Hello, i’m going to try to keep this short! I am a 21 year old male, i am also a newley father to a 7 month old girl, and i have a stay at home job on the computer. Im 155 pounds and 6 feet tall, and have a shitty diet that has a lot of processed meats, but the last few months i have cut down on a lot of bad food and i’m slowly getting better. I mention this to give you an idea of my life duties. I’ve had health anxiety for 3 years now, i’ve had nausea come and girl very rarely, but about 4 months ago i woke up randomly at 2am and vomitted quite a bit. 2 months after that I was so nauseous that i had to vomit but i just couldn’t. I also stated to develop some stomach pain in the middle, some days it’s not there and other days it’s intense. A month ago I had a random change in bowel habits, and become constipated. I’ve been constipated ever since then, i’ve seen my primary doctor and he prescribed me laxatives, which worked a tiny bit, i went back 2 weeks ago and told him that and he gave me a laxative pill to take, i had one HUGE poop after taking that and went back to being constipated basically. I use to have normal, brown poops, now I have tiny small dark brown poops that i have to strain out, sometimes i really have to push. A few days ago i went to a stomach doctor and i told him this and he scheduled me for a colonoscopy in 3 weeks. I mentioned colon cancer and he didn’t give me any reassurance, all he said was “yeah it could be”.. which does not help me at all. Sometimes right away after eating i get intense stomach pain, and i’m mostly nauseous at night and morning. I also sometimes have sharp short “butthole” pains, which sting but go away quickly. Now i’ve started to get side pains, on the left and right side, that are sharp. I’m tired but that’s because of the baby i believe, i don’t get that much sleep. Now last night I had terrible night sweats and woke up every hour soaked, and now I think my colon cancer has spread to my lymph nodes and at this point it’s basically too late to get any type of cure. I’m terrified of the colonoscopy because of both the surgery and the results. Has anyone else experienced any of this, I need some sort of help. My dream is to walk my daughter down the isle and i can’t die on her. Thank you for reading all of this and responding in advanced!
Terrified of colon cancer... help
- Thread starter willtyler
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Hi willtyler. I absolutely can't believe that a responsible physician would tell you that you MIGHT have colon cancer without having any blood in your stool. The worst part about a colonoscopy is the liquid you have to drink beforehand to clean you out. Sounds like your anxiety over this is showing up in a number of ways including the nausea and night sweats. Just one opinion, mine, is that everything will turn out fine and many of those symptoms will dissipate if you accept the findings of the colonoscopy. Thanks for the reminder that I really should get another colonoscopy. NOT. Don't worry, you'll be walking your daughter down the aisle and it's a really cool experience. (if you like who she's marrying)
Mandyhiero
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Just wanted to second what triceps said. The worst part of the colonoscopy is the worst part. The day I had mine, I could barely wake up enough for the doctor to tell me what he found and then I don’t remember anything but getting in the car to go home and getting out to walk in the house to my bed. I slept until 7:00 that evening.
I have two beautiful girls that every time my health anxiety ramps up, I pray and beg the Lord to keep me around to raise them. So I definitely know how you feel.
The stinging pain could be hemmrhoids. Try not to put too much into what that doctor said. It “could” be a lot of things. But I don’t look for it to be the C word. Praying everything turns out okay. I’m sure it will.
I have two beautiful girls that every time my health anxiety ramps up, I pray and beg the Lord to keep me around to raise them. So I definitely know how you feel.
The stinging pain could be hemmrhoids. Try not to put too much into what that doctor said. It “could” be a lot of things. But I don’t look for it to be the C word. Praying everything turns out okay. I’m sure it will.
RobbyH
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While it could be remotely possible, I seriously doubt you have colon cancer at your age. Constipation has MANY causes and colon cacner is only one of them - and quite rare at your age. Also, nausea and vomiting are typically NOT symptoms of colon cancer.
Personally I think you have IBS due to all your anxiety. I have had it for 30 years and it is always worse when I am real anxious. Could also be gastritis or an ulcer.
Sounds to me like you need to add fiber to your diet and cut out the processed meats and try (yes I know how difficult that is) not to focus on it as it only makes it worse.
Good luck
Robby
Personally I think you have IBS due to all your anxiety. I have had it for 30 years and it is always worse when I am real anxious. Could also be gastritis or an ulcer.
Sounds to me like you need to add fiber to your diet and cut out the processed meats and try (yes I know how difficult that is) not to focus on it as it only makes it worse.
Good luck
Robby
Hey, Will -
I get how upset and worried you are. I had a very similar experience a few years back myself, and I was just as terrified that it was colon cancer! It wasn't. And I'm betting it won't be for you, either.
Stomach pains, sweats, constipation... I've had all your symptoms and more. Like someone above said, I'd bet its more likely to be IBS worsened by anxiety. If that's what it is, you're going to be okay. It certainly isn't comfortable, but it's manageable and not life-threatening in the slightest. I was frightened of the colonoscopy and of hearing the results, but both were a lot better and less scary than I had imagined. We can imagine some pretty scary stuff.
I can't promise you you're going to be okay, only because I'm not a psychic forteller of the future (unfortunately!). But if I were putting money down, I'd bet you'll be fine. You're young, you didn't say you had a long family history of colon cancer, and all the symptoms you're having -- even the ones that scare you the most -- can also be explained by other things besides cancer. That is NOT the only outcome or answer for this. There's a zillion things that can go wrong in the gut.
One more thing: if you get a hot second to yourself in the next few months (or years!) read a book or two on health anxiety. I've had health anxiety since I was young like you and I can tell you that once you survive this incident, you'll return to the same place again over the years with new worries. If you can come to understand that fear, you'll hbe happier, and you might as well start now instead of waiting 'til your 40s like me. Some books that have helped me have been David Burns' Ten Days to Self-Esteem (not actually about self-esteem... worst title!) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks by Seth Gillihan.
You sound like a good guy, and a good Dad. Come back and let us know that you're okay. Try to get some sleep and focus on being in the moment with your daughter! =)
I get how upset and worried you are. I had a very similar experience a few years back myself, and I was just as terrified that it was colon cancer! It wasn't. And I'm betting it won't be for you, either.
Stomach pains, sweats, constipation... I've had all your symptoms and more. Like someone above said, I'd bet its more likely to be IBS worsened by anxiety. If that's what it is, you're going to be okay. It certainly isn't comfortable, but it's manageable and not life-threatening in the slightest. I was frightened of the colonoscopy and of hearing the results, but both were a lot better and less scary than I had imagined. We can imagine some pretty scary stuff.
I can't promise you you're going to be okay, only because I'm not a psychic forteller of the future (unfortunately!). But if I were putting money down, I'd bet you'll be fine. You're young, you didn't say you had a long family history of colon cancer, and all the symptoms you're having -- even the ones that scare you the most -- can also be explained by other things besides cancer. That is NOT the only outcome or answer for this. There's a zillion things that can go wrong in the gut.
One more thing: if you get a hot second to yourself in the next few months (or years!) read a book or two on health anxiety. I've had health anxiety since I was young like you and I can tell you that once you survive this incident, you'll return to the same place again over the years with new worries. If you can come to understand that fear, you'll hbe happier, and you might as well start now instead of waiting 'til your 40s like me. Some books that have helped me have been David Burns' Ten Days to Self-Esteem (not actually about self-esteem... worst title!) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks by Seth Gillihan.
You sound like a good guy, and a good Dad. Come back and let us know that you're okay. Try to get some sleep and focus on being in the moment with your daughter! =)
Hello, here to post an update.
No one could watch my daughter on the day of the colonoscopy, so I had it rescheduled to June 11 (which is in 6 days).
My symptoms have gotten worse, and now I feel like my lymph nodes in my neck are swollen pretty bad. I've basically convinced myself I have incurable cancer. I'll post an update after the procedure!
No one could watch my daughter on the day of the colonoscopy, so I had it rescheduled to June 11 (which is in 6 days).
My symptoms have gotten worse, and now I feel like my lymph nodes in my neck are swollen pretty bad. I've basically convinced myself I have incurable cancer. I'll post an update after the procedure!