Very Scared!!!!

Hi!

I was wondering if someone could help me out. I am freaking out because for the past couple of months I have had bright red blood and occasional clear mucous (sorry for the graphic content) in my stool. It started off being occassional and recently has been more often at times for weeks. I went to the doctor and she checked to see if it was hemmroids or fisures and it was neither. She sent me for a blood test and 2 procedures, still waiting for results. People have been filling my head with all sorts of possiblities from Crohn's, to Cancer to Ulcerative Colitis. Are my symptoms consistent with any of the mentioned possiblities and are they treatable? Please help!!!

Do you get serious stomach pains and bloating as well? Some times it gets so bad that I am crouched over and can't move from the cramping.

In regards to the stress factor, it happens to me wether I am stressed or not Or it could be that I am so overly stressed that I am stressed even when I don't think I am. Who knows!?

I have proctitis as well and sounds like my symptoms, when in a 'mild' (for me) flare. Push your Doc for a diagnosis. Have you asked about a colonoscopy? What kind of tests did they do? Are they giving you any meds now?

I'm surprised they haven't at least done a flex sig. The pain and cramping and mucous could be irritable bowel syndrome which is much less serious than the inflammatory bowel diseases - Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. If hemmorhoids have been ruled out, the bleeding could indicate a more serious problem. However, worrying about the worst case scenario is going to be counterproductive.

Really? Even if I already had a Barium Enema? Can you advise how do these procedures differ?

Barium enemas are most commonly used to check bowel health; they can help diagnose and evaluate the extent of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Polyps can be seen, though not removed during the exam like with a colonoscopy. Other problems such as diverticulitis (small pouches formed on the colon wall that can become inflamed) and intussusception can be found. An acute appendicitis or twisted loop of the bowel may also be seen.

A colonoscopy is more refined... it allows the doctor to see exactly what's happening on the inside wall of the colon. It also allows them to take biopsies and remove polyps.

Wreck said...
I had a Barium Enema done (what an awful experience) and I am going for tests for my small intestine where I will need to ingest some sort of liquid. If anyone has had this procedure done, can you advise me if it is painful as the previous procedure had me doubled over with major cramps. I also went for blood tests. Since I have yet to go for the second test this coming Friday, my follow up appointment with my doctor is only Dec. 13th. I will not know till then for sure what it is I do have.

I've had it done and it's not painful at all, not pleasant, but not painful. You just have to drink a lot of really chalky liquid and get a lot of X-Rays.

If it were me, I would insist on a colonoscopy. If you have a lot of red blood coming out, I doubt it would be from your upper GI tract. You would have to be bleeding pretty bad for it to be coming from there I would think.
Like someone said already, the prep is the worst part of a scope. If you get one, I'd suggest that you insist on Miralax for the laxative. It is much easier on you than Fleet's Phosphosoda, doesn't have a disgusting flavor, and doesn't cause cramping like other laxatives. It also works very fast, so you don't end up sitting on the commode most of the evening.

Don't worry about being graphic in your descriptions here. Most of us have not only heard graphic, but seen graphic. When I was diagnosed, every time I went to the bathroom it looked like mashed strawberries, so I know graphic.

Hi, Wreck. Sorry you're going through all of this. I know how scary it can all be. I was just diagnosed in March. I also had blood and mucous in my stools that started out just once in a while and then started happening more frequently. I had that horrible abdominal pain, too. Since I've been on meds, I've had minimal pain...none of that doubling-over-and-can't-move pain anymore, so that's good. Maybe once your doctor figures out what your diagnosis is, he will start you on some meds...hopefully, that will be before your Dec. 13 appt.

Researchers and doctors don't know the cause of Ulcerative Colitis (UC for short). They do not believe it is caused by stress or food. There are some differing theories about what could possibly cause it, one of those involves having a genetic predisposition, but they do not know for certain what causes it. A good Web site for UC info. is www.ccfa.org. The site has 2 paragraphs talking about possible causes, including this excerpt: "Studies indicate that the inflammation in IBD involves a complex interaction of factors: the genes the person has inherited, the immune system, and something in the environment."

Keep us posted as to how you're doing. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want.

The cause....? No good reasons... which is why there are no cures... just meds to control the symptoms until they mysteriously disappear again. Some people go into remission for years.... notice I say remission, not cured or healed. A healthy body is a huge part. I think the body is trying to tell you something... whether unhealthy liver, or spleen, or whatever...

Good luck. The bright blood is definitely a sign that it is proctitis.

It can be UC as well. AND I need to make this very clear.....Proctitis can be explained for people that have anal sex and/or are homosexual. However, it is NOT always a sexually transmitted disease. I have never had anal sex, have been married for over 12 yrs and no other partner. The fact that "they" say its a sexually transmitted disease is only the case for the cases that they can actually explain or have a reason for the persons having it. Many, many people have proctitis with no history of anal sex, homosexuality, etc. I remember reading that as well. It made me angry to think that the doctors are just "writing us off" as someone who was promisuous. It's not true and I bet other people on this forum will agree.

An STD? Proctitis?

Ridiculous statement. Unless I'm the Virgin Mary of STDs. <-- not meaning to disrespect anyone's beliefs, of course

Mitz

I have proctitis and I can guarantee I did not get it from sex.  I don't believe it is caused from food either.

BTW, your symptoms are the same as mine, but I have urgency and D with it.  Best way to diagnose it is with a colonoscopy and the procedure is not too bad at all.