Pancreatic Cancer worry

[Cdcmoon]

Spoke with my GP hoping to get a referral however he wants to do one more test - H.Pylori.

I am a bit disappointed as i spoke with another GP previously and stated my blood tests were 'ok' but i have been told today i have low vitamin D and high hemoglobin.

[Cdcmoon]

atm I have high hemoglobin and hematocrit and currently waiting to see a specialist.

Still have these pains mostly in my back with loose stools and general discomfort. Today I had green watery diarrhea, anyone know what that could mean?

[laci06]

How are you doing nowadays? I think we in a bit similar shoes, age, everything matches more or less.

I also never had anxiety related problems before, but it started 2 years ago and since then it is a bit difficult. Is it possible to reach out to you privately?

[Cdcmoon]

Hi,

Still have some issues although it could be anything right now. I was tested positive to h pylori and was given medication. I still have the pains although less frequent and diarrhea. My bloods I have been referred to a specialist so I am currently waiting for that. Have you had a diagnosis?

[Cdcmoon]

I would say stay clear of the internet. I have scared myself into oblivion diagnosing myself and finding little bits to fit my symptoms when actually my weight has steadied and I have gained some appetite back. You have got to trust the GP’s

[laci06]

Well, my story is I think quite similar to yours. Now I am 31, male. 2 years ago I started to have loose stools that were yellowish which scared the hell out of me. Then I started to have weird back pains and then my anxiety thanks to the internet started.

I have had problems with my stomach before, but 2 years ago in the summer it got worse with the yellow color and stuff so I started to go to the doctor. I convinced him to at least offer an US to check the pancreas to reassure me.

I even took the ultrasound pictures for a second opinion about my pancreas and it was told that it is a textbook quality picture of the pancreas as in 1 picture they could perfectly see all 3 parts. However, they found 2 spots on my liver (likely hemangiomas) so I was referred to an MRI. Of course this fired my anxiety up through the roof as I was also loosing some weight.

Anyhow, I had the MRI, but I was not standing still enough because the instructions that I got were not perfect. Never mind, it still showed that the 2 spots are hemangiomas. I also took the MRI pictures for 2nd opinion, that said the same.

After this I still did not calm down, so I went for an MRCP and a CT with contrast. These helped and I started to gain weight back. Later I also had colonoscopy and gastroscopy (they found 2 small benign polyps). I calmed down a bit and then 3 months later I had a watery diarrhea so I went for an MRI with contrast again plus did a fecal elastase test. This time everything was perfect and everything said the same as before. After these results I got quite good, started to gain weight, so I convinced myself that I am good.

This lasted until this July (for 1.5 years) when suddenly I started to have watery diarrhea. They did not see any bacteria in my stool, but the doctor said it was likely a stomach bug. It went away with a rifaximin course, but my anxiety is through the roof again.

So, here I am. Tomorrow I will have a blood test with CA19-9 and also an abdominal MRI with contrast. Hopefully it helps and my stomach issues will be sorted out. I also lost like 2 kgs I think in the last 2-3 months including the effect of the probably stomach bug, but I have a lot of stress recently, so I think loosing 2 kgs is something that can be easily explained.

I am also going to speak with the psychiatrist tomorrow, as I know that I could be wrong and if my body is healthy, then my mind is not.

I remember that when I first started to have problems I even read your posts (here and also on another forum) and it helped me to calm down as I saw that I am not the only one who is keep pushing and pushing and everything turns out to be negative, yet keeps pushing and pushing. Also I saw many other people with PC anxiety and they had 1 thing in common: no one was diagnosed with it.

[laci06]

I am also trying to calm myself by the fact that my appetite is perfect, I can eat a lot, so the stomach issues are probably related to something else, not pancreas, IBS is way more likely.

Also I have zero back pain, I am not tired, I can easily do 20 push ups, had an US recently and everything seemed perfect, liver and pancreas enzymes in the blood are perfect and even in the middle of the watery diarrhea my blood test was quite good all around.

[Cdcmoon]

There you go then. You have had a lot of detailed tests and were lucky to have an mri for the blood cysts I only had an ultrasound with contrast after a ct scan which spotted the 2 cysts. Crazy how we are very similar with symptoms. The longer this goes on begin to think it’s most likely not PC however I have convinced myself I have it or something else that is horrible.

I have a second ultrasound coming up and then whatever tests the hematologist decides because of my blood abnormalities.

I think you should not worry much, we are not well oiled machines our bodies are not perfect it’s most likely a blip with a combination of ibs and worry. That’s what I’m telling myself.

Seek help mentally it’s nothing to be ashamed of. My wife family and friends are still here and I admit I have anxiety and depression.

[Cdcmoon]

8 weeks ago I felt sick eating and hardly ate. Last few weeks I’ve eaten more and my weight has increased slightly most. I will always remember what the consultant said 3 years ago. Your gut is your second brain and is very powerful and can make you feel ill.

[laci06]

Indeed the gut is the second brain and with your brain you can really f?ck it up.

Did you started to investigate by the way your safe foods and what you can easily digest? Or you are not paying too much attention to it?

[Cdcmoon]

I am starting to now because I went from completely not eating anything to eating things and still needing loo 3 times in the morning so it appeared anything I ate would just go straight through me and out in the morning which is not my usual toilet habit. Now I still have diarrhea however not as much albeit in still first thing in the morning. I’m cutting out caffeine and sugar and sticking to plain foods as much as I can. I use to drink 3/4 Coffees a day but I have found have 1/2 makes me need a loose stool.

[laci06]

Well, I am sure that I do not need to say this, but being anxious can speed up things in the digestive track, so if you can cut down on anxiety maybe bowels also slow down. Although I am in a bit a same situation, so knowing it does not do any good on its own...

Did you ever had a CA 19-9 test? I had one 2 years ago and one last week and the results were 6,8 and now 17,6. I know that it is still a normal value, but man, not good to see this increase if you have anxiety. Although the MRI with contrast I just had apparently is perfectly normal without any sign (widened bile duct etc.).

By the way what is your weight if I may ask? I think the problem with the bland diet is that it does not contain much fat and sugar so gaining weight is quite difficult with it.

[Cdcmoon]

I did 3 years ago it was normal but I have not had it recently. I am seeing my GP again Thursday and I have another ultrasound on Friday so maybe more answers then.

[laci06]

I am sure it will go fine and I am 100% that they will not find anything new.

[Cdcmoon]

Hopefully.

My last ultrasound was clear but they did not see all of pancreas because of gas just the body of pancreas was seen.

Little concerned about the Erythrocytosis but that requires further investigation.

[Cdcmoon]

laci06 wrote:

> Well, I am sure that I do not need to say this, but being anxious can speed

> up things in the digestive track, so if you can cut down on anxiety maybe

> bowels also slow down. Although I am in a bit a same situation, so knowing

> it does not do any good on its own...

>

> Did you ever had a CA 19-9 test? I had one 2 years ago and one last week

> and the results were 6,8 and now 17,6. I know that it is still a normal

> value, but man, not good to see this increase if you have anxiety. Although

> the MRI with contrast I just had apparently is perfectly normal without any

> sign (widened bile duct etc.).

>

> By the way what is your weight if I may ask? I think the problem with the

> bland diet is that it does not contain much fat and sugar so gaining weight

> is quite difficult with it.

Sorry did not see your weight question. I am currently sitting around 95kg its been fluctuating last 4 weeks between 94 & 96kg. I am a little overweight although I have been relatively fit as I am serving military. My original weight was 97.5 when i first started having problems 8-9 weeks ago.

I think at the moment according to my scales i have prob lost 2-3kg in that time so I guess not that much weight loss.

[laci06]

How are you doing now?

[Cdcmoon]

Hi,

Thank you for the message.

Still no diagnosis, usual diarrhea and additional pains on my right side now. Generally feel unwell.

I am currently waiting on a date for a CT scan.

How are you?

[laci06]

Struggling. I have good weeks and then bad weeks. What worries me is that my diet is now really plain and still it seems that I have problem sometimes.

How is you diarrhea by the way? On the bristol chart?

Probably I will go for an MRI soon too just to calm my mind. I know that it is really unlikely that anything will show up.

[Cdcmoon]

Sometimes type 4 but mainly 5/6, sometimes it floats but usually there is always lots of it and it’s always loose. I’ve tried changing my diet but whatever I eat it’s the same. I am also waking up at 4 most mornings just feeling uncomfortable in my back. I cannot see at this stage that when I have my CT scan they won’t find anything. Everything is delayed because of covid and I’m trying to go private but always slow response from the hospital. Do you go for your scans privately or through NHS? Don’t you need a referral?

[laci06]

Can you share your mail address?

[PCUK Nurse Lisa]

Dear laci06,

I am glad to see you are getting support through the Discussion Forum from fellow users, and this is exactly the purpose of this - peer support. However, this is all posted in the public domain and thus not a secure place to be sharing email addresses. May we ask politely that you do not publically share your emails, but please do continue to share your progress here.

Hoping that you find some answers to your problematic symptoms soon.

With best wises,

Lisa

Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse

[Dandygal76]

Have you tried the FODMAP diet. It is a medical diet and not a fad. You may feel your diet is plain but specific foods can affect you. Some interesting and tasty things wouldn't. Gastro issues do not mean you have cancer. You can have migraines without a brain tumour etc. I get the anxiety (used to have it before I found out I was severely B12 deficient) but in retrospect, ruminating on these problems creates misery. Getting out of the repetitive loop of negativity and fear is key and should be the focus. Anxiety is crap - work on that first and foremost.

[laci06]

Cdcmoon wrote:

> Sometimes type 4 but mainly 5/6, sometimes it floats but usually there is

> always lots of it and it’s always loose. I’ve tried changing my diet but

> whatever I eat it’s the same. I am also waking up at 4 most mornings just

> feeling uncomfortable in my back. I cannot see at this stage that when I

> have my CT scan they won’t find anything. Everything is delayed because of

> covid and I’m trying to go private but always slow response from the

> hospital. Do you go for your scans privately or through NHS? Don’t you need

> a referral?

Did you have your new scan?

[Cdcmoon]

I had a ct scan with contrast yesterday done privately and was told I would get result by the end of the week.