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).

@BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted are you just having bleeding after bowel movement ?? Do you have any mucus ??
hopefully you’ll find out what’s happening soon 🤞x

@Shauna2866 No, no mucus and I was passing blood instead of a bm. Same sensation. Was so shocked to see bright red blood and clots in the pan I could have cried. Could have but I’m a big girl who knows how to hoick up my big girl pants. GP asked me about the mucus thing and I see now the significance

@BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted clots really bet that was terrifying !
yeah I only ask about the mucus as I know people with Uc have that too
mine is just constantly brown mucus stomach cramps feeling like I need to go when I don’t
and feel occasions I have had lose bowels with blood as well!

Just worried me abit more now since @BabyDreamers put that about her relative!
ill be thinking I’ve got that now 🤦🏻‍♀️ This is what I’m like a massive worrier but I know everyone’s symptoms are different reading one thread some lady didn’t even no she had anything wrong with her GP was doing routine checks sent a stool sample for blood it come back positive but had literally zero symptoms I’m just trying to stay positive for now and hope it is some form of IBD i pray 🙏🏻 Anywaaayyyy…

You are allowed to be worried. It's normal. What's not normal (IMO) is the stuff upper lip bullshit so prevalent in the UK.

Something isn't right. You need proper medical care to fix it. That's it. I'm not sure what @BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted means about "big girl pants" but I fucking cried when those symptoms started happening to me, believe me. I was embarrassed, and also I was very afraid - and that's in the context of being someone who was a single parent (now have a lovely boyfriend) 10 years raising sons, who had emigrated to a completely new country alone aged 19 and built a while life for myself and who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since I was about 16. It's NORMAL to feel.like that.

Of course it's frightening, you are also pregnant and sounds like you need better treatment, quicker from the doctor. @BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted I hope you will not hesitate to push from proper care should you have another bout.

We do NOT have to live in suffering. There is no pride in it. You get one life. If that life involves a chronic illness, you should be treated for that illness with good medical care and kindness. This is (or should be) bare minimum society stuff in a wealthy first world country that claims to have a public health care system.

The culture of not bothering the doctor is fine if you've got a bit of a cold. If you are shitting blood and mucus and have persistent abdominal cramping and pain it is time to be the squeaky wheel.