Stool tests?

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Proctitis (limited to the first 2inches of my rectum) a little over a month ago after a bout of blood/mucus in my stool (no other symptoms).

After doing some reading, I'm a little concerned because 1) my Gastro Doctor never had me do any kind of stool tests, 2) my sexual history was never asked for (I'm a gay sexually active male), and 3) I've had symptoms (blood/mucus in stool) on and off for the year and a half prior to my diagnosis that started shortly after a sexual encounter with a new partner and a month long battle with 2 different antibiotics to treat a minor folliculitis staph infection.

is it normal for a doctor to order a stool test before a colonoscopy? I'm aware that UP is often misdiagnosed and can be an infection instead which is why your Gastro Doctor typically asks you things related to your sexual history beforehand, but my doctor didn't.

Any insight into this?

I didn't have a stool test when I was diagnosed. I had a sigmoidoscopy and biopsies and that was it. I don't think I had a stool test until I was trying to do a trial, for which it was required. Later, I went to an IBD specialist and she was very insistent on stool tests. I had one each time I experienced symptoms from then on. I never had anything show up in the stool test, but I agree, it is important.

At the time I was just so worried about it being cancer that I didn't stop and think "hey, most people got a stool test. Why didn't I?". In retrospect it's silly I never brought it up.

To my knowledge a majority of infections in the rectum mimic ulcerative proctitis symptoms including various STD's. Men who have sex with men have an increased risk factor for contracting infections in the rectum, obviously.

My Gastro Doctor only ever called me to tell me that they didn't see any abnormal tissue in the biopsies but I don't think infections were tested for.

My main concern for not being tested for any of those possible proctor is causes comes from my persistence of minor symptoms for so long. No diarrhea, no cramping, no increase in frequency, no pain, no gas, no urgency, etc. it's only ever been a slight amount of blood and mucus in my stools. And my colonoscopy only found that the last 2 inches of my anus were mildly inflamed (I had the colonoscopy done at the peak of my symptoms).

I'm seeing a new GP on Wednesday so I'll bring it up to them then.

Yeah it sounds like my situation is pretty odd then.

I had a blood test for anemia (because I had blood in my stool on and off for a year and a half) that came back normal. Other than that I haven't had any stool tests or swabs. I definitely need that done because of my risk factors. I'm surprised my primary Doctor never insisted I go through any of those tests despite my sexual history?

I'm also aware that most of the time a colonoscopy biopsy doesn't pick up STI's. Sounds like I need to figure this out and rule out other possibilities ASAP.

If you're disappointed with the process, ask your doctor for you to be tested for STDs.



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