To ask for experiences (warning - blood in poo related)

[Changednamesorry]

I have for the last few weeks noticed some blood in the toilet when I go for a poo along with a change in consistency to being softer - not diarrhea - just softer.

I also have a lot of gas in the morning and pain in my tummy - again - mostly in the morning. I also now have more urgency.... Whereas in the past I could hold on ages now when I need to go I really need to go.

I have had piles which would explain the blood but not the pain urgency or change in consistency.

I am seeing the doctor tomorrow - I just wondered if anyone else had these symptoms and had answers. I'm absolutely petrified that it's going to be bowel cancer and I'm feeling really anxious. I'm a single mum of 2, I'm 36 years old.

Healthy except for having Rheumatoid Arthritis (which is well managed).

Don’t have hip pain just back pain

I have rheumatoid arthritis so I have joint pain generally when not medicated.

I am on a biologic for the RA which is also often prescribed for UC but I also needed the Mezavant as well in the end.

Did you have any mucus when you was having these symptoms I’m constantly having urgency in the morning sometimes can’t go sometimes can but it’s just brown mucus all the time speaking with Gp tomorrow anyway

Yes I did have exactly that. Exactly.

Push your GP HARD for a referral for a colonoscopy and the fecal calprotein test and a referral to a gastroenterologist. Don't give up.

@Changednamesorry yes I will definitely
hope this morning I’ll no what my calprotectin levels are will update once I find out x

recep at Gp has jus printed my results out and now there at 111 so confused to what this could be 3 months ago they was 157

Sorry receptionist

It is a disease that flares. So levels might go up and down. You need to have an appointment with a gastroenterologist to discuss the results and symptoms.

But a quick Google shows those results indicate inflammation. So push for follow up. Ask for a C reactive protein test. And a colonoscopy.

I have UC, you describe my symptoms well. I also have psoriatic arthritis. Auto immune disease often end up as a whole collection!

@Changednamesorry doctor has booked me in for appointment tomorrow He never ever listens alls he says is well if it was IBD your levels would be ridiculously high but how will I ever no if he won’t send me for colonoscopy I’m pregnant at the min so he won’t let me have one until then but I’m sure there’s other alternatives.

@Gilead I’ve been having all these symptoms for around 6 months they did go for around 8 weeks but now it’s all back again gonna keep pushing GP till he does something about it .

Ugh often horrified at the way doctors in UK seem to behave towards their patients. Ask for a C Reactive protein test and to be referred for a colonoscopy. By the time the NHS gives you an appointment for the colonoscopy most likely your baby will already be born so ask him to start the process now.

You are literally describing what I had with an ulcerative colitis flare and if he isn't coming up with any alternative ideas you need to really insist on a referral to a gastroenterologist.

I had this in March. I don't know what caused it maybe I had an infection or something, severe diarrhoea and pain all down my left side, bleeding with mucus and lots of it.
By the time I got a gp appointment it was clearing up but I was so sore I didn't want the doctor to examine me.
Was sent a fit test through the post but it was clear.
I know it's easier said but try not to panic, there are so many things that cause this. I think I had an infection or something and a fissure, I felt like I was sitting on something.
I know how frightening it is, I even smelt bad (sorry) which made me more frightened but it was nothing serious.
Don't Google! I had myself with months to live! Google isn't always your friend.
Hope you get better soon 💐

@Changednamesorry Yeah he’s not great tbh if it carries on I will change doctors and see if they will help me sure they will but alls he says is your levels aren’t high there only 111 and I’ve said yes but it’s not in the normal range so clearly something is going on and I just want to know I’ve got 2 small children and I’m 5 months pregnant and I keep thinking the worse which I think everyone does I’ll update on here once I’ve had a Chat with him xx

@Unforgettablefire my doctor has checked for infection and it come back normal but it’s just constantly brown mucus all the time sorry (TMI)🤦🏻‍♀️
with or with out bowel movements one day I’ll be constipated the next day I can go fine I’m always having stomach cramps ( specially in the morning)
so weird this all just happened after having my second c section never ever suffered with anything like this before did your go do a calprotectin test?? Was your levels high too then ? X

My gp got a fit test sent through the post, it came two days after the gp appointment and came from the hospital cancer department that's what made me panic I was terrified.
I had the brown mucus as well it all seemed to come from nowhere.

@Unforgettablefire oh yeah I’ve not had one off them just calprotectin to check inflammation
yeah the brown mucus is awful

I can tell you the pathway here in Spain, this was during Covid so 2020.
Called GP at 1130 am, appointment same day at 7pm.

Explained symptoms. Stool sample taken the following morning. Called me 2 days later saying results and asking if improved. I said no.

She said a colonoscopy would be 3 months wait due to Covid which she said was too long but health service collapsed at the time, she booked it but said if I could afford a private one (400 euros) to get that. Meanwhile also sent me to the tropical diseases centre the following week to check that it wasn't some weird thing that had been lying dormant since a trip to Japan and China in November 2019 (said was unlikely but wanted to rule it out). They found that I had Giardia but we're concerned that that alone wouldn't explain symptoms so gave me the treatment but recommended that I continued with the colonoscopy route.

I was able to afford the colonoscopy privately so I went the following day and emailed the results to my GP who said hm. Looks like ulcerative colitis I'm referring you to the gastroenterologist at the hospital. Scheduled blood (c reactive protein) and stool test for the next day so they would be ready for appointment with gastro.

One week later saw gastroenterologist who confirmed UC and gave me a prescription for Mezavant which I started to take . Within one week I was much better, 2 weeks all symptoms gone. Been in remission ever since.

Now that the pandemic has subsided, the wait for a colonoscopy is more like about a month more or less.

I live in Barcelona, by the way, so big, busy city.

I know it's hard because the NHS sucks but don't allow yourself to be fobbed off. It's not right. UC is miserable and dangerous if not treated. And it's easily treated, and like most things, more easily treated if caught quickly.

Good luck. Let us know how you are getting on.

My relative was diognosed with terminal bowel cancer and given 5 years to live in her mid 20s with those symptoms.

@BabyDreamers oh sorry hear about that ❤️im hoping I’ll be okay!

@BabyDreamers the problem is with bowel cancer and IBD the symptoms are similar
ill find out once I get to have a colonoscopy
and what symptoms?? My friends mum has been diagnosed with bowel cancer and she’s been giving 5 years but alls she has was constipation so don’t really think everyone has the same symptoms

It's scary to hear that, and that is why you are well within your rights to absolutely insist on them getting it investigated.properly. it is more.likely to be UC or Chrome's thank god but it's not nothing and you shouldn't be ignored. Stand your ground. 💐

@Changednamesorry all my symptoms point out to IBD they went for 8 weeks and the returned I believe you go in and out of flares ??

and my calprotectin levels are abnormal which IBD patients have sure I’ll find out soon my calprotectin has dropped a fair bit since my last one x

Yes that's right but once on the correct medication you should not flare. But that is why they need to act when you go not leave you waiting because otherwise you can end up with the flare subsiding and having to go through it all again unnecessarily.

i feel so cross when o read stories like yours. The care in the UK seems almost negligent these days 😔

Timely to have found this thread today. Abdo pain and rectal bleeding a few days ago. Got a call back from GP and then another asking me to go to see him the same afternoon. Was surprised but grateful time could be found for me. Rectal exam (felt humiliated). Delivered stool sample yesterday and have a blood test next week.

Meanwhile trying to find travel insurance for my holiday later this month with “undiagnosed symptoms”. Wish me luck.

My sister who’s a nurse said best-case scenario is diverticulitis. I’d be grateful for that or UC, to be honest. Meanwhile symptoms have gone for the moment

@BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted this is what I’m hoping for Some form of IBD my symptoms disappeared too and then come back and my calpro test was 157 and now dropped to 111