Please help! Could I have uc?

Hi guys.

I apologize in advance if I get a little windy with this first post, but I really need some help/advice from some of you seasoned veterans of UC.

My recent symptoms started 7 days ago. I noticed that my poop was a "reddish maroon" color. Didn't think much of it and went on. Friday same thing. Saturday... same thing. Sunday I finally decided to go to the ER because not only was my poop reddish maroon, but there was also blood "floating" off of it and around the bowl. I'm on a blood thinner called brilinta and a 81mg aspirin everyday, have been since last september when I had to have a cardiac stent put in an artery. Because of this, they decided to keep me and do an upper GI scope. The scope came out negative for any major problems... I did have a spot in my stomach that was a little inflamed.

Since then it has gotten worse. My poop is now red and there is more red blood in the bowl. I also have HORRIBLE smelling gas (I'm talking embarrassingly bad!) and some lower stomach area cramps. I'm not having bowel movements but once or twice a day and it has gone from solid to very fluffy and loose.

I have a colonoscopy scheduled for this coming tuesday, but I went to the ER again last night. My hemoglobin was 14, and they did a rectal exam (whoa!) for hemorrhoids. They sent me home and told me it was most likely a colon polyp(s) and that they would see them on my scope. Had a bowel movement this morning and it looked like a crime scene. Lots of blood, poop was red. The stool color over the last 6-7 days has gone from maroonish brown to almost completely red. So in summary... here's a quick overview of sympstoms:

-35 year old male
-recently have lost 40lbs and changed diet due to cardiac stent last september
-no history of intestinal issues (that I can remember)
-family history of "spastic colon" and diverticulitis
-blood mixed with poop and in bowl for last 6-7 days
-bleeding seems to be getting worse
-blood turning more red than when it started
-stomach cramps especially lower area
-negative for upper GI bleed and hemorrhoids
-light nausea
-stools going from solid to loose in the last few days

Does this sound like it could be UC? If so, how long does the bleeding last?? That is what is freaking me out the most... I can live with the other stuff, but the blood is VERY scary to me... especially since I'm on the blood thinners right now.

Thanks!!

You'll have to see what the results reveal of the c-scope. Hopefully, the doc will do biopsies. I suggest you get a copy of the biopsy pathology results and pf the results of ANY tests you've had.

Have you been checked for h. Pylori? And have you had stool sampling done?

Let us know how Tuesday goes for you.
Hang tough..... pretty much all of us has been through the agonising waiting game.

q

The bleeding can last for a few weeks to months, depending on how your body responds to meds, etc. hang in there. Your symptoms are similar to those of IBD, but without a scope and biopsies, there is no way to know for sure. Let us know how your scope goes.