Medical Problem My Hubby is Having---Any Ideas?

AC7179

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I'm not looking for a diagnosis........but we are all very worried about a situation my husband has been dealing with and just got a call saying that he had abnormal tests. He can't call back until tomorrow and we are very worried.

For the last year and a half he has had pain in his abdomen. It started in the lower left quadrant and is not so much pain as discomfort. It would come and go and seemed it also occured around the same time that he would take Sudafed and Tylenol to get rid of sinus headache, as well as Zicam nosespray. This could be a coinidence. He is no longer taking any medicines, but the pain has gone to his upper quadrants just below his ribcage and almost feels muscular. It is a constant dull discomfort. Nothing seems to make it really better. He was prescribed a smooth muscle relaxant which helped, but anxiety and heavy foods seem to make it worse. He did have xrays and a sonogram which came back clear and has no fevers and no problems urninating or deficatining. He has occasionally had bleeding from the rectum (Sorry if TMI!) but dr. said was probably a fissure. He eats a POOR diet and, although thin, does not eat any green veggies and is a "meat-a-tarian." He also feels bloated in the abdominal area and has been having a lot of back pain as well.

We are worried because his dr. mentioned colon cancer as a possibility. He goes for a barium enema December 15. Two weeks ago he took a uninalysis with normal results. Last week, he took a urinalyis and blood tests and the doctor called back Friday (We missed the call) to tell him that one of his tests came back abnormal and he should call on Monday. So of course we are all stressed out and imagining the w rst case scenario of something horrible. We are very, very scared of cancer and are so afraid that is what he has.

My husband was laid off last August and before that was in a very high stress job. I am wondering if it could be ulcers or maybe gallbladder----OBviously, I don't expect a diagnosis over hte internet, but does anybody have any idea what they would test for in a blood test in a case like this? Thanks in advance.
 
Don't panic until there is a need. :grouphug: :grouphug: What you described sounded VERY MUCH like gallbladder issues. If there is something wrong with the test (IE gallbladder issues) they will not tell you over the phone.

Please keep us updated. :grouphug:
 
First of all, :grouphug:

Don't ever let a Dr. say "oh, it's just fissures." Any bleeding from the rectum should be diagnosed and not assumed to be anything. I would insist on blood work (sounds like he's already had that) and a colonoscopy.

My DD had problems her first 5 years of life and we were told about 20 times that "it's just fissures" Well, she had to have emergency surgery at 5 for Meckel's Diverticulum (an abnormality in the bowel that was causing a blockage.)

My brother also had bleeding and was told for 10 years that it was just hemorrhoids. It wasn't.

They probably tested a number of things in his blood including a test to see if he's anemic. It sounds like a gall bladder problem, but I'm not a Dr. It's also a good sign that he's "regular."

Tomorrow morning will be here before you know it. See what they say. It could be just a minor problem.

Keep us posted. Take it easy. :grouphug:
 
I would insist on colonoscopy, not a Barium enema. There are too many false readings from these xrays. A colonoscopy can give a true picture of what is exactly going on inside the colon. Could be all he has is some internal hemorrhoids with a condition called IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. The colon can cause spasms which trap gas in the colon and give you some pretty bad pain. I wouldn't jump to any conclusion before you have all the tests. Please do insist on a colonoscopy though, then you will know for sure!! Good luck.
 

I am sorry. I don't know what to say. Be strong for your family is about all you can do now. Keep it positive for your husband as best as you can.

However, I would step it up and go to an oncologist or something else besides a barium enema. I would assume cancer and redirect testing to more direct if that is possible. I don't know anything about it but I am sure a colonoscopy might be a better test???


:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
 
tiggersmom2 said:
Don't panic until there is a need. :grouphug: :grouphug: What you described sounded VERY MUCH like gallbladder issues. If there is something wrong with the test (IE gallbladder issues) they will not tell you over the phone.

Please keep us updated. :grouphug:

I have to disagree with this. It sounds nothing like gallbladder. In fact it sounds like colon cancer. Which is why I would insist on a colonoscopy or more.
Not that it is but I recommend you go for the jugglar and rule it out 1st!!!
 
The Mystery Machine said:
I have to disagree with this. It sounds nothing like gallbladder. In fact it sounds like colon cancer. Which is why I would insist on a colonoscopy or more.
Not that it is but I recommend you go for the jugglar and rule it out 1st!!!
every single symptom he has is what I had when my gallbladder came out so I would have to agree that there is a possibility of the gallbladder. Before they decided it was on my gallbladder however they did do an endoscopy and colonoscopy.
 
Ummm...just wanted to point out that we aren't doctors here. Yes, those symptoms ARE in line with gallbladder. Plenty of gallbladder symptoms mimic colon cancer. No need to freak the OP out needlessly....her hubby is having tests done!!

One thing you learn in healthcare is NEVER throw the C word around carelessly!!! It shouldn't be thrown around here either...the OP is worried enough.
 
I agree, tiggersmom2.

It could be a zillion different things. It could be something very minor. I usually have something come back abnormal on my blood work and nothing is wrong with me.

Find out what is going on tomorrow and go from there. The OP didn't say how old her DH was but I would start regular colonoscopy screening and yearly blood work.
 
Whatever it is the doctor is irritating to leave people hanging and then not order a colonoscopy when he says he thinks it could be cancer????
Something does not jive there, you know?
 
I, too, think it was pretty stupid for the Dr. to mention that and then not send him for a colonoscopy.

There are still thousands of Doctors out there today who just don't get the benefits of colonoscopies. I can't believe the number of Doctors who do flexible sigmoidoscopy and think that is worth anything.

Sometimes, Doctors say stupid things.
 
Well, he's a disabled vet and is being seen by the VA doctor.

I'm not saying anything about the VA doctors-----but in this case I'm not sure he's in the best of hands.

The doctor didn't say that he THINKS it is colon cancer, just that it is a possibility, along with diverticulitis, and other things he didn't clarify.

Woudl colon cancer come back on a blood test?

Thanks for all the hugs, thoughts, and advice.
 
It does sound have alot of gallbladder symptoms...(i just had mine out in March) but my pain was more on the right side.....

Did they check his gallbladder for stones when they did the sonogram?
 
my dad has a gallbladder problem and constantly felt stomach discomfort from it when he wasn't on medication for it. he still feels it occasionally, usually when he gets stressed out. i know he's had severe pains and not so severe pains from it.

let's hope it's not colon cancer. good luck to you! :hug:
 
not sure about checking the gallbladder for stones during the sonogram.

My husband is 33 years old.
 
Well, I just looked it up and saw that the blood test could have indicated anemia, which could indicate the colon cancer. Ugh. I am so scared. You don't realizse how much you take for granted until something like this occurs. Tomorrow can't come fast enough for me, I just want to get some results and KNOW what is wrong.
 
The Gallbladder is located on the upper right side of the abdomen. That being said, there can be the possibilty of deferred pain...

The best of luck tomorrow....morning will be here before you know it.
 
Regarding gall bladder; the symptoms DO sound like gall bladder EXCEPT that you said his pain is in the lower LEFT quadrant. Gall bladder pain is felt on the right side. (Not saying that it is impossible to feel gall bladder pain on the left side, but I don't think this is usual).

They did see my gall stones on a sonogram, that's how I was diagnosed, and I then had surgery to remove my gall bladder.

I would insist on a colonoscopy for your DH.

I hope whatever it is, it's (relatively) minor and can be treated :hug:
 
AC7179 said:
Well, I just looked it up and saw that the blood test could have indicated anemia, which could indicate the colon cancer. Ugh. I am so scared. You don't realizse how much you take for granted until something like this occurs. Tomorrow can't come fast enough for me, I just want to get some results and KNOW what is wrong.

my advice is stop looking stuff up on the internet. my sister calls me "internet dr." because i was going through a phase where i was a huge hypochondriac and every symptom i looked up on the internet and tried to diagnose myself. it didn't work, i got maybe 1% of the diagnoses i made correct. i know it's hard, but please don't stress out until you hear what it is from the dr.
 


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