Another bowel screening question..

[Morry15]

I feel so silly writing here but need to get over my health anxiety....

Have been having lower left abdominal pain (sharp pangs) for over a week.

Due to my high anxiety, anything unusual I follow up with my GP. Had an appt on Monday, he said its probably a UTI! and prescribed me antibiotics. I didnt take them.

I explained that ive had UTIs before and this is not how they presented. He said they can present in many ways. Fair enough I guess.

Pain getting worse and changes in bowel movements. I go back to the GP today (different doctor sees me). They order bloods and ask me to provide a stool sanple (FIT screening). No issue.

I asked if the sample comes back positive what's the next step. Quote 'if the sample is positive it means you have blood in your stool which indicates some form of gut cancer'

I said surely you can't say that just from the FIT sample? She nodded. Yes that's what this test is for.

Im freaking out!! Im waiting for the result that should come through in about 3- 4 days.

8 months ago I had an abdominal CT scan (in another country) that showed nothing suspect. I mentioned this and the GP said CT scans are rubbish and can't pick up anything to do with the abdomen.

I know the gold standard is a colonoscopy but im not sure a CT scan is rubbish.

My anxiety is off the charts at the moment. BTW im 50 year old female.

Thanks for reading.

A FIT test is used in bowel cancer screening but blood doesn’t mean you have cancer. Presence of blood over a certain level would result in a colonoscopy.
Cant diagnose obviously but left side pain is associated with gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/diverticular-disease/

I think your GP needs retraining, blood in stools can be other things, colitis, diverticulitis, IBS, chrons to name a few. Abnormal scans are different to bowel scans.

Thank you. I knew the information wasn't correct but she was adamant.

I had a positive fit test, colonoscopy showed nothing more sinister than internal haemorrhoids. Your doctor needs a refresher course!

I'd tell you not to worry but I know how easy that is

That is not true re FIT tests. It can indicate IBD or haemorrhoids as well, although it is generally looking for ‘hidden’ blood.

A colonoscopy may be the 'gold standard' but in my case it didn't show up everything of the bowel and today I've had a CT scan.
My GP put me on the 2 week pathway when my stool result showed blood in it so I'm waiting now on the scan results which they wouldn't have done if it was 'rubbish'!
I've had no pain just the blood in the stool.
Don't panic (easy to say!)

PS when I did have short sharp pains on the left side some years ago it turned out to be diverticulitis. Can't remember how it was solved though.
What did the GP suggest would happen IF your FIT comes back positive?

GP said id be sent for a colonoscopy on the 2 week pathway.

Im so freaked out that I ordered a home FIT kit to arrive tonorrow. Not sure how reliable they are.

Was your diverculitis a one off?

Diverticulitis is never a one off. Look it up, if you have the diverticular, you have them for life. Some people have no symptoms. In some people the diverticular get infected which can be absolute agony and the most common place to have them is the sigmoid colon (lower left hand side)

My 'diverticulitis' was a painful one off.

May I ask why you've had a CT scan today (you mentioned the colonoscopy did not show everything)?

Yes sorry, I worded that wrong. You will always have the diverticular but the diverticulitis could be a one off, they may not get infected again (I hope not).

I had a positive FIT test a couple of years ago which was not due to bowel cancer but ulcerative proctitis (a form of IBD). If it does come back positive, they should put you on the 2 week pathway. It would be worth asking for a faecal calprotectin stool test though as this is more indicative of IBD (mine came back very high). I’m sure the FIT test came with a very reassuring leaflet though that explained the statistics re positive results and bowel cancer.

Easier said than done I know, but try not to stress too much in the meantime.

They couldn't complete the colonoscopy but I'd rather not go into details. They found nothing untoward from what they did see. The CT scan was specifically to look at the bowel.

Only about 9% of people having colonoscopies have cancer, and some of those will be very early stage.

A FIT test shows blood - and there are so many reasons for blood.

Hi

Just an update. My FIT score (GP one) came back as under 6 with a note saying low risk of cancer. Good news!!

My abdominal pain is however persistent and getting worse so I'll reach out to the GP again.

Thank you for the messages.

Good news your FIT test came back OK. Did your doctor also do a physical examination, like pushing down certain parts of your tummy?

I've had ongoing intermittent pain for several months, thought to be diverticulitis, although IBS was also queried. No blood, no weight loss, FIT test fine, CA125 blood test ok. I'm guessing all that doesn't necessarily qualifying me for a colonoscopy, but I'm going to ask if that can be the next step then diverticulitis can be confirmed.

Sometimes it's just a mystery what is going on in the tummy area. Good luck.

I had bowel screening test last year as i was 50 which was ok. In the November i started experiencing pain in tummy and left side always have loose stools and IBS. My doctor ordered a FIT test which got sent thro post that was ok too. Im a terrible worrier too. Ive been sent for an Ultrasound which was all clear too. The pain still comes and goes . Have follow up with GP at end of month. I did have blood tests the only thing they found was that my VitD level was very low and Calcium to high. Doctor thinks its all related to parahyperthyroidism.