18 year old bleeding when pooping

[Misschattyx]

Hi I'm not sure if I've put this in the right area but need some advice. My ds just turned 18 and had just told me lastnight when he went toilet there was blood in toilet bowl. He said this has happened before. I've told him he needs to see GP asap but he's refusing as he is thinking of joining the army and certain medical problems won't allow you to enter such as IBS and Crohn's. I've tried pursued him go today but need to ring at 8 and he refused and said he'll go next week. I'm worried sick. Has anyone's older child had this. My grandad died of bowl cancer when I was 15 so my mind is all over the place. Any advice please would be so appreciated. Thanks.

As worrying as it is being practical there’s not a great deal you can do if he won’t cooperate

I think the best thing you can do is tell him to monitor it for a week not to panic ask him how much blood
there’s a few reasons
yes the obvious worrying one
piles
constipation
over vigorous wiping
and to be blunt having a fiddle up there

Then ask him again in a week

the danger with going on about it is he’ll just lie and say all ok shut you up

I had blood in my shit when was 18 or 19. Went to the doctor, who diagnosed an internal pile and advised me to eat more fibre. It cleared up soon after and I've had no problems in that area in several decades.

Thankyou. He said he'll go next week but I know hello put out off. He told me this happened before but thought it was straining maybe. Then begining of week je said the toilet bowl was red he did take a picture incase of seeing GP so he knows he's got to get it checked. I saw the picture it was bright red and this morning he said the same happened last night. He's not got pains he said he feels fine. He's worried if it's IBS or Crohn's he can't join army along with embarrassment I think and worry about tests at GP too.

I think my dad had something similar years ago but can't specifically remember what he ate other than fibre shakes if I remember rightly but he also has a stomach issue so may be different. What kind of things did you eat or take if you don't mind me asking. Thanks

Is that correct though even if it was crohns or IBs the military can refuse you? I can’t imagine in this day and age they can do that.
My 20 yr old daughter has had crohns since she was 12 and she has lived a normal active life since being diagnosed. Not even had any symptoms since treatment on diagnosis.

what's his diet like?

Absolutely, yes they can and do (not so much IBS).

It's about what can be managed safely in the context of a safety critical role - and something as life changing as Crohns could be very dangerous for your DD if she's trying to survive on unsuitable ration packs in the field in January in minus temperatures whilst exhausted after a massive hike carrying most of her bodyweight in a rucksack for example.

Here's an idea of what causes problems:
jobs.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-apply/medical/

I don't think IBS would preclude the possibility of a military career? (IBS is not IBD).

IBD / UC / Crohn's - yes. But if he has one of these, he must get it diagnosed and treated, he will become ill without treatment.

Piles or a small tear are the most likely cause.

Hi Op. Firstly, try not to stress too much (easier said than done) but my maternal grandad died of bowel CA and my dad has it currently and when I requested with the GP if I need earlier screening, that wasn’t enough of a risk factor as it would need to be 2 or more immediate family members.

In terms of the army - I get where he is coming from as it could cause issues with the application. Do you have the finances to go for a private appt? It’s probably a pile or something similar.

My 13yo has Crohn’s Disease and, while I know different people have different symptoms, they are broadly similar. In his case, the bleeding didn’t start until later on, after he had enough other symptoms to indicate that he was very unwell. His first symptom was diarrhoea every time he went to the toilet. When I took him to the GP it was suddenly very obvious that he had lost weight. Whilst awaiting a firm diagnosis he had daily diarrhoea, cramps, mouth ulcers, dermatitis, more weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, grey skin and dark circles under his eyes. For about three weeks before his colonoscopy he had a lot of bleeding. So, in my limited experience, I would suggest that IBD would likely be causing a lot of other symptoms. He definitely needs to be checked out though. I had bright red bleeding in my early twenties and it was piles. My doctor said that was the most common cause.

My DS joined the army earlier this year

They do fairly rigorous testing - medical, mental & physical, plus you give over access to all your medical records to them

Testing continues after joining and they are very pragmatic - if it puts you or fellow soldiers at risk, you are either given a plan to sort it, or you’re out. If it’s a condition that you can live with and puts no one at risk, then no issue

From a practical point of view, he needs to know what it is. Really hoping he gets it checked and it turns out to be something easily solved x

He has been going through some stress aswell due to doing 2 years at college but struggled to get a apprenticeship and he keeps failing maths and English too. He's gone back to college for another course and if this doesn't work he was looking at the army. Nothing has been going right for him at the moment and now this. He's 5ft 10 and quite lean anyway. He did go the gym but has stopped as his mates no longer go because they're all working.

He has said he doesnt go toilet every day jljes only been twice this week and both times it's happened but any other time it's been bloody on tissue (sorry tmi I know) I'm just so worried. If it is IBS or Crohn's that's another career move gone in his eyes. He is a rubbish eater to be honest. Always had breakfast but sometimes misses dinner at college but always has tea and snacks. I always tell him about it but he doesn't listen just says it's fine.

He's told me he'll book go next week.

Will he let you look to see if it's just local tears (or piles) around the anus if he's passing very solid stools, or can he see himself with a mirror? You can buy bowel cancer tests if he won't go to the doctor but you want to rule that out, that is the biggest worry if there is a history in the family. Make sure he tells the doctor that too.

No he certainly won't let me look. He's said there's no pain or soreness in the area but when he said he's only been toilet twice this week maybe could be that if he's not going frequently. I'm really hoping it's nothing but piles. I understand why he didn't tell me it's embarrassing to tell a parent but he obviously knows he needs see a GP because he took a picture. I've offered to go with him but wait outside. I know there's a waiting list for tests so that worries me aswell as I don't want him worrying over Xmas either. He's googled aswell and been through all symptoms of things and is pretty sure he has no symptoms of IBS, ibd or Crohn's but I've told him he still needs be seen.

IBD can be sitting t waiting to rear its ugly head and stress is one of the reasons it can come to the surface. Leading up to my daughters diagnosis she went through a stressful situation and we believe that was the start of her first flare.
IBD does have many symptoms but it can creep on very slowly, there is no order in which the symptoms will appear.

Please be aware that my daughters consultant told us that many GP’ s do not have the knowledge of IBD so will put symptoms down to IBS. The misdiagnosed then go on to become quite poorly because they are left untreated.

I am not telling you this to scaremonger but just to make you aware just in case the doctor does try to dismiss your sons bleeding.
Your Gp should request a blood test and a stool test unless the GP takes a look and discover its piles.

I really hope it is nothing and he can go on to join the army.

Bright red blood sounds like piles or a cut.

I's a good sign because bright red blood is a sign of fresh surface blood as opposed to deeper in the digestive tract.

In contrast, rusty, dark red, brown, or black blood can indicate bleeding higher up in the digestive system, which might be more serious and should be checked by a doctor immediately

Thankyou all you've been so helpful. I'm glad he's now agreed to see GP. I completely understand the embarrassment and not wanted the horrible tests but it needs to be done. I'll be stressing until we have a diagnosis of some sort and I really hope it's just a cut or something that can be treated.

It is totally understandable you are worried and I was exactly the same, its the unknown isn’t it?
Take one step at a time and try your best to not think the worse case scenerio. It really could be nothing.

Take care. X

Thankyou so much x

Does he have any other symptoms?

i think it sounds more like a cut or piled as if he has only gone to the loo twice he must be constipated!

Well I finally managed to get him go to GP. They've given him forms for blood work, he has to do 2 poop samples and have an examination in 2 weeks time. He certainly not impressed by it but at least we are now going forward. He doesn't have any other symptoms just the bleeding. The problem he has is they want him to do the sample the morning he has the blood work but ds says he can't go in a morning he is a night pooper so have a feeling he may struggle.

My daughter always does her sample the day before when she has to go have her regular checks, she has always been told that is fine and to put the sample bottle in a sealed sandwich bag and then in the fridge😁

Yes do it the day before and pop on fridge - only need a small sample in each pot x

If he's only been to the toilet to poo twice in a week he sounds constipated. Get him some Fibrogel and tell him to drink far more water and eat wholemeal bread and wheatabix plus plenty of vegetables and fruit.

Sorry for the late responses. So my ds did 2 samples one a calex and another one. Apparently there wasnt enough of a sample to detect anything on one and on the other it says wrong test was sent by the doctor as one was mean to be a fit test and calex was sent instead. I don't fully understand. His bloods all normal except the serum ferritin which was 18 and said abnormal and I've done some digging and some sites say iron and others say it can mean cancer...I know never consult doctor Google but the doctors have no appointments until Feb and the receptionist said the doctor hadn't even seen them yet so once he's looked he'll phone ds. I was hoping it would be a stress free Xmas once results were back but we are none the wiser with the samples which were th ones he needed.