Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I am a 38-year-old male. Before a year, I did a colonoscopy and endoscopy due to low iron, and stomach pain. It showed that I have celiac disease and the colonoscopy was clear except with a small 4 mm polyp. It was removed and tested. It was benign. The doctor told me that my colon is clear and visible. He told me to come back after five years. I am taking a gluten-free diet for a year and my iron ferritin levels have gone from 12 ng/mL to 74 ng/mL. My vitamin D levels are normal and my celiac test has gone from 128 units to 8 units. I suffer from health anxiety and obsessive behavior disorder. I have become obsessed with checking my bowel movements with the torch of my phone and I have a panic about going to the toilet. I check my bowel movements for blood. How to have relief from this fear? My specialist told me that a small benign polyp takes a time of five years to grow and become cancerous.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern about your colon polyp. The risk of having a cancerous change in a new polyp is 1 to 2 percent and it takes around 5 years. Your fear has decreased your quality of life. I suggest you avoid minding the number or quality of stool because stress can cause irritable bowel syndrome. It is a harmless condition but it changes bowel movements and causes more pain and anxiety. You can ask your doctor to do the next colonoscopy in the three years from the first one and do an annual stool occult blood test to have some peace of mind.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Do I need to do an annual stool test even when I do a colonoscopy every three years? The thinking of a stool test makes my anxiety worse and so I am avoiding doing it. If I do a colonoscopy once in three years, am I safe to go to the toilet flush, and carry on my day?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
You do not require to do an annual test. Forget about it and have fun.
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Answered byDr. Rosita Alizadeh Shalchi
Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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