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I Have A GI Appointment On Monday And I'm Concerned
Question: I have a GI appointment on Monday and I'm concerned about colorectal cancer. I'm 28. I've had diarrhea off and on but mostly on for almost two months. My stool has been flat the last week. Not stringy but flat. I had blood tests, urine tests and fecal tests and everything came back pretty normal. Slightly elevated WBC (11.1) but everything else normal. No blood in the stool or urine. I'm a highly anxious person. Help!
I have a GI appointment on Monday and I'm concerned about colorectal cancer. I'm 28. I've had diarrhea off and on but mostly on for almost two months. My stool has been flat the last week. Not stringy but flat. I had blood tests, urine tests and fecal tests and everything came back pretty normal. Slightly elevated WBC (11.1) but everything else normal. No blood in the stool or urine. I'm a highly anxious person. Help!
Brief Answer:
No its not colorectal carcinoma rather can be IBS.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Firstly 28 is a very rare age for colorectal carcinoma.Less then 1% cases of colorectal carcinoma occurs before age of 40.Secondly as reports are normal and there are no specific tell tale signs of cancer its very likely IBS(Irritable bowel syndrome) or viral recurrent gastroenteritis.
If i were your primary doctor i would have investigated you on guidelines or irritable bowel syndrome.Lastly anxiety stimulates the nervous system hence causing severe vagal nerve stimulation.This cause the food to move fast hence is not digested properly.
In case you want details about IBS please follow up.
Hope i was helpful.
Thank you and regards!
No its not colorectal carcinoma rather can be IBS.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Firstly 28 is a very rare age for colorectal carcinoma.Less then 1% cases of colorectal carcinoma occurs before age of 40.Secondly as reports are normal and there are no specific tell tale signs of cancer its very likely IBS(Irritable bowel syndrome) or viral recurrent gastroenteritis.
If i were your primary doctor i would have investigated you on guidelines or irritable bowel syndrome.Lastly anxiety stimulates the nervous system hence causing severe vagal nerve stimulation.This cause the food to move fast hence is not digested properly.
In case you want details about IBS please follow up.
Hope i was helpful.
Thank you and regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
No its not colorectal carcinoma rather can be IBS.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Firstly 28 is a very rare age for colorectal carcinoma.Less then 1% cases of colorectal carcinoma occurs before age of 40.Secondly as reports are normal and there are no specific tell tale signs of cancer its very likely IBS(Irritable bowel syndrome) or viral recurrent gastroenteritis.
If i were your primary doctor i would have investigated you on guidelines or irritable bowel syndrome.Lastly anxiety stimulates the nervous system hence causing severe vagal nerve stimulation.This cause the food to move fast hence is not digested properly.
In case you want details about IBS please follow up.
Hope i was helpful.
Thank you and regards!
No its not colorectal carcinoma rather can be IBS.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Firstly 28 is a very rare age for colorectal carcinoma.Less then 1% cases of colorectal carcinoma occurs before age of 40.Secondly as reports are normal and there are no specific tell tale signs of cancer its very likely IBS(Irritable bowel syndrome) or viral recurrent gastroenteritis.
If i were your primary doctor i would have investigated you on guidelines or irritable bowel syndrome.Lastly anxiety stimulates the nervous system hence causing severe vagal nerve stimulation.This cause the food to move fast hence is not digested properly.
In case you want details about IBS please follow up.
Hope i was helpful.
Thank you and regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you. What would be making my stool flat and ribbon-like?
Thank you. What would be making my stool flat and ribbon-like?
Brief Answer:
Very likely low fibre diet is causing in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Digestion is a complex process involving the breakdown of food followed by absorption and excretion. If one or more of the step is hampered there would be a change in consistency, frequency or nature of stools. This feature is basically most common change seen in patients with IBS whose fiber intake is less then 30 gram a day.
Take 10 gram of Ispaghula husk with a glass of water. It would add bulk and give shape to the stool.
Regards!
Very likely low fibre diet is causing in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Digestion is a complex process involving the breakdown of food followed by absorption and excretion. If one or more of the step is hampered there would be a change in consistency, frequency or nature of stools. This feature is basically most common change seen in patients with IBS whose fiber intake is less then 30 gram a day.
Take 10 gram of Ispaghula husk with a glass of water. It would add bulk and give shape to the stool.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Very likely low fibre diet is causing in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Digestion is a complex process involving the breakdown of food followed by absorption and excretion. If one or more of the step is hampered there would be a change in consistency, frequency or nature of stools. This feature is basically most common change seen in patients with IBS whose fiber intake is less then 30 gram a day.
Take 10 gram of Ispaghula husk with a glass of water. It would add bulk and give shape to the stool.
Regards!
Very likely low fibre diet is causing in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Digestion is a complex process involving the breakdown of food followed by absorption and excretion. If one or more of the step is hampered there would be a change in consistency, frequency or nature of stools. This feature is basically most common change seen in patients with IBS whose fiber intake is less then 30 gram a day.
Take 10 gram of Ispaghula husk with a glass of water. It would add bulk and give shape to the stool.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I saw the GI specialist today. She said she also doubts cancer. She said I should take a probiotic and a fiber supplement and follow up in 3 weeks. If the issues have not resolved she will ask to do a colonoscopy. She diagnosed me as having post-infectious IBS since these symptoms came on after a stomach flu. I occassionally use snus and alcohol. I know snus has not been linked to colorectal cancer but could either vices contribute to a possible colon cancer diagnosis? I guess im still bot convinced that that isnt what it is...
I saw the GI specialist today. She said she also doubts cancer. She said I should take a probiotic and a fiber supplement and follow up in 3 weeks. If the issues have not resolved she will ask to do a colonoscopy. She diagnosed me as having post-infectious IBS since these symptoms came on after a stomach flu. I occassionally use snus and alcohol. I know snus has not been linked to colorectal cancer but could either vices contribute to a possible colon cancer diagnosis? I guess im still bot convinced that that isnt what it is...
here is a picture of the ribbon stool i referenced
here is a picture of the ribbon stool i referenced
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Along with these medications an antispasmodic should also be taken like a combination of clidinium bromide and mebeverine initially for 21 days.
Patient with IBS responds to this combination very well.Unless the inflammation and spasms in intestines are relieved just taking a probiotic with fiber won't do much.
As there is no severe abdominal discomfort,Weight loss fatigue and blood in stools again for me its not cancer.
Please ask gastro to add the combination suggested above and if he does not add it then ask him/her why? and send to me answer my dear.
Regards!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Along with these medications an antispasmodic should also be taken like a combination of clidinium bromide and mebeverine initially for 21 days.
Patient with IBS responds to this combination very well.Unless the inflammation and spasms in intestines are relieved just taking a probiotic with fiber won't do much.
As there is no severe abdominal discomfort,Weight loss fatigue and blood in stools again for me its not cancer.
Please ask gastro to add the combination suggested above and if he does not add it then ask him/her why? and send to me answer my dear.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Along with these medications an antispasmodic should also be taken like a combination of clidinium bromide and mebeverine initially for 21 days.
Patient with IBS responds to this combination very well.Unless the inflammation and spasms in intestines are relieved just taking a probiotic with fiber won't do much.
As there is no severe abdominal discomfort,Weight loss fatigue and blood in stools again for me its not cancer.
Please ask gastro to add the combination suggested above and if he does not add it then ask him/her why? and send to me answer my dear.
Regards!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Along with these medications an antispasmodic should also be taken like a combination of clidinium bromide and mebeverine initially for 21 days.
Patient with IBS responds to this combination very well.Unless the inflammation and spasms in intestines are relieved just taking a probiotic with fiber won't do much.
As there is no severe abdominal discomfort,Weight loss fatigue and blood in stools again for me its not cancer.
Please ask gastro to add the combination suggested above and if he does not add it then ask him/her why? and send to me answer my dear.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
okay. i will ask. so you so not believe the snus use caused this issue.
okay. i will ask. so you so not believe the snus use caused this issue.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
In my native country XXXXXXX more then 50% people use tobacco(snus) and cancer rate is too low(colorectal).
Your age and your symptoms for me is something i would take initially as IBS.
However getting a colonoscopy done is never a bad idea.When we have investigations they should be done to rule out even least chances of any problem.
Thanks and regards!
Follow ups are welcome!
Do rate the answer.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
In my native country XXXXXXX more then 50% people use tobacco(snus) and cancer rate is too low(colorectal).
Your age and your symptoms for me is something i would take initially as IBS.
However getting a colonoscopy done is never a bad idea.When we have investigations they should be done to rule out even least chances of any problem.
Thanks and regards!
Follow ups are welcome!
Do rate the answer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
In my native country XXXXXXX more then 50% people use tobacco(snus) and cancer rate is too low(colorectal).
Your age and your symptoms for me is something i would take initially as IBS.
However getting a colonoscopy done is never a bad idea.When we have investigations they should be done to rule out even least chances of any problem.
Thanks and regards!
Follow ups are welcome!
Do rate the answer.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
In my native country XXXXXXX more then 50% people use tobacco(snus) and cancer rate is too low(colorectal).
Your age and your symptoms for me is something i would take initially as IBS.
However getting a colonoscopy done is never a bad idea.When we have investigations they should be done to rule out even least chances of any problem.
Thanks and regards!
Follow ups are welcome!
Do rate the answer.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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