Colon/rectal cancer seems to be a community worry

[mroussa]

And I have now, too.

It started last week. I uped my dosage of Zoloft from 100 mg to 150, per Dr's orders. Since then I have been constipated. No a lot of stomach cramps, just more needing to go but can't. I have gone to the bathroom a couple of times everyday, so I guess it's moving out slowly but surely.

SO TMI. 

My concern comes in with the tailbone pain I have had off & on. Sometimes it's in my tailbone, sometimes it's more on the rectum. Sometimes it's none at all. And yes, it does feel better after I use the restroom. I sit ALL DAY at work, so by the time I leave for the day I am now a little sore and numb.

No bleeding. Stools are ok looking.

In my sick head, I vision a tumor in my butt, causing pressure on my bum & growing larger by the day. No cancer in my family. I am 31.

My husband thinks I've lost it. Moreso than before.

[marc]

My wife who is a pharmacist said that Zoloft can cause constipation. I think the other feelings
you are having may be due to IBS or sitting all day. Colon rectal cancer at your age is
extremely remote.

[mroussa]

THAT'S COMMON SENSE.

My mind doesn't work like that. I read that Zoloft can cause constipation. So I am trying to believe that. Also, people just GET constipation, from diets, no enough water, etc. But being ME, I'm freaking out & giving myself panic attacks.

I seriously stayed up all night worrying over this.

[fiendclub]

I can relate! I also an convinced that I have CC!

I have had IBS-type symptoms for years now (D, mucus, some abdominal pain before a BM, thin stools sometimes), and I am convinced that it is CC, not just regular old IBS. Now I am even having weird leg/back/hip twinges-- You know what that must mean: The "tumour" I have up my butt is pressing on nerves! lol 

My grandpa had CC at age 75 (he's fine now). All of my aunts and uncles, along with my Dad, went for colonoscopies. Two of my aunts and one of my uncles had non-cancerous polyps removed. I was told to go for a colonoscopy at age 35 (I'm 28). I know that I should go simply because I am having digestive issues and because of my family history, but my anxiety about seeing a doctor is so great right now that I just can't bring myself to do it.

My Mom has been an RN for 30 years, and she says that almost every single CC patient first presents with persistent rectal bleeding.

Oh, and because I'm sure you are all wondering (I know I do when someone posts that they know someone who was dx'd with something that I am terrified of), my Grandma told me that my Grandpa originally went to the hospital because he went for a walk and was so exhausted that he couldn't make it home. She also said that he was as white as a ghost for months before he was dx'd. I also rememember that as a kid, he ALWAYS had hemhrroids (sp?). So I guess that would be anemia and rectal bleeding...? Anyway, he's totally fine, and it's been over five years!

[mroussa]

Thanks for sharing!

I know CC is something that young people RARELY get. And like I said, I do not have persistent bleeding or any 0213 all.

Why is it that every new symptom, no matter how minor it is, scares the crap out of me????

[fiendclub]

I am scared of every "symptom", pain, twinge, tremor, WHATEVER too, mroussa!

Sometimes I wonder if my HA is actually just a fear of death...? I've been considering that for a while.

[mroussa]

My HA is bc of a fewar of dying & leaving my small children. I have a son who has Cystic Fibrosis & my fear is leaving him when he needs me most. He is only 3 & has so much ahead of him. My daughter is 6 months. I get so worked up bc I fear that I will die & leave them while they are young.

[mroussa]

Starting to think maybe this is all bc of a hemmroid. That would make more sense than CC or rectal cancer..... I did just have a baby 6 months ago. And the "pain" is more on the outside than up IN me. If that makes sense. It's like a scratchy kind of pain. And there is a TINY amount of red blood when I wiped (not when I had a BM, though).

So. A hemmroid. That's what I am going to start telling myself.

[daviezmom]

My dad passed away of cc ans I freaked and got a colonoscopy . It was fine. Well, I had a polyp ans have to get another scope done in 3 years, but miraculously as soon as they told me I didn't have cancer, my symptoms went away.