I have had a bowel problem all of this year,(constipation/diarreah, severe abdominal pain on occasions, feeling tired a lot etc) and have a family history of bowel cancer. I am awaiting a colonoscopy, but things have taken a turn for the worse, and I am really worried... I passed what looked like black water a few weeks ago, and last night had a very sloppy bowel movement, with bits of what I can only describe as black mucus in,(this has happened before) I have also had blood in my mouth, for no reason which is bright red, I have a sharp stitch like pain in the left side of my lower abdomen and feel really bloated and sick, I have also been feeling dizzy and generally unwell, I have been back and fourth to the doctors this year, and no-one seems to take me seriously. (the colonscopy is being done as routine, due to the family history of cancer). Sometimes the pain in my abdomen is so bad, its reduced me to tears, all I have been told is that I am constiptated and given laxatives, but things are just getting worse, and I am really starting to worry, my aunt who had cancer, has told me, all of my symptoms are what she had, and the colonscopy missed the tumour she had. I have been told after a rectal examination, that it felt like a hard stool in my back passage, she has told me that she was told the same, but it was actually a tumour. I have lost weight. I don't want to make a mountain out of this, but I am worried. Any advice would be appreciated, as I feel the Doctors just aren't taking me seriously.
Hi Pollyanna,
First, let me say, I'm sorry you're having such a terrible time of it. And second, I am not a doctor, nor is anyone else on this site, so these are only opinions.
Given your family history and your new symptoms, if I were you I would call my doctor today and request to talk to his or her nurse. Tell them about the blood in your mouth, the dark liquid, which could be dried blood, and all the rest of your symptoms. I don't know if these could be precursors to colon cancer or not, but I agree with you that these new symptoms do seem worrisome and like something that should be checked sooner rather than later.
IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease can and does cause bloody stool, fatigue, and assorted other symptoms.
IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause diarrhea or constipation, mucus, fatigue, etc. But is only diagnosed after all other GI-related possibilities have been ruled out.
If your current doctor does not take you seriously you may need to seek out a different doctor. And, of course, if you feel severely ill or become disoriented, faint, etc. you should go to the ER.
I hope you can get this sorted out and begin to get some treatment that helps you.
Best of luck,
Elizabeth
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