Colon Cancer or Appendicitis...Going for CT Scan.

[Concerned-pa]

So starting a about 10 days or so ago, I started having what felt was like gastritis/reflux. It was off an on. Then I started noticing I was getting a burning/gnawing feeling in my right side abdomen. Then I noticed that raising my right knee to my chest made the pain worse (mostly lower right).
My doctor saw me yesterday and after examining the area (it was tender), he's ordering a CT scan. He's not real sure. He said there's not much down there but bowel and appendix. I don't have many other red flags, but I can't help but think it's not appendicitis since I'm not doubling over in pain, and it can wax and wane a little, but something is wrong. I burp a lot lately which is probably reflux but unrelated to that area. I don't have much of an appetite the past day or so, but that's not the case during this whole phase. I ate like 6 pieces of french toast the other night for dinner. I lost a little weight, but I also started intermittent fasting right around the time this started. It seems like the tenderness was worse after the doctor was poking and proding. That leads me to cancer. That in itself is bad, but then I Google it and I see the ascending colon cancers have a much lower survival rates as well. I'm a mess right now. I have two young boys and a wife, and I can't go yet!

 

[Loki83]

I’ve had this feeling off and on for over 6 years. Sometimes it can stick around for months to varying intensity. Was told it could be a hernia but had a clean CT, was told it was muscular so had occupational therapy, two years ago had another clean CT when it intensified. I think it’s GERD, and IBS. It’s almost like I can feel my food digesting, sometimes it’s painful, more so at night. Mostly it’s a dull ache. I think I’m hypersensitive to it and that’s why.

 

[Concerned-pa]

I’ve had this feeling off and on for over 6 years. Sometimes it can stick around for months to varying intensity. Was told it could be a hernia but had a clean CT, was told it was muscular so had occupational therapy, two years ago had another clean CT when it intensified. I think it’s GERD, and IBS. It’s almost like I can feel my food digesting, sometimes it’s painful, more so at night. Mostly it’s a dull ache. I think I’m hypersensitive to it and that’s why.

Yeah the pain has definitely shifted around and it's lessened quite a bit today. It is actually almost nonexistent today even after eating. It's still a little sensitive lifting my leg but not too bad. I still haven't gotten it for a CT scan but considering that I'm now on day 12 or so and 3 days after my doctor's appointment I'm guessing I'm okay for appendicitis.

I noticed that when this all started I began experiencing a lot of burping and pressure in my upper abdomen. I also wasn't passing a lot of gas seemed like but it was moving around in my stomach. The last day or so I've started passing more gas and it's bringing a lot more relief. I'm too afraid to start poking and prodding down there in case it is appendicitis because they say not to poke it.

Finally I just looked back at my doctor's notes and it looks like almost a year ago in November I was in for the same thing and he checked for a hernia and didn't find anything. Trying to stay positive.

 

[Loki83]

I had my appendix removed three or so years ago, the pain was so intense and consistent that I didn’t sleep the night before I went to the ER and the pain never stopped.
I have a colonoscopy scheduled in February because of other things, mostly a screen since I have a slight family history. I can feel the dull ache or burn right now sitting at my desk. It doesn’t stop me from doing any activities but I can feel it. It’s like a nagging pull or like my abdomen is tensely stretched. After this colonoscopy is hopefully clean, I’m just going to assume it’s some kind of sensitivity issue that I’ll live with coming and going.
Also I’m pretty sure my GI doctor said the same thing about there not being much there when I complained two years ago about the feeling haha. Especially because I had already had my appendix removed.

 

[mollyfin]

Honestly sounds a lot like gastritis that I've had. I've had it last for months. Unpleasant but not dangerous. Hopefully that's all you're dealing with. People often underestimate how painful minor gastric issues can be.

 

[Concerned-pa]

Had a bit of a setback last night and I'm starting to stress a bit. The last two evenings, I've gotten what feels like a gas pain/urge to go cramp really low and center of my abdomen. It lasted for a few minutes then went away. Two nights ago later on after that first episode, I went to the bathroom and it was normal. Last night, I went to the bathroom (I also had been passing a ton of gas), and I had a relatively normal color consistency, except the very end that was blackish/greenish an basically just like mush. I immediately thought cancer. This morning my stomach just feels gurgled and off. My mind is starting to spiral a bit.

I did have three glasses of wine last evening (between 8-9:30). I went to the bathroom around 3am. Not sure if that had any effect, but probably not.

 

[mollyfin]

"Blackish greenish" isn't abnormal. If you start pooping the color and consistency of road tar, you should be alarmed.

 

[Gooze17]

Had a bit of a setback last night and I'm starting to stress a bit. The last two evenings, I've gotten what feels like a gas pain/urge to go cramp really low and center of my abdomen. It lasted for a few minutes then went away. Two nights ago later on after that first episode, I went to the bathroom and it was normal. Last night, I went to the bathroom (I also had been passing a ton of gas), and I had a relatively normal color consistency, except the very end that was blackish/greenish an basically just like mush. I immediately thought cancer. This morning my stomach just feels gurgled and off. My mind is starting to spiral a bit.

I did have three glasses of wine last evening (between 8-9:30). I went to the bathroom around 3am. Not sure if that had any effect, but probably not.

Sounds like a stomach bug honestly

 

[Concerned-pa]

Going in for the CT scan today.

Went to the bathroom today and looks like there were orange specks/streaks throughout. Not gonna lie, this may end badly. I did eat a lot of carrots on Monday evening, but that's it.

 

[Danny1001]

Be positive, something or someone is with you protecting you , you will be ok , I don’t want to ruin the end of the story but I assure you , everything will be ok .


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[Iugrad91]

You ate a lot of carrots and your BM had orange in it. So why then do you jump to the conclusion that your scan will end badly? When we are stressed (and for other non sinister reasons) our digestive system moves more quickly and we can see partially digested food in our stool, among having loose stool, gas, etc.

Going in for the CT scan today.

Went to the bathroom today and looks like there were orange specks/streaks throughout. Not gonna lie, this may end badly. I did eat a lot of carrots on Monday evening, but that's it.

 

[Concerned-pa]

You ate a lot of carrots and your BM had orange in it. So why then do you jump to the conclusion that your scan will end badly? When we are stressed (and for other non sinister reasons) our digestive system moves more quickly and we can see partially digested food in our stool, among having loose stool, gas, etc.

I had the carrots on Monday and today is Wednesday. I had a small BM yesterday evening and it too had the orange specks. So maybe I just didn't have a complete BM last evening?

 

[Danny1001]

Yes that’s very possible sometimes I’ve eaten foods and then they will appear my stool days later bits and pieces of food can get stuck along the digestive track and come out later it’s very normal


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[Danny1001]

I honestly think your doctors Is being very prudent with the CT scan I do not believe he is suspecting anything sinister that’s just an opinion I’m not a doctor but one month of off bowel movements is common for a lot of people if everyone had a CT scan because of one month of off bowel movements there will be a lineup a mile long


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[Concerned-pa]

Appendicitis.

 

[Danny1001]

You got the results?


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[Concerned-pa]

You got the results?


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Yep. It's very mild. So we're going to treat with antibiotics first and then I'm going to go see a surgeon.

 

[Concerned-pa]

Met with the surgeon today. He stated that I am an odd presentation. He said that with how long I have had it and will no severity like true acute appendicitis, he wants to treat it with antibiotics first to calm it down, and then remove it. My main concern however, is that it's not very enlarged on the CT scan, and the CT scan did not include the pelvis, so he couldn't get a good look at it and I guess the lower bowel. So now I'm worried that maybe this is cancer. The surgeon really didn't seem to think so, but my blood work was all normal (including white count which would indicate an infection). I'm spiraling a bit.

 

[roadtocalmness]

Met with the surgeon today. He stated that I am an odd presentation. He said that with how long I have had it and will no severity like true acute appendicitis, he wants to treat it with antibiotics first to calm it down, and then remove it. My main concern however, is that it's not very enlarged on the CT scan, and the CT scan did not include the pelvis, so he couldn't get a good look at it and I guess the lower bowel. So now I'm worried that maybe this is cancer. The surgeon really didn't seem to think so, but my blood work was all normal (including white count which would indicate an infection). I'm spiraling a bit.

What ive learned from the past weeks is to trust my docs. I really thought i was the odd case that was miserably failed by the medical system. I dont think you have cancer. You have also mentioned on and off pain. You have done anything that you should have.

 

[Concerned-pa]

What ive learned from the past weeks is to trust my docs. I really thought i was the odd case that was miserably failed by the medical system. I dont think you have cancer. You have also mentioned on and off pain. You have done anything that you should have.

Thanks. It's just hard to wrap my head around this being a non typical case. Makes me feel like there is something else.