Worried and Unsure

[Roni35]

Hello my name is Roni, I'm 35 and I live in Scotland. I was wondering if someone could help me please. For the past few weeks I've had a lot of stress and these last two weeks I've had a mixture of diarrhea and loose stools, these stools have been yellow. Then I had a "normal" brown stool at the weekend followed by the next day a yellow stool with a bit of dark stool on the side (sorry for the tmi), then that afternoon I had diarrhea. My appetite had gone down and I lost about 9lbs as I was barely eating while I was stressed. I've had discomfort in my upper middle abdomen, then slight pains on my left and right sides, both shoulder blades and some twinges in my mid left back. I've also had strong hunger pangs, rumbling stomach noise, rumbling noises in my throat and some reflux in my mouth but without the burning, no heartburn. I also have a lot of throat burping (just like little burps, it's like they're not coming from my stomach) I don't seem to have any pain when I eat but did feel quite uncomfortable like I was full quickly when I tried to start eating properly again and twice it was like the food just went straight through me. I'm so scared that this is pancreatic cancer. My doctor has suggested that I wait and see how I go over the next few days.

I had another "normal" stool yesterday. I know no one here can disgnose me but If I had pancreatic cancer could my stools just change from brown to yellow and then brown again? Thank you for any help/advice anyone can give.

[sandraW]

Hi Roni,

Welcome to the forum, the place no one wants to be but where hopefully you will get lots of help and advice.

I think with PC your stool would be a light beige colour not yellow, and understand this is due to the amount of fat in the food you have eaten, they also tend to be very smelly.

That's all the advice I can give as my husband never had this problem until right at the of his life, but I am sure others will be able to help more, or you could email the nurses here on Freephone 0808 801 0707

As scary as it is I think your doctor is probably right and you just need to see how you go for a few days, trying to eat properly and regularly, and hopefully it will sort its self out, stress can causes massive problems for our poor bodies, take care and let us know how you get on, sandrax

[PCUK Nurse Jeni]

Hi Roni,

Thanks for posting your concerns.

My name is Jeni, and I am one of the nurses working for the charity.

Sandra has given a very balanced response, and I would agree, stress can have a different impact on different individuals. You also mentioned that you were not eating during the period of stress, so this will have had an impact of course.

We would certainly be happy to chat with you Roni, and go over some of your symptoms - it might be easier to chat about things?

Please do feel free to call us this am - phone lines are open.

Kind regards,

Jeni Jones,

Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse,

Support Team.

[Roni35]

Thank you Sandra and Jeni,

Sorry to hear that you and your husband have had to go through this Sandra. It's such a horrible illness and I'm thinking about everyone who battling it.

I called the helpline this afternoon Jeni and I spoke to a very lovely gentleman, who helped put my mind at ease and gave me lots of useful advice. Im going to speak to my gp again and I will let you all know how I get on. Thank you both once again

[Proud Wife]

Good luck Roni!

I wouldn't wish this vile disease on my worst enemy so I will keep my fingers and toes crossed there's another perfectly good explanation for your symptoms.

You are doing the right thing though by being so vigilant. Better to be safe than sorry.

Take care! xxx

[PCUK Nurse Jeni]

Wonderful news Roni!

Well done on taking that step to call - and so pleased that you feel your mind has been put at ease.

Take care, and you know where we are should you need to clarify anything in the future.

Kind regards,

Jeni,

Support Team.

[BlacJAC]

Hi Roni, you're in a very similar situation to myself insofar as not being diagnosed with anything and other than the sore tummy and left sided pain, I have had very similar symptoms to yourself. My niggling pain is situated just slightly under my right ribs, about the half way point on my right sided rib cage. I think I've had every test and scan under the sun and still some. Yet nothing has been found

I can't really add anything other than stress can have a very real impact on your gastric tract. From your throat right down to where everything leaves your body. The upper part of your colon runs right over the region you're experiencing pain too and if your colon is irritated or gassy, it can cause discomfort in all the areas you mention too.

There's also more common conditions that can create all those symptoms you're experiencing. Such as gallbladder issues, food intolerance, stress etc. Since I've cut my fat intake down to 40-50g per day and moved over to lactose free products, almost all my symptoms have improved. During that time, I have went from going to the loo 3-4 times a day doing floaters(for years that was my 'normal'), to once a-day, with well formed, normal stools. Since sept 2015 and being 5ft 11", I have went from just over 14st down to 10st 8. My GP and GI doctors both think that's a combination of my low fat diet and stress. I needed to lose that weight, but would have preferred to have lost it my own way of choosing.

I have no idea if the lactose free milk etc has actually improved things, but it's certainly not making things worse. What i do know, Pizza, Chinese food and if i eat a lot of it, milk chocolate goes right through me and gives me a very loud rumbly stomach. You can hear it in another room. Other than a piece of chocolate here m there, I don't touch any of those foods any more. They don't like me and my body doesn't like them. Eat foods which you know you can eat properly and slowly introduce foods you can't. Note down all those you have issues with and see if you can see a pattern e.g. fats, wheat, lactose and whatever else.

[Proud Wife]

Great to hear your news BlacJac!!!

[BlacJAC]

Thanks PW. I'm actually doing fine and have no more appointments on the horizon unless i get new symptoms. The only outstanding concern from my GI doctor is I've to find another 1000 calories a-day to curb my weight lose. Everything was counted and I'm only taking in around 1500 calories, which will cause weight loss and will continue unless I up my intake. What I'm eating just now, my body feels comfortable with and my fear is, if i add more my issues will get worse again. So at a loss what i can add.