More questions about symptoms....

shel · New User Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Texas

Hi. I wrote all of you a few weeks ago asking advice about my husband (he's 38 y/o) who had been having diarrhea for two weeks. He wouldn't go to the doc when he was home and now he is back in Iraq. He has no way to see a doc there because he is a contractor and the policy is that unless it's an emergency then you come home and take care of it. He didn't so now he can't come home again until January or he risks losing his job. I know it is best to get him to a doctor ASAP but i can't force him 9000 miles away. All I can do is pray. Here are his symptoms before. Then I will list the new ones.

Narrow stools for several years.
Diarrhea off and on aprox 3 weeks
Nausea
Lost 25-30 lbs in 4 months without dieting
His brother died a few years ago of colon cancer (54 y/o)
His sister died at 44 y/o of ovarian cancer
His father died at 54 of lung cancer

He just called and asked for me to send him three bags of halloween candy so i guess he has an appetite. ?? I asked how he is feeling, he says he is still having trouble but now his poop is mustard colored. I asked if he ever has blood when he goes. He said yes he does and he didn't call me long distance to talk about such personal stuff. I pushed really hard but he won't go to the doctor till January.

What in the world could the yellow poop be about? Anyone had that happen? Apparently he has had blood for years because he said before that he has internal hemroids (which was never diagnosed) and so of course he has blood. whatever! he's playing with fire and i'm a nervous wreck.

I know no one can tell me if it's cancer until he agrees to get a colonoscopy but i am curious about the new symptoms.

RDFLA · New User Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Florida

Shel,

I am sorry to hear about your husband’s health problems and I hesitate to convey any information that would add to your stress but the yellow stools you ask about are a warning sign. I experienced this symptom several times a month, off and on for a year, prior to my DX of stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver last February, but strangely only once or twice since then. This symptom did not come up during discussions with my doctor but according to information online there can be several causes that result in “undigested bile that has not been reabsorbed when it is moved too quickly through the intestines and bowel.” And “is always the result of serious health issues.”

Everything you have written thus far clearly indicates he is in a precarious situation. Let’s hope he can find some way to overcome the restrictions that prevent him from getting the help he needs.

God Bless,
--RDFLA
_________________
Colon Cancer patient with mets to liver and bladder since Feb. 2009

shel · New User Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Texas

[quote="RDFLA"]Shel,

I am sorry to hear about your husband’s health problems and I hesitate to convey any information that would add to your stress but the yellow stools you ask about are a warning sign. I experienced this symptom several times a month, off and on for a year, prior to my DX of stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver last February, but strangely only once or twice since then. This symptom did not come up during discussions with my doctor but according to information online there can be several causes that result in “undigested bile that has not been reabsorbed when it is moved too quickly through the intestines and bowel.” And “is always the result of serious health issues.”

Everything you have written thus far clearly indicates he is in a precarious situation. Let’s hope he can find some way to overcome the restrictions that prevent him from getting the help he needs.

God Bless,
--RDFLA[/quote]

Thank you for your honesty, I really do appreciate it. I would much rather be educated on this so I know what kind of situation we may be facing. I have called his mother lol I guess I'm telling on him but I asked her to give me a family history. We have two daughters and I want to get them tested for the gene. I found out 80 percent of his family going back to his great grandfather passed away with one cancer or another. There are three who had colon cancer. So i'm not taking it lightly by any means. I want to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions about all these symptoms when I know you are dealing with a tough situation of your own. God bless you and keep you well. - Shellie

star · Senior User Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 231 Location: Ohio

HI SHELLIE,

Have you convinced him to get test done yet?? its so important to get it done as soon as possible,

BEST WISHES TO YOU BOTH ..

shel · New User Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Texas

[quote="star"]HI SHELLIE,

Have you convinced him to get test done yet?? its so important to get it done as soon as possible,

BEST WISHES TO YOU BOTH ..[/quote]

I wish I could say yes. I only get to talk to him maybe once a week and the phone service in Iraq is spotty at best. I haven't talked to him since he told me about the yellow stool and blood. He acted as if the blood was no big deal and that he's had it off and on for years. He's convinced he has internal hemorrhoids. I will keep trying because he's worth it. I honestly hope he's right and it really is just hemorrhoids. Thank you for all your help Rob.

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Colon Cancer and Rectal Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others