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Worrying about nothing?

J

Joshman

Member
Messages
24
Location
Manchester
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Since being diagnosed with T2 back in Feb, I've lost a stone and a half in weight and 3 inches of my waist. I'm guessing this is through a combination of improving my diet, some exercise and the metformin (I've read on here somewhere that metformin seems to promote weight loss). That's the good news.

For the last few years, I've suffered from heartburn for which I took Gaviscon every day. Back then the Dr's said it was nothing to worry about, I just needed to eat less and lose some weight. At the beginning of this year, it became worse so the Dr prescribed Omeprazole which worked straight away and I hadn't suffered from heartburn since.

However, when I tried to get a repeat prescription for it this time around, the Dr asked me to come in for a chat. I saw him on Friday by which time I hadn't had any Omeprazole for over a week and the heartburn symptons had returned although nowhere near as bad as before. He seemed concerned about my weight loss and then advised that before he prescribed me with any more Omeprazole, he wants to make sure I haven't got CANCER!!! I was stunned when he said that. He went on to say, he didn't think I had it but they had to rule it out, and even though he doesn't think I've got it, he's going to fast track it and get me an appointment within 2 weeks.

I'm trying very hard not to dwell on it but every time I do, I almost have a panic attack. Could I really have cancer?? Becoming diabetic was bad enough but the big C, that's a whole new ball game. I don't know how I'd get through that, if I'll get through that, I mean if it's been undiagnosed for years, then it's going to be too late to treat it now....I have to stop now, feel a panic attack coming on...
 
Hi.
I can understand your concerns. I have just come through many months of Cancer treatment and am now in remission.

I felt like you at the beginning when I had all the tests which confirmed my worst fears but you have not been TOLD you have a Cancer.......you will be having tests to check that, that is all. This is a precaution because your GP does not understand your weight loss and wants to check that it is not down to anything sinister. This is just what any GP worth his 'salt' should do. I take it you told him/her what the real reason for your weight loss was ??

I can only tell you........do not worry, take each day as it comes and WAIT until you know for definite if there IS a Cancer. Worrying and fretting about it will only make you ill. It is not what you need to be doing. Difficult, I know from experience. You have to have the tests and then see what the prognosis is.

When you know more then come back here and we can offer advice depending on the circumstances.

As they say, "Always look on the bright side of Life !" Trust me there is one. :D

Ken
 
Joshman,

I can't offer you any other advice than what Ken has already said, but I wish you well and hope it isn't cancer and your health soon improves.

Nigel
 
Thanks Ken and Nigel. I know you're right and I keep telling myself the same thing, I have to know for definite before worrying about it but I have these moments where I allow myself to dwell on it and get myself all worked up. The appointment came through this morning for next Wednesday, so I should know the result a couple of days after that....only another 9 or so days to go. ....

....Oh and I'm very pleased to hear you're now in remission Ken. I have an Auntie currently being treated for Cancer and I've seen the sort of ordeal you go through, not just physically but emotionally too, so well done mate for getting through it :D
 
I read Ken's detailed report of what he went through to get to where he is now in remission and it was heart rendering because as well as having to cope with his cancer he also had to cope with his diabetis. I just take my hat (if I worn one) off to you Ken he really had a battle on his hands.

You didn't start to lose weight until you started to sort out your eating habits and one of the symptons for diabetis is losing weight. I lost a lot of weight a stone and 4lb before I got diagnosed and hadn't realised it. I was weighed by the hospital the previous March (2009) which was 15.9 stone. I believe I probably had put on even more weight after as I felt depressed and didn't care any more about what I looked like and had definately gone up in a size. But when the DN weighed me I was 14.5. Then when weighed later 14 stone. I am now 13 and hopefully will still go down even further.

Last March the reason I was weighed by the hospital was pre-op for removal of a canerous tumour in my bladder which I had removed and this January (2010) where the tumour was removed and some small tunours were pinkish and slightly inflammed which have gradually got more inflamed and on 13 Aug just gone I had them courtorized and have to go on 2 Sept to get the results of the samples they took to anaylise.

It is scary being told they will do investigations for cancer but this is just a safe guard that your doctor is taking and seems to be a very good doctor.

Try not to stress out on this as stress will not help your BS or yourself. It is worrying but try to think positive you started to lose weight when you started to adjust your diet didn't you? Think that way and I know when you return for the results your heart will be pounding but think positive.

I wish you all the best and let us all know how things go Ken and all the others on this site will give you all the support you need whatever the results are.

If you are feeling depressed just come on here and have a chat with people or if you feel you can't chat read the various forums it does help and will also give you help with your diabetics.

best regards
Sue :)
 
Sue.
Thanks for your kind words. Much appreciated. :oops:

Like you I have been through the worry of waiting for test results.......I hope everything goes well for you with the results, and will be thinking of you. Let us know how YOU get on and rest assured you will get plenty of support here whatever happens.

I know that there are many exceptional people on this Forum.......I have benefited from their help and support. That's why this is such a fantastic place to be.

Ken
 
Well I had the Endoscopy last Wednesday, was meant to get the results on Friday but the GP didn't actually get them until yesterday, so that gave me a few more days to stress about it :(

Anyway, it turns out I was worrying about nothing, I don't have cancer. There is a problem with my osophagus which has become inflammed and explains the difficulty in swallowing I sometimes get. Apparently in rare cases this can lead to cancer but I definitely don't have that :D I've been given Lansoprazole to fix that, although it doesn't seem to work as well as the Omeprazole did.

Also whilst they were in there, they found the beginnings of some slight damage to the stomach lining which they think has been caused by the daily asprins I was told to take. Again the Lansoprazole should sort that out.

Funnily enough although I've been stressing unnecassarily, the whole cancer scare has put things into perspective in some way. I've been on a bit of a downer since being diagnosed with T2 back in Feb, but now I feel a little more positive, yes living with diabetes isn't great but things could be a whole lot worse. To a certain extent I can control and manage the diabetes in a way I couldn't with cancer. It hasn't been a pleasant experience but I've learnt so much from it.

Once again, thanks to all you guys for your comments. I know I can always rely on this site. :D

Josh
 
Josh.

I am so pleased that you have had a 'good' result. I was worried that you were about to join the ranks of those of us that have had or have Cancer of some sort.

Stay positive Josh.....it will get you through many things. It will help you deal with all that life has to throw at you. Look on everything as just a challenge, rise above it and 'kick butt !'
My philosophy. :D

Best of luck with everything.

Ken
 
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