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Posted 8/6/2013 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so for the past 3-4months I've been experiencing bloody stools
I only have 2 BM a day and the blood I lose isn't a lot.
Might sound disturbing but usually just on paper when I wipe or some on the stool.
I don't have insurance what something I should do?
I've also been feeling out of breath and dizzy
Not sure I've I'm anemic or if this is due to a swollen nasal turbinate that doesn't let me breathe /:
My left nostril is almost completely blocked /:
Btw I was diagnosed 4 years ago and this is the second flare up I've experienced
When I first got diagnosed I was out on Canasa and it did work but since I don't have Insurance the treatment is just too expensive /:.
I'm 22, full time college student btw

One last question
How much blood loss is bad?
I suffer from anxiety as well and I think I'm going to die due to anemia
Though I got my blood checked a month ago and nothing came out abnormal ..
Posted 8/6/2013 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
could be a hemorrhoid... Since it appears you're not on your parents insurance plan, look into getting state coverage as it sounds like you would definitely qualify. Also since you're in college see if they offer health insurance. I'd go to an on campus clinic and explain your situation, and see what they say.

Believe me, in terms of blood loss, while it might look like a ton it really isn't. Anxiety will only make matters worse.

2BM a day doesn't sound like a terrible flare, and if they are solid chances are it's more likely to be a hemorrhoid than UC.
Posted 8/6/2013 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the quick response
The only reason why I think it's UC is because of my diagnosis by a GI specialist that took place 4 years ago
As far as hemmerhoids wouldn't I have some kind of itching or something ?
I don't feel anything at all
Do you think I can become anemic or it's not that much
Posted 8/6/2013 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
First thing's first, calm down about the blood; it's nothing to worry about. You are not going to suddenly become anemic because you have a little red on your toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl; it takes a heck of a lot more than that to be anemic. The thing with blood is that a little can look like a LOT. Even a couple drops of blood can give tp or the toilet water the appearance a blood bath has taken place.

I shave my face with a razor and sometimes I get a little nick and a couple drops of blood come out, which I dab with tp. It looks bad but isn't. No different for you.
Posted 8/6/2013 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
i mean i can't definitively tell you, but i'd be surprised if you're only going twice a day and losing that much blood.

hemorrhoids can be internal, my colonoscopy confirmed I have small internal ones (because of UC).

i mean speaking solely on my experiences with uc it usually follows a cycle, starts with loose stool / diarrhea, then urgency frequency increase and then after a while, blood and possibly abdominal discomfort.

i know for me i've had instances where all of the sudden I have a bloody movement, but both my GI and I attribute it to hemorrhoids
Posted 8/6/2013 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
iPoop: makes sense
I just worry because I haven't really experienced too many flare ups during my journey.

Jac:you're absolutely right
Couple months ago it started with urgency and weird anal cramps or something
And now it led to hard stools with some blood/:
Suck how this works
Posted 8/6/2013 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
You could always try a supplement, you should be on one anyway since your not going to be able to absorb nutrients well. Liquids and powders are the best for the body. It could just be chapping because your going to the bathroom and that skin is very sensitive. Try using baby wipes that helps. As far as not having insurance, well most of the time I can control my UC through a good diet. So you could keep a food dairy and see what foods you respond to best. And do something fun, stressing out is just going to make it worse, try not to worry about what may be, enjoy life. If you have severe pain or dark tarry stools or blood just running out, definitly go to the ER
Posted 8/6/2013 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
StormGayle:
As far as diet goes do you guys have any tips ?
I'm usually eating brown rice and ground turkey since I'm a natural bodybuilder I tend to eat the same thing all the time just to meet my macros
Posted 8/6/2013 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
You should see a dr though. A general physician could tell you whether or not you have a hemorrhoid or not. Probably take a visit to the GI to confirm a flareup of uc. A visit to a GI is about $140 in the US; subsidies might be available. They'd likely prescribe you prednisone which is pretty inexpensive; likely cheaper than cansa by a lot.

Diets don't work for everyone. And if you are in a flareup then the longer you wait the worse it'll get. The worse the flareup the harder it is to fight and recover from. I don't think I'd waste a lot of time waiting to get this diagnosed, if I were you.
Posted 8/6/2013 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I actually have some prednisone at home 10mg
Would that be beneficial ?
Posted 8/6/2013 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
A course of Pred would help if you are indeed in a uc flareup (although you'd need to have enough of it on-hand to start at a higher dose and then taper safely off of it). However, it wouldn't really help with a hemorrhoid (an external hemi would be pretty obvious, the internal ones would require a dr to put a rubber glove on and check up there; they are painful when touched). Which you have who knows only a dr can say. A self diagnosis can often be wrong.
Posted 8/6/2013 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hard poops can cause hemmies, for sure. As can bodybuilding.
Posted 8/6/2013 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Ricki...Why do you have prednisone?

q
Posted 8/6/2013 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Quincy:
A doctor a while back thought I had costochobdritis and prescribed me that
And I still have it
Posted 8/6/2013 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Fruitgirl:
Indeed
I'm going to have my GP check me out
Though I don't feel anything
Posted 8/6/2013 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
You generally don't feel internal hemmies. They're a different beast from external hemmies.
Posted 8/6/2013 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
pred isn't like taking an aspirin or Tylenol for whatever.


q

Posted 8/6/2013 7:33 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
pred isn't like taking an aspirin or Tylenol for whatever.

Exactly, which is the reason why I am not recommending you just pop some. It has withdrawal symptoms and side effects so it isn't something you should be experimenting with, without a drs okay. And furthermore, you don't want to take it if you don't actually need it (i.e you have a hemi).

Rickk90 said...
I'm going to have my GP check me out

Good to hear, that's the first step. We're just random people on the Internet; after all. If you go around saying you got medical advice from somebody on the Internet with the screen-name "i poop" then I don't think that will inspire a lot of confidence, now will it turn
Posted 8/6/2013 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'll be getting it checked out ASAP
Have you guys found any benefits taking Zantac for gas or something
Posted 8/6/2013 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
zantac is an acid reducer, so it'll work on your esophageal issues if you have reflux. It's not meant to lessen gas.

If you have excess gas and cannot attribute it to food intake (such as changes, etc)...it's really a symptom of you flaring.

Once you deal with your flare, the gas should lessen.

And...while you're at the doc's...if you haven't had a c-scope in a long while, best to set up another baseline to see how you're doing.

q
Posted 8/6/2013 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
whatever you do, please don't self diagnose and start taking prednisone. look into some of the avenues of getting health insurance. and see what your school offers.
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