Worried about husband, please suggest

My husband is 30 years old, we just got married and he started having weird symptoms only a month after our wedding. When we got back from our honeymoon in June, he started having alternating diarrhea and constipation that's been going on ever since. He often sees mucus in his stool, no blood, but he always has an ache on the left and right side of his colon and never feels like his colon completely empties. He has also lost 20lbs since June and feels overwhelmingly tired all the time. We are terrified he has colon cancer because his aunt and grandmother both had colon cancer when they were in their 60s and 70s.

He hasn't had a normal bowel movement ever since our honeymoon. We have been to three different doctors, his general practitioner will not take him seriously and tells him that he just needs to change his diet and exercise more. He would not listen to us when we asked for a colonoscopy, telling us the procedure would be unnecessary. We went straight to a gastrologist after two months of diet change and exercise. The gastrologist brushed aside my husband's concerns saying he is too young to worry about colon cancer and his problems stem from him not eating enough fibre and probably having IBS. The third doctor we went to said the same thing, that he's too young to have colon cancer and brushed aside our request for a colonoscopy.

My husband has had blood work done that shows his blood count is down and he has vitamins D and B12 deficiency. We feel like we are running out of options. That no doctors are listening to us and are being biased because of my husband's age. Is there anything we can do or anyone we can talk to who will look past his age? We are getting desperate for someone to take this seriously.

I am sorry to hear about what you are going through. I don't nderstand why none of the doctors you have been to will recommend a colonoscopy. Please continue to push to have one done. There are many people in their 30s who have this awful disease. I was diagnosed at 36 with stage iv. There has been a large increase in peeople under 40 getting colon cancer. If you need to, do some research and take It to your doctor. Where are you located? Can yungo to a clinic to have a colonoscopy without a doctor referral?

please push for colonoscopy. my mom had same symptoms and was just diagnosed. the exhaustion, months of vit D and b12 shots and iron deficiency... no answers. goes for colonoscopy and diagnosed. maybe iand hoping its not but get the test somehow. chris4life google it is a good resource to help find where you can go. keep us updated on what happens. good luck!

I too would absolutely push for the colonoscopy. They should go ahead and do an endoscopy at the same time as he'll be sedated.  Ask for biopsies.

One suggestion would be to consider removing all gluten and lactose from the diet.   This is often the cause of the symptoms your husband is suffering from.

Add a very good probiotic to the diet.   Also L-Glutamine in his juice; this will help heal the gut.   He may have what is referred to as 'leaky gut' and the healing protocol will help (probiotics/L-Glutamine).   A GOOD gastro. doctor should be able to narrow down the causes.  A biopsy will reveal if he is dealing with Celiac disease (flattened villia).   I've found that with the removal of the gluten (and lactose), many of these symptoms will relieve themselves quite quickly.  Beware that gluten is hidden in processed foods and has many names; including mono-sodium glutimate, maltodextrin, etc.  Avoid Chinese food altogether.   Snack foods are loaded in gluten.   These are just suggestions, but the real first step is getting BOTH scopes (insist...).    The small intestine biopsy is the ONLY true test for gluten intolerance/Celiac disease.  

There is hope; don't dispair and don't jump to Cancer as a possible reason for these symptoms.  Millons suffer with IBS type symptoms and can lose lots of weigh when it's out of control.   I would suggest reading two books:  Maker's Diet and Wheat Belly.  Both are VERY enlightening with regard to IBS from different perspectives.  

I would also suggest a full panel of stool samples.   If this started right after your honeymoon, it's possible he picked up a parasite or other intestinal bug while you were on your trip....just a thought.   These can be easily dealt with.

I have been shocked by the number of young people who have/had colon cancer as found in the message board section of CancerCompass.  It's hard to believe that college age kids in fine physical condition have been victims.  Of course I hope that is not the case with your husband.

I think the stool sample suggestion is a good one as it surely is possible that a parasite or unusual infection could have been picked up during the honeymoon. 

What I strongly suggest is keeping a daily diary of what foods/drinks are ingested at certain times, what beverages he drinks, and recoring BM's as well as times of discomfort.I have found in the past raising a sizable family that a brief written record of symptoms can often get the attention of an MD whereas verbal descriptions more easily get dismissed.  Also...sometimes...the patient can "see" where they have a pattern of distress following certain foods.  By including his physical activities in the diary along with the diet it could make the reason for his weight loss apparent.

Good luck.  Bernadette

Excellent advise on the diary.  The doctor (a good one) will undoubtedly ask for this, so if you have it prepared when you meet the doctor, you're that much further ahead.

Keep us all posted. 

On Dec 21, 2012 8:04 PM salene wrote:

My husband is 30 years old, we just got married and he started having weird symptoms only a month after our wedding. When we got back from our honeymoon in June, he started having alternating diarrhea and constipation that's been going on ever since. He often sees mucus in his stool, no blood, but he always has an ache on the left and right side of his colon and never feels like his colon completely empties. He has also lost 20lbs since June and feels overwhelmingly tired all the time. We are terrified he has colon cancer because his aunt and grandmother both had colon cancer when they were in their 60s and 70s.

He hasn't had a normal bowel movement ever since our honeymoon. We have been to three different doctors, his general practitioner will not take him seriously and tells him that he just needs to change his diet and exercise more. He would not listen to us when we asked for a colonoscopy, telling us the procedure would be unnecessary. We went straight to a gastrologist after two months of diet change and exercise. The gastrologist brushed aside my husband's concerns saying he is too young to worry about colon cancer and his problems stem from him not eating enough fibre and probably having IBS. The third doctor we went to said the same thing, that he's too young to have colon cancer and brushed aside our request for a colonoscopy.

My husband has had blood work done that shows his blood count is down and he has vitamins D and B12 deficiency. We feel like we are running out of options. That no doctors are listening to us and are being biased because of my husband's age. Is there anything we can do or anyone we can talk to who will look past his age? We are getting desperate for someone to take this seriously.

Hi,

Push onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!  Seek an opinion from other GI specialists, or Mayo, or KU, or MD Anderson.  I had a family history too, and I am now one year out from being dx with colorectal cancer!  No mets for me..........yeah!

Hurry hun, time is of the essence....Love, Fran