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.

I mean he’s 18 it’s not rare for it to be Ibd but I really wouldn’t let this ruin Christmas. For test is a test to see if there is blood that has been digested and calprotectin is inflammation in the gut. I think it’s vanishingly unlikely to be cancer with low ferritin and blood once or twice. It’s more likely to be caused by his diet if it’s so bad he’s only been pooping twice per week.

Good Lord, he's 18, I can't imagine anyone that age being happy about anyone but a doctor looking at their arse for piles!

Lots of water, plenty more fruit and veg and a tube of Anusol for a couple of weeks. If no improvement then see the doctor but try the basics first.

Low ferritin is because he is losing blood he needs another stool sample done it's the only way to check for inflammation don't start start treating him for piles unless he has them!

Well the receptionist rang back and said the sample was actually sent to wrong lab in wrong envelope so he's not happy he's got to do it again. This what confused me because he had a examination and the doctor said everything feels normal can't feel any lumps but then said it could be piles but how if he couldn't feel anything. They then said they were confused as to why another doctor was sending him for the fit test as it tests for cancer and said its because he's too young for cancer so doesn't need the test but we did the test anyway and it's gone to wrong lab so very frustrating.

It's worth mentioning he does suffer nose bleeds and always has especially winter so that could be reason for ferratin aswell. The receptionist has spoke to doctor and he said do the sample again and depending on that result they'll treat for low iron if the sample is normal with iron tablets.

Just to clarify - the FIT test doesn't test for cancer so don't worry if it comes back positive, it likely will.
It tests for blood in the sample which can be for multiple reasons. It doesn't identify between blood from cancer, piles, tears or IBD.

All the best.

The test he really needs is fecal calprotectin - it distinguishes between IBD and IBS

Aww thanks for your replies it's really helped us.

How is your son doing at the moment with symptoms? How frustrating for you.
I can understand why you are worried having been there myself.
My daughters first symptoms was caused by low iron and the problem is gp’s tend to just give out iron tablets instead of finding out the cause of low iron.

The stool sample testing really is needed as that is the real important test for checking if there is any inflammation in the gut.

You really could do with pushing with getting another sample tested but I know how hard it is getting through to GP’s.

They absolutely can. There are lots of medical exclusions/cautions. Because of the risks of conditions flaring up when on deployment with no suitable treatments available. Also the side effects of some ongoing treatments may increase risk of infections etc. Harks bark to “fighting fit”!

He isn't really having symptoms that's what's confusing. It is just blood when going to the toilet. On occasion he does say he sometimes feels like he's not quite finished going to the toilet but that's it really and does feel tired alot but I'm guessing that's down to low ferratin. I've always suffered anemia so I saw the signs of that straight away and brought iron vitamins and other vitamins too.

The receptionist rang back and said the nurse will talk to him about bloods but can't get appointments until Jan 15. I got another stool sample for him and it turns out one they gave him was sent to wrong lab and the other was in a different envelope so they couldn't test it. The test they want mainly is the fit test one. As for low ferratin they can't give tablets until the stool sample is done but he struggled to go yesterday and now it's weekend so will have to be next week.