That bowel test...and related matters...don't read if you're squeamish!

You can get shoe inserts from the chemist to help that. If you wear slippers during the day, make sure they are reasonably supportive. I speak from experience. It was horrible for a while.

Thanks all - my mind is at rest now - partly thanks to Gransnetters and partly to Brother Doctor who thought it was rather amusing [hmmm] and is certain that it's piles, which certainly makes sense. The fact that I had a clear test result last Autumn is also reassuring. Not sure I can afford £200 for a test next year, having shelled out £580 on new glasses (varifocals) and £625 at the dentist for an overlay (NOT a cosmetic jobby, before you ask, but I couldn't get it on the NHS).

What I DO need to see my GP about is this darned plantar fasciitits, but that's another thread....

Bright red blood suggests oxygenated blood that has just run out of a cut or fissure. The blood in your faeces that could signify cancer will have deoxygenated and gone dark red or black so that it is not visible to the naked eye. That is why we have the test and are not just told to see our GP if we pass fresh bloods.

Hello Rowantree.

You asked how I accessed a private bowel cancer test. Well in the good old days we could afford private medicine and I had been referred to a private doctor to do a colonoscopy. I was on his books and each year received an offer of a private test, which I took up, even though I can no longer use him for a private consultation.

There is another way. When I asked my Doctor for a shingles jab (as my mother had been badly affected by shingles) she said I couldn't have it on the NHS as I was not old enough, but she gave me the name of a private doctors surgery near to me and I just went and got the jab. I nearly fainted when they charged me almost £200, however I don't regret having it as it has put my mind at rest.

So near to all of us are private doctors. Either look it up on the internet with the county you live in, or ask your doctor for a recommendation.

By the way I too get into a flap about seeing the doctor, but I make myself do it.

With a strong family history of bowel cancer and similar symptoms as you Rowantree I was sent for a colonoscopy and was told there that bright red (fresh) blood wasn't anything to worry about - it was older blood that was a cause for concern.

NanKate, I did the test last autumn and it was clear which was a relief, as I'd been having those symptoms occasionally for a while. As I said, I had visited the GP a year ago about it and she wasn't worried.
I have now plucked up courage to ask my brother - he's a consultant. He is convinced that it's piles - apparently it's a family thing, which I didn't realise (but then people don't tend to talk much about piles!)

I would always do any test offered - it's too important not to. I feel much calmer now and it makes a lot of sense. However, I will keep a note of the symptoms and if they don't ease, or they get any worse, I'll go and see my GP again.

Thanks to all for the replies. I'm feeling a bit anxious at the moment anyway, and it doesn't take much for me to go into a tailspin!

I didn't know you could pay to do the test privately, NanKate - how do you go about that? That's something I might well consider.

The bowel test is well worth having. My sister who lives in Italy she got the offer through her local doctor she did it and they discovered bowel cancer which she had no idea she had. She had an op and now 3 years later is absolutely fine. So now I do the one from my doctor every two years and pay £40 privately the other year just to be sure.

You do the test in your own home and not difficult to do and it can be life saving.

I agree, go back to your GP, you could have haemorrhoids. It is less likely to be anything too serious if the bloood is bright red.

It's a good idea to get it checked out. I had a similar experience that fortunately turned out to be fissures. Luckily the bowel tests that we send off in the post have all been negative so that is one thing I'm refusing to worry about - I can worry for England, believe me!

If you have a health worry, see the doc.

It's likely that all is well, but no point on sitting on it so to speak!

It does sound likely to be a fissure, especially as you say you are constipated. But why not go back to your doctor and tell him/ her you are worrying like this.