Hi bjmc,

I am 53yo female and had symptoms for much longer than 5mos. After dr visits and an ER visit, X-rays, and ct scan I was told I had an impacted bowel and a guess that it could be IBS. Decided to go to a GI dr and she also guessed IBS, but said since I had never had a colonoscopy I should get one. If you have not had a colonoscopy let me relieve your fears, it’s nothing. The idea of it is far worse than the process. But for me I woke up with the news that the dr could not complete the colonoscopy because of a tumor blocking my sigmoid colon. I am 9 weeks out from a Colectomy where they removed 12” of my sigmoid colon. I had a stage 2 adenocarcinoma. No cancer was found in my lymph nodes. I did not have to do any chemo or radiation. I will have to get tests every 6 months for awhile and colonoscopies more frequently than most people. But I’ll take it! I am healing well and cannot believe how much better I feel and how long I actually lived with the symptoms.
It is scary. But you are ahead of the game already. Try and have a positive attitude because that does help. Expect the best outcome and know that you can get through whatever it is you need to do.