Stomach and bottom issues...

[SunshineSusan14]

For the past few weeks I have been experiencing slight, bright red blood when wiping. There isn't a huge amount but it's noticeable.

I've also been feeling quite bloated and have had pain in my stomach and lower back. The pain comes and and goes and at the moment I feel ok. I rang my GP more for the bleeding than the pain. They asked if I suffer from piles which I do and basically surmised that that must be the problem. And to ring back if it continues for another month.

Is that an adequate response at this stage or should I try and get a second opinion? Admittedly the piles are probably the cause of the bleeding but I'm not sure how other things can be ruled out without me even being seen.

Please get it checked out op...my darling mum died of bowel cancer aged 52...by the time hers was found it had spread to her liver.

I'm glad you went back, keep us posted and hope you feel ok.

Thank you I'm just wondering what exactly the tests are meant to show. Is it to look for blood in the poo or abnormalities in blood work? Presuming any of this is present they will arrange further investigation like a colonoscopy perhaps? But if there are no abnormalities will that mean it's definitely nothing sinister?

Right thing to do OP. Hope you get the all clear really soon.

Call the GP with your questions OP. They should be able to help.

I lost my husband to colon cancer as he didn’t think a little red blood on wiping was anything serious and so by the time he went to the doctors it was too late and he died 3 months later.
A year later my brother didn’t accept it when his doctor told him his bleeding was likely piles and so he pushed for a referral. A tumour was found on his lower colon and a year later after pretty intensive surgery and treatment he is cancer free and alive.

Never allow any change in bowel habits or bleeding to be ignore as colon cancer is the third largest killer in this country but fought early is very treatable.

@SunshineSusan14 I think the poo sample will veto look for blood but also indicators of inflammation. Blood will be I think to look for things like anaemia (which might indicate more significant bleeding than you're physically observing).

Try not to worry about it though, I read that loads of people are having bloating/digestive issues in lockdown due to changes in activity levels. I am about as active as before, but either stationary or working out vs long term bumbling around before, it takes a toll!

Stool samples will look for inflammation. They can take up to 3 weeks to come back. Blood in stools can be an indication of crohns or colitis.

Bloods will look for inflammation and anaemia, these should only take a few days to come back.

My son has crohns and bloods never show inflammation for him, he always has to go on the stool sample.
If inflammation is present the next step will be a referral to hospital and possibly a colonoscopy.

Likely it is just piles and nothing to worry about.

Thank you for the information. I'm just really frightened.

Definitely keep pushing back if you are not happy with the follow ups, it sounds like with bloods and stool sample they may be able to rule things out. The stool samples are not fool proof on their own as far as I am aware - a close family member had routine stool screening in January which came back clear and was later diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. However my guess is that combined with blood tests they are more effective.
Make sure to ask all your questions and don’t feel like you have to accept an answer you’re not happy with.

I had a fissure and diet issues some years ago and it was on and off and on and off for years until they finally did a small op to fix it.

I am also on a wait list for a colonoscopy due to other reasons but they are only taking absolute emergency referrals at present, despite me being higher risk category.

It’s very very worrying I know, the chances are that it is nothing sinister but always best to push for follow ups where you’re not assured

If it is bowel disease OP there's a lot you can do with diet, mine's been in complete remission for about 15 years after being quite severe (though I expect Drs would say it's a coincidence). Anyway please feel free to message me if you like.

Bloating can be linked to constipation which also can make piles worse and cause anal fissure which bleeds red blood. I would make sure you drink loads of water, eat some dried apricots and flaxseeds, use a cream from the chemist and give it a couple of weeks

The doctor prescribed me pile cream so just waiting to see if that makes a difference. And hopefully the results from blood work and stool will be back next week. It's just frightening how long these things can take. The dr said it's highly unlikely to be sinister as I'm only 35 but it's obviously not unheard of.

I'm definitely not constipated and I don't think it's a fissure. I suppose I just have to wait it out :(

Well done for going. I think the stool sample looks for blood. It’s horrible waiting for results but you’ve 100% done the best thing rather than ignoring it. While you’re waiting for the result try not to fixate on it (easier said I know) do not google stuff or read other stories, do something you enjoy as much as you can and do some self care like a bath and paint your toenails - things to help you feel more you. It will all be ok xx

So I've just had a call from the doctor receptionist saying that my stool tests came back as abnormal and I need to make an appointment to speak to the doctor tomorrow. I'm so worried now. I hate it when they give you bad news then make you wait to find out what's going on :(

I've no way of speaking to anyone until tomorrow at the earliest so can anyone here reassure me or advise what might have been picked up as abnormal. I'm so scared.

Oh that’s a horrid limbo isn’t it. Try not to google! Don’t panic. It could be showing anything from bacteria, excess fats to blood. I don’t really know the specifics but be reassured you’ve done the best thing getting tested. Best of luck getting the results. Reach out to family or friends for support if you can x

Thank you @stinkystinky I'm waiting for a call now. Barely slept last night

I hope that you are OK OP.

I’ve been thinking about you today! Have you had your call yet?

DP was called after an abnormal stool test and was seen within two weeks (NHS standard for this type of thing I believe). The consultant was very reassuring saying that blood in stools rarely means something sinister and my DP is much older than you. He carried out a simple examination and then referred him for a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy happened a week later, found two polyps which they removed at the procedure and that was the end of it. Its great that you have escalated this so you can get peace of mind quickly.

I have had a call back and the markers seem to be for inflammation rather than blood. The GP says this indicates IBD. She is referring me to a specialist but due to the current situation with covid she wasn't sure if they will see me, phone me, arrange a colonoscopy or simply arrange medication. So it's a waiting game.

I'm not sure whether to be be relieved or not....

This business of being too young drives me up the wall. I've recently lost a 28 year old and also a 35 year old friend to bowel cancer. Oh. And I also had it at 44 and was also fobbed off for being too young.

I really hope it's nothing though. Abnormal bloods can be lots of things. Good luck.

@Dulcedelecherocks I know it isnt unheard of in younger people and am very sorry to hear about your friends but statistically it is significantly more common in people over 50. I now have to take the advice I've been given based on my test results and wait to see what the specialist says. Ideally I would like to have a colonoscopy at some point just for a full idea about what's going on but whether or not they'll do one I don't know. And if they do I can't imagine it will be anytime soon given what's happening. The dr said most procedures happening now are just for urgent cases.

@Patbutcherismyhero

I have had a call back and the markers seem to be for inflammation rather than blood. The GP says this indicates IBD. She is referring me to a specialist but due to the current situation with covid she wasn't sure if they will see me, phone me, arrange a colonoscopy or simply arrange medication. So it's a waiting game.

I'm not sure whether to be be relieved or not....

I assume this is the OP after a name change.

I'm an RN and also have ulcerative colitis. You should really be scoped. The location, type and extent of the IBD can really only be determined this way. If you do in fact have IBD they should repeat the colonoscopy annually and they'll refer back to the prior studies to see how you've progressed.

The good news is that there are a lot of highly effective new medications for the common forms of IBD. The bad news is that they can't be taken orally. I get Entyvio for my UC by IV infusion every eight weeks. It work a charm. It's also crazy expensive, as are all of the biologic/monoclonal antibody meds and I don't know to what extent the NHS is offering them.

Push for the colonoscopy as soon as possible. It's the only way to know exactly whats happening.

@SunshineSusan14 let us know how it goes. Abnormal results can be so many different things, so I hope you're trying to keep calm.
I've actually been through this myself in my mid 20s. Backwards and forwards to the drs with on and off bleeding, pain, change in bowel habits.. had many bloods and stool samples and eventually a colonoscopy when it persisted. That came back clear and they actually had no diagnosis for me.. so I put it down to IBS. Haven't really suffered that severely since. Very bizarre!