Really worried think there is something wrong with me!

[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Have suffered with constipation on and off for years. Have alos bled slightly when I have gone to the toilet for about 3/4 years because of this. Went to gp and she examined me and said I had piles internally from childbirth (oh the benefits of being a mum) and not to worry.
I am just so worried that it could be the big C. My friend who works in a hospicew said that if it was and I had been bleeding for that long 1 - I wouldn't be putting on weight and 2 - it would have got a lot worse and I would probably not be around if it was left untreated for so long.
I just feel so scared as I have also been having pains in my left hand side which the gp said was connected to constipation. Should I trust my gp's judgement?
Oh and sorry it's a bit of a personal post but I really needed to talk to someone . Dh just dismisses me and says I am worrying over nothing.
I am just really worried and scared

[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Thanks You too! xxx

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[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Hi Secur

Yes my old gp was aware as I had some counselling to try and help. One of the bits of advice , which I still stick to, is not to read take a break, woman, womans own, bella etc. As 9 times out of 10 there would be a story about someone ill/dying etc and it would be enough to trigger me off again!

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[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

That is the problem there are so many minor ailments that share symptoms of more sinister ones!

[Cod]

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[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Thanks Cod

[Cod]

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[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Thanks Secur. I am sure dd will be fine xxx

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories with me - much appreciated.

Mummylonglegs - yes i do have all of those symptoms so should know that it's okay. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me though

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[jamiesam]

To be reassuring in a different way, my dad and step-mum had colon cancer, treated (operated) very succesfully and both happy and healthy five plus years down the line.

Can't remember all the symptoms, but remember my dad talking about the extremely unpleasant taste in his mouth, which turned out to be a classic symptom.

As for blood when you go to the loo, I've had that on and off for years, but no constipation or other symptoms (and started pre-baby) so presume it could be down to lots of things and never really worried (have recently had internal investigations for consequences of third degree tear iykwim, and Dr didn't spot anything that I didn't know about?!?)

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[mummylonglegs]

Bh, I'm a hypochondriac too. Just now for instance I've had a flu virus which has gone on and on and left me with a continual cough. Because I've smoked on and off all my life though given up since pregnant (over 3 years ago now, dd's 2.5) I started suspecting lung cancer. I know it sounds daft and dp actually laughed when I told him. But I've spent a couple of weeks mentally visiting my own funeral and imagining my horrible, slow, pointless death and driving myself crazy.

If it's any consolation re. your worries, and this is going to be straightforwardly graphic, if you pass very bright red blood and especially if it's on the toilet paper rather than in the toilet, the likelihood is that it's very close to the anus. And if your GP has actually felt that you have piles and this is a long term thing with no weight loss, low left-hand sided pain, no change in appetite etc. I think you can put your mind at rest. As best you can of course!

My Ex dh's mum and grandmother both died of cancer of the colon a year apart from each other. In both cases it was very quick, from the moment they started getting diarrhea and constipation constantly alternating with pain and bleeding, and were then diagnosed they had died within 3 months.

I'm intending this to be reassuring rather than scary.

Incidentally I think I've become SO much more afraid of being seriously unwell since becoming a mother. It's the thought that you're so needed and so responsible and that without you everything will fall apart.

[anorak]

Blossom, if this happened to me I would go and have a colonic. The therapists examine the colour and texture and can tell you a lot from that. Sorry to be graphic.

[colditzmum]

I also check that ds's breathing before I go to bed, and if I dan't hear it clearly I poke him to make him wriggle .

Apparantly Dr's are reluctant to "encourage" hypochonria because that can make it worse. The theory is that a hypochondriac will refuse to accept the answer they get anyway, so tests and scans are pointless. I'm not sure if I agree with this or not, but apparantly if I stopped checking my pulse, the anxious feelings will calm down. If I have a stressfull day, the feelings of panic are much stronger, but knowing that they have been caused by stress rather than illness helps me to be prepared for them, IYSWIM

[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Definitely Socci what a great idea

[Socci]

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[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Socci - Glad to hear that dd is starting ABA, I have heard it is great! My dd is 5.5 and we still don't have any dx but language disorder, frustrating in some ways. In other ways I cling on to the fact that she isn't labelled but still analyse the poor little things behaviour far too much. My dh is the same as yours. so level headed and I do his head in to be honest.

[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Colditz mum - I honestly thought I was the only one! It's horrible isn't it and I know that I need to put things into persective. I constantly check my breasts for lumps. Check the kids are still breathing before bed time
It got so bad that I insisted that I had a mole removed from my stomach that all of the pros said wasn't cancerous. I now have a big scar on my stomach and guess what.... it wasn't cancerous.
I demanded a chest x-ray 8 yrs ago when I coughed up blood once and my gp was dead against the idea. Again everything was clear.
I am worried that one day when I am dismissive it will be too late.

[Socci]

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[Socci]

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[colditzmum]

I am also a hypochondriac. In the cold light of day, I know that getting a blood clot and dying of a heart attack is no more likely for me than it is for any other 24 year old woman, but at night,oh God at night, I sit and cry, and take my pulse, and check my lips in the mirror to see if they are blue (which they never are), every leg pain is DVT, and the only release is sleep, which doesn't come because I am too anxious.

It is horrible. I really feel for anyone who gets these feelings. And BH, if going to the Dr and demanding a proper exam will make you feel better, then do it. No-one deserves to live in a state of constant panic.

[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Poor you socci - yes we do sound similar and have lots of similarities don't we?
How is dd doing. I have such a bad memory but how old is dd? (IIRC is dd 4?)
I feel that I am the worst person possible that could have had a special needs child as I worry excessively about her. I can't change a habit of a life time though. Although am having counselling at the carers centre to try and get my head round it all!
Thanks Oatcake - that really cleared it up for me! (not literally unfortunately )

[oatcake]

Your right hand side is where the poo comes into the colon and leaves by the left hand side. If your pains were more on the right, then that would be BIG time constipation! lol!