Too scared to go to the doctor

[wuell]

Not a troll, have been here for 6+ years that MNHQ can verify.

I haven't had a 'normal' bowel movement in about 8 months, most of my 'movements' have been diarrhoea. My flatulence smells like something has died inside of me. I have told the GP about the diarrhoea a few months ago but they weren't interested. I now have bright red blood in my stools/when I wipe and my stomach hurts and I'm petrified and too scared to go back to the doctors. My grandfather and uncle both have IBS and I assumed I had that too, but neither of them ever had blood in their stool. Aibu to not go back? I'm so worried and I just can't face it

Order a bowel screening test and do it at home

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Go tomorrow.

Go back. You might simply be constipated and need a few months of laxido but equally it may be something more. Time to woman up and go and get seen.

OP is not describing constipation, champion

You need to go back, you know this. It is scary but the earlier you go the better. Yes, it maybe cancer and the earlier it’s diagnosed the better the outcome. It may also be other thing and again the earlier the treatment the better the outcome and the quicker symptoms can be brought under control.

It is scary but you CAN do it.

Yes she is. The runs is usually overflow, bright red blood from a fissure or piles. Belly ache from not moving things through.

You can also go to the Mary Howe Trust for private screening if the GP is not possible

You would be unreasonable not to go to the Dr.

Telling a GP what is going on doesn’t make the problem more ‘real’. It is already real. If you don’t do anything about it, it might possibly go away on its own. But it might not and it might get worse. Possibly a lot worse.

If you go to the GP, the problem might still go away on its own and you won’t have lost anything. But if it doesn’t sort itself out, the GP will set about finding out what’s wrong so that you can receive appropriate treatment, whatever that may be.

Given the presence of blood, a good GP will want to perform blood tests and take stool samples. If the GP doesn’t suggest this, find another GP.

Good luck OP. It’s hard to take the first step, but you need to. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you will feel more in control.

Yabu. The unknown is far worse. If it was a friend in this situation you would encourage and support them so don't be afraid to ask someone to go with you if you can't face it alone. I hope you manage to get seen soon.

Please go to the Doctor, the worry won't go away until you do. There's lots of medical conditions that it could be but you won't know until you get seen.

@Makewayforsummer what's the other thing? Genuinely asking, I knew cancer was a possibility but what's the other thing?

I have diagnosed IBS, currently having a flare up which previously effective medicine is not working on. Despite a recent clear test for bowel cancer, I too am scared and trying to face up to contacting the GP again. I understand your fear. [hugs] I promise to ring up tomorrow if you do too @wuell

Bright red blood is usually ok as that is fresh and very recent likely caused by the bowel movement. Especially likely if you’ve been struggling to go. It’s dark blood that’s more worrying.

Go get it checked for peace of mind,

It could be lots of things with easy fixes…. Food intolerance causing inflammation which has caused bleeding; bacteria infection needing antibiotics, haemorrhoids, it’s scary to think of going but much better to get a plan to hopefully treat it

Things like Crohn’s, colitis and diverticulitis can all cause these symptoms but so can bowel cancer. You know this and you must see someone. I’ve got a strong family history of bowel cancer in my family so I am straight to the doctors with anything like this, it’s really important you get it seen to quickly. It may not be cancer at all but if it is the earlier it’s caught the better and if it isn’t then whatever it is can be treated and you can live more comfortably.

Sorry not struggling to go, as a result of going so often.

Diverticulitis or simple piles might result in blood. I know it is scary but even if it was cancer, the sooner you are seen, the likelier you will be cured.

I assumed the poster meant IBS.

Are you losing weight?

What is your diet and exercise like?

The other thing they would want to rule out is inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Both are diagnoses they would likely to want to exclude with your symptoms.

As PP have said, go to the GP. The solution starts there. Hope they have you feeling better soon💐

Any chance you were abroad approx 8 months ago?

OP if it is something really serious not going to the GP isn't going to achieve anything positive. You give yourself no chance of treatment of cure.

If you do go you have a chance of treatment and cure.

My maternal GM found a lump in her breast. Like you, she was afraid to go to the doctor in case he told her it was cancer, so she didn't go.

She died a few months later. It could have been treated. She would have had a chance, but she, in her fear, guaranteed the outcome that she feared.

See a different doctor. ASAP.
sorry OP, this could be nothing or it could be v serious.

Your symptoms and all the worry sound so miserable OP. Go to the doctor and get this sorted or you'll be living in a painful, frightened limbo until you do. Imagine the relief when you've seen the doctor and have a plan for sorting the situation.

My DD had diarrhoea and bleeding, it was ulcerative colitis. DD had her initial flare a couple of years ago and the medication she was given has kept her well. Go and see your dr and have the investigations you need to get better.