'm sure it will. And very good no lumps or hard things found.

You know something I’ve been thinking this myself thank you so much. I definitely am the opposite of relaxed. It’s insane how backed up I am. Never had anything like it. But I have a beautiful three year old little boy and had my fourth baby loss in May and the grief has just destroyed my nerves. Got proper panicked. Have relaxed a bit just not enough to poop!

OP posts:

Greysowhat · 15/09/2025 17:09

Limon87 · 15/09/2025 15:33

You know something I’ve been thinking this myself thank you so much. I definitely am the opposite of relaxed. It’s insane how backed up I am. Never had anything like it. But I have a beautiful three year old little boy and had my fourth baby loss in May and the grief has just destroyed my nerves. Got proper panicked. Have relaxed a bit just not enough to poop!

Show quote history

So sorry to hear about your miscarriages. That's sure to cause upset and anxiety. My problems started when we lived overseas and my partner had a serious health scare. I went from pooing like clockwork to not being able to. Hopefully that's all that is wrong for you too. Try not to worry about colon cancer, I'd say it's unlikely. Especially given your age. And your symptoms not really those of colon cancer as far as I know.

And just a quick tip..., if you can, avoid any suppositories for several days before the FIT test. Inserting can cause tiny splits in the skin, you wouldn't even notice it but it might show up in a FIT test as positive.