Worried about diagnosis

[ryanroks1]

Hey

I'm a 16 year old male and the past few months have been absolute hell for me. In around August, I started experiencing softer stools and increased flatulence, but I simply put it down to the stress of results day which was coming up. The symptoms continued, but since I was still going once a day, I just ignored it.

However, gradually I started to need to go more and more and the stools became increasingly more runny, and often quite violent. This wasn't persistent so I once again ignored the symptoms. A few weeks later, I started to notice bleeding because of an anal fissure (which I have had problems with since I was 13). I put all of this blood down to the fissure initially, although because of the amount, it did cross my mind that blood could also be coming from my bowel. At this point, I went to see my GP and was told that the fissure would be treated with cream and that the bowel issues are simply down to stress and worry.

At the start of November, the symptoms took another turn for the worse. I started to get desperate urges to go to the toilet, and school had become 8 hours of complete worry. I'd often be sitting there, and I'd then feel my stomach 'clunking' and I'd feel a sudden urge to go. Since I really disliked the school toilets, I had to hold in several of these urges per day, until it finally got too much and I had to miss a week of school. I went for another appointment, and I was then given blood tests to determine whether I had IBS or IBD.

I was hoping it'd be IBS since it runs in my family anyway, and I heard it can be easily treatable. However, I got my results and was told that they show inflammation is present. I was told I'd need a colonoscopy to determine whether it's Crohn's or UC. I burst out crying because it sounded all too scary and I still have the fear in my mind that I could have cancer.

School starts again on Monday, and although I have been given some Loperamide, I still get unpredictable urges, just with less frequency. I don't feel comfortable going out with friends and I have tickets booked to travel half way down the country to meet with some friends in late January. It feels like my whole year is going to be ruined, and above all, the worry of cancer is stressing me out to the extent where I get random panic attacks. Does anyone have any advice on how to relax, relieve symptoms or help prevent urges? Also, is cancer likely for my age group? Could this still be IBS?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[littlefreebird]

hi ryan, sorry to hear about your crappy start to 2015. Firstly, it's easier said than done but try not to worry, worry and stress make both IBS and IBD symptoms worse. When is your colonoscopy?? As a reassurance, bowel cancer is most common in people aged over 60. The unknown is scary, I remember it myself, but the sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can receive treatment. It's important that if you feel you are struggling to cope with your symptoms and struggling to lead a normal life, to ring your hospital/ dr and put pressure on them to try and get your investigations sooner.
As for trying to relieve symptoms, peppermint tea or capsules can be good, use your loperamide on your bad days. try and remember what you eat and see if it affects any of your symptoms for example people with IBS tend to have worse symptoms if they do not take enough fibre. IBD sufferers tend to be worse if they have too much fibre and can help relieve some symptoms by sticking to a low residue/ easy to digest diet.
hope you get sorted soon!

 

[Basmah]

Oh Ryan, you sounded a lot like me when I was diagnosed at 16. I can tell you, I am 27 now, and not one sign of cancer has appeared in my body. I also hated public bathrooms with a passion, but unfortunately I had to get used to them especially when I started college. Some ways to make bathrooms less disgusting - cover the seats with toilet paper, and bring your own wipes. While I get this may be embarrassing, talk to nursing as well as your teachers (or at least 1 or 2) so that they could be more accommodating both when you are attending class and when you are sick. The spectrum of IBD is becoming more common, so it is very likely that the adults and some of your friends have already heard of it. The stronger your support system is, the easier it will be...it can also help with your stress.

As for your stress, you could try some yoga and deep breathing even on your bed. Think of something that you like to do that doesn't require a lot of energy (reading, drawing, crossword puzzles). Like little free bird said, the sooner you get this all figured out, the better it will be for you to know what the next step is.

 

[ryanroks1]

Thanks for your replies. I'm still waiting for my initial consultation which is the 4th of March, and have been given some Pentasa and Loperamide for the time being. I currently take 4 Pentasa and 3 Loperamide a day, and my symptoms are beginning to settle down. I'm managing to attend school, but tiredness is definitely a problem and I really struggle to function when it's early.

However, I'm trying to remain optimistic - my consultation is almost here and then it'll be the road to remission!

 

[*yvonne*]

It's a lot to take in at any age but I can imagine at 16 it's worse so sorry to hear you're dealing with this. Glad to hear the Pentasa are helping and I hope your consultation goes well.

I use hypnosis downloads to help me relax and I can honesty say they are amazing. One of the sites I use is hypnosisdownloads.com.

Keep us posted with how you are.