Help, DH not well :( Bowel related

[kipperydippery]

DH told me 2 days ago he made an appt with the Dr for early next week. This will be the 1st Dr appt he has had for 20 years, apart from repeat prescriptions for athletes foot cream. Very unlike him.

I asked why, he said he has had blood in his stools for ages (years!) but it has got a lot worse recently. He said it is a lot of blood :( It isn't piles, which was my first thought.

I'm worried sick. Bloody DH ignoring something for years :(

I'm not expecting many responses, just venting really. The MN blog post about telling your child/ren Daddy has cancer just got me I think.

DH's Mum died of cancer when he was a teenager, I just really fucking hope it doesn't run in the family :(

[Hassled]

I'm sorry - you must be beside yourself. All you can do is be thankful he's tackling it now. And don't google - there are always many things a symptom could be, and google will just lead you down the worst-case scenario path. Can you go along to the appointment with him?

[PolovesTubbyCustard]

Am pleased that he has made the appointment.

Fingers crossed that it is something insignificant.

[ThoughtfulPenny]

What a worrying time for you OP. Keeping everything crossed that it's something minor

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Hand holding. It could be something like polyps which can be easily removed.

[Curiousrugbymum]

My DH had similar scary symptoms plus a general low level of random niggles e.g. occasional sore joints, mood swings, bloating. He was diagnosed with an auto-immune condition called Ulcerative colitis which all links to inflammation of the bowel. There was lots of scary bathroom symptom stuff he never told me about until much later.

Once he finally got a proper examination it was quickly diagnosed and lots of other nasty options (thank you Dr Google) ruled out.

2 years on he is much better (and slimmer) and managing his condition well through diet. Hope your DH gets good support, he has already taken the hardest step by talking to the GP. Get the camera examinations done asap.

[Curiousrugbymum]

Take care, check back in next week. We are thinking of you and DH

[kipperydippery]

Thank you everyone for the replies. He is out this evening at work. It is the fact he made a Drs appt without me nagging or knowing anything about it.

It must be serious, he never makes DR's appts. He wouldn't let me look in the toilet to see how much blood. I wish he would, we have been married for over 10 years, he saw me birth 2 very large babies. Surely we are past the shyness about your bits stage :(

[Oldwestaction]

I had bleeding as well for about a year before I decided to see the doctor. It got to a point where I was passing nothing but blood and mucous up to 6 times a day. I knew I didn't have piles and Google convinced me I had bowel cancer!
The doctor referred me on a two week urgent refferal which panicked me further.
After a colonoscopy I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I had one lot of meds Which did nothing before staring on steroid enemas which have thankfully put me in remission.
I know it's easier said than done but DO NOT GOOGLE!

[Oldwestaction]

Oh and forgot to say good luck to your dh. It's scary and embarrassing when you have problems in that area but hopefully you'll get some reassurance soon

[iamEarthymama]

I got rushed into hospital with the same but after only one episode as I am a scaredy cat.
It was IBS which has gone now I am gluten free.

I am sorry he has not gone earlier but I am sure it will be treatable.

We must make sure that younger people know they must go at the first sign of trouble

Come back to tell us how he gets on x

[kipperydippery]

Thank you all, I'm NOT googling hence why Iam posting....

[JacksSkellington]

I've got a DP who did something similar. He was in agony a few years back with piles, which made him finally swallow his pride and go to the drs. He also had a lot of other loo-related problems including blood that he'd ignored for years.

He had a colonoscopy and they found internal piles as well as diverticulitis. But nothing sinister.

He's lucky in that he was booked in for an op on the piles but he didn't go ahead as we had a wedding to go abroad and he'd read too many horror stories about the recovery. Luckily it coincided with him exercising more and cutting out things like pizza, onions and tomatoes.

Four years on he still doesn't need the op and he only gets occasional flare-ups.

If it helps, bright red blood is "new" blood from lower in the bowel and can mean many different diagnoses. Try not to think the worst, it's really good that he's booked an appointment.

[standingonlego]

Hope your DH got on ok at docs OP, any next steps ?