Health anxiety over constipation and bleeding despite previous clear sigmoidoscopy

[WorriedWarthog]

I find this so crippling. I've had it since I can remember and I'm in my mid 40s now. I can't see a way out of it since I'm at that age where I'm told basically every symptom is potentially cancer and this is my greatest fear.

I am constipated (very hard stool) and seeing blood from straining and now I'm terrified. I can't sleep or think straight. It's been 5 days since this started and I believe it has all started due to a very out of character eating spree the week prior to Easter. Or, at least, that's what I'm telling myself because other things are scary!

I had a sigmoidoscopy about 18 months ago, and got an all clear with the exception of 2 internal haemorrhoids, but I can't get the surgeons voice out of my head where she was telling me it looked at the LOWER colon only and not the FULL colon.

I don't know really what that means. I am reading that sigmoidoscopy is good because it's less invasive and weird things on it mean you will be referred for a full colonoscopy and, if there are no weird things, that's great because issues usually start in the place this looks at but, if that's the case, why tell me in that way about the limitations at the time? Why not add the other information, too?

There is literally no point to this post except to air out how I'm feeling so I don't collapse under fear. Thanks for reading.

Most likely explanation is You’re constpitaed.

Assume it’s that. Do everything textbook to get that sorted give it a few weeks to properly sort itself out.

If this doesn’t work then think about other things.

Constipation is common and mainly caused by diet and lifestyle factors.

they say bright red blood is from near the exit so my guess is that it’s not upper colon related but i’m not a doctor.

presumably you need to eat more fibre. if i just eat fruit and veg all day it sorts me right out from constipation but i’m in the loo constantly for a day, but that’s better than being constipated.

you could go speak to a pharmacist and get dulcolax or senna or whatever they give nowadays to move things along.

an easter binge is fine. but just remember to eat fruit and veg to make the transit easier. if you can get that i’d suggest drinking fresh orange juice (or whatever fresh juice) along with your chocolate and cake as that works for me.

im thinking if you dont eat your “five a day” you might want to start as blood in the loo, even if just from little piles, is scary!

@ScaryM0nster @TalulahJP Thank you both so much for reading and posting in such a compassionate way.

I know you're not doctors, or I assume so, but how would you decide when it was time for a doctor visit? I'm on my third dose of Laxido and understand this can take a few days to be really effective.

I have no sense of discernment, because everything is scary, so thankful for any input from more balanced perspectives.

why don’t you go see the pharmacist and tell him/her that and see what they suggest.

i’d make it a local pharmacy near toilets though as you could well need to rush in when the meds do work! or could you phone a pharmacist for advice?

i think it’s usually three days for bad comstipation. but i’d suggest you need to drink 1.5 to 2 litres litres of water a day. water not cola or something else that could be not helping. are you doing that ok? check the packet for guidelines on how much.

if youve not start now unless you hane a medical condition not to like kidney issues. fill a marked container like a jug or use bottled water. refill if it’s a small bottle til youve drink the right amount across the day. keep track and don’t overdo it as your kidneys need to process it.

the medicine needs water it then transfers to the stool to soften it so if youve not given the body water to do that then the medicine wont work as well.

how many days were you eating utter crap? im going to suggest perhaos three or four days as it’s taking a while to get it back out of you. one day of eating crap doesnt result in such a long battle.

so you know now the price we pay for that. it’s not worth it. fruit and veg is your friend. i found that out on an all inclusive holiday where i lived on utter rubbish. now i know to keep taking juice and an apple or orange here and there even if i dont want them. ive no choice

I am trying Laxido on pharmacist advice yesterday.

I was eating crap for about 7 days and it included things I don't normally have like white bread, processed chocolate, cakes and wine. I wasn't hydrating, from memory, very well apart from coffee with milk.

In the last few days, I've been having 3.2L of water daily + coffee, energy drinks, stock cubes, electrolytes etc which add up to just under 5L liquids per day.

Yes, you're 100% correct about thinking I'm 20 years old and can eat how and when I want with no consequences. I will definitely remember this for future times!! I'm sorry you've gone through a similar thing but it seems you handles it better than I do, mentally, so happy for you on that score. ❤

Have a read of the Eric website. It’s aimed at constipation in children, but it has really good explanations of what’s going on and what it takes to properly resolve things once youve got to the point of having a problem. You probably won’t need the full disimpaction it talks about but it gives you an idea about time taking to clear a backlog and get back to normal.

The NHS website is also good on when to seek further advice. I think it’s four weeks. By which point plenty of fibre, fluids and exercise will probably have you back to normal.

@ScaryM0nster Thank you very much. I've walked 6 miles today and drank over 4L water and coffee and taken 3 laxido so hoping this goes away and everything goes back to normal. The physical is hard but the mental is the hardest.

how are you now OP, have you exploded yet?

@TalulahJP thanks so much for checking in on me! I had the worst day possible, yesterday. I did explode! I exploded for 24 hours, every 20 minutes and finally had to take 5 Imodium to assist.

I don't know if I did the right thing or not but, for now, my stomach is calm.

I'm really hoping everything balances out now.....