Colon Cancer/Appendicitis. Going for a CT scan.

[Concerned-pa 17]

So starting a about 10 days or so ago, I started having what felt was like gastritis/reflux. It was off an on. Then I started noticing I was getting a burning/gnawing feeling in my right side abdomen. Then I noticed that raising my right knee to my chest made the pain worse (mostly lower right).

 

My doctor saw me yesterday and after examining the area (it was tender), he's ordering a CT scan. He's not real sure. He said there's not much down there but bowel and appendix. I don't have many other red flags, but I can't help but think it's not appendicitis since I'm not doubling over in pain, and it can wax and wane a little, but something is wrong. I burp a lot lately which is probably reflux but unrelated to that area. I don't have much of an appetite the past day or so, but that's not the case during this whole phase. I ate like 6 pieces of french toast the other night for dinner. I lost a little weight, but I also started intermittent fasting right around the time this started. It seems like the tenderness was worse after the doctor was poking and proding. That leads me to cancer. That in itself is bad, but then I Google it and I see the ascending colon cancers have a much lower survival rates as well. I'm a mess right now. I have two young boys and a wife, and I can't go yet!

[Acie 3]

Hi,

As we are anxious and sensitive people, we notice all kinds of pain that other people just don't notice or even if they do they disregard it as something really minor. So maybe your pain now keeps going on by the anxiety (even if was initially caused by some reason like eating something wrong or) because as I experienced by myself anxiety is like fuel for fire. Once we have symptom - we continue to feel it thanks to the anxiety and excessive attention to it. 

I also experienced all kinds of stomach pain which always made me think it's is 100% something sinister. The last episode of upper abdominal pain was lasting for a month and disappeared as spontaneously as it appeared. I believe all is good with you and with your colon.

When do you have your CT scan?

[Concerned-pa 17]

7 minutes ago, Acie said:

Hi,

As we are anxious and sensitive people, we notice all kinds of pain that other people just don't notice or even if they do they disregard it as something really minor. So maybe your pain now keeps going on by the anxiety (even if was initially caused by some reason like eating something wrong or) because as I experienced by myself anxiety is like fuel for fire. Once we have symptom - we continue to feel it thanks to the anxiety and excessive attention to it. 

I also experienced all kinds of stomach pain which always made me think it's is 100% something sinister. The last episode of upper abdominal pain was lasting for a month and disappeared as spontaneously as it appeared. I believe all is good with you and with your colon.

When do you have your CT scan?

They haven't gotten back to me yet. I'm.100% positive it's not anxiety as I actually went to the doctor thinking it was gastritis. Once he pressed on that spot and I felt that, I got concerned.

[Concerned-pa 17]

Thing that is odd is that I can stand around and not feel much discomfort, but once I press in that area, it's sore for a while. I also still have reflux like symptoms elsewhere (burping more than usual after drinking, gas moving around, etc).

[MARC 431]

In June 2021, I suddenly started throwing up and got a pain radiating from my abdomen to my back. I got nervous and I ended up in the ER at St Joseph Medical Center in Towson Maryland. I arrived at 5am and was taken back. My wife was allowed to come back with me. A CT scan was ordered with contrast of my abdomen and pelvis and blood and urine samples were taken. They also checked my cardiac enzymes. I was released at 3pm and had lost 10 pounds. I had an EGD the following week which was negative. They chalked it up to a virus, but who really knows for sure. I thought it was my pancreas and I may be a goner. Anyway, I hope you feel better soon. You may just have IBS or diverticulosis. However, I know it is hard not to worry. 

[Concerned-pa 17]

Sub acute appendicitis. Meet with the surgeon tomorrow. 

[MARC 431]

Good luck and let us know how it goes. 

[Concerned-pa 17]

Met with the surgeon today. He stated that I am an odd presentation. He said that with how long I have had it and will no severity like true acute appendicitis, he wants to treat it with antibiotics first to calm it down, and then remove it. My main concern however, is that it's not very enlarged on the CT scan, and the CT scan did not include the pelvis, so he couldn't get a good look at it and I guess the lower bowel. So now I'm worried that maybe this is cancer. The surgeon really didn't seem to think so, but my blood work was all normal (including white count which would indicate an infection). I'm spiraling a bit.

[MARC 431]

I think you need to rely on the surgeon. Another option is to get a second opinion. 

[Concerned-pa 17]

9 hours ago, MARC said:

I think you need to rely on the surgeon. Another option is to get a second opinion. 

Well the only good news on that front is two surgeons looked over the reports and both shared the same sentiment. 

[MARC 431]

That is good news, so at least you know the diagnosis is correct.