Passing mucus with stools (TMI!)

[Rosduk]

Sometimes when I need to go I only pass mucus, a big clump of it. I have spoken to the doctor and she suggested going gluten free but I can't help feeling that its more than that! (I am a bit paranoid though to be fair!)

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what it turned out to be or what improved it! Thanks..

That's generally a sign of inflammation.

Any other symptoms?

Well, constipation and bloating but I'm also 7 weeks pregnant so I have no idea if its related or not!

It makes it a bit trickier to know what's what if you're pregnant (congrats there). Did you have the bloating, mucus and constipation before or have these all started in the last 7 weeks?

I think some GPs are too quick to go straight for a diagnosis of IBS or suggest excluding gluten and/or dairy. IBS I would say should only be diagnosed when everything else has been ruled out. And gluten intolerance can only be really be diagnosed by properly testing for it.

Your symptoms could due to the pregnancy but if they've been going on for longer then 3 weeks or you had them before you were pregnant I'd insist they do some investigations.

My dd was fobbed off with an IBS diagnosis for years while she was away at uni. It turned out to be ulcerative colitis. The symptoms she was having (bloody mucus, alternating runs/constipation, severe bloating, painful joints, weight loss, fatigue) should have rung big red bells with doctors but because she was young, stressed out and had moved surgeries a few times due to house/city moves - it got dismissed and no proper tests were offered and she wasn't insistent on any being done.

That's what is worrying me. The GP was so blasé about it and the conversation was just over the phone she didn't even ask me to come in to the surgery to check anything. I'm going to call them again today and insist on an appointment!

The constipation in pregnancy is caused by the extra progesterone, which slows down the action of smooth muscle (intestines are made of smooth muscle) I suffered from this badly.

I can recommend a kiwi fruit, along with your morning cereal each day to keep things moving. Someone (a nurse friend of a dietician) told me that said friend swore that 2 kiwi fruit a day would move anything. Apparently it contains some enzyme or other.....

Anyway, good luck with your appointment, hope you get some help.

Good luck with your appointment. You wouldn't think some GPs would be blase about things like this bearing in mind the massive campaign for people to see their doctors if they have any changes in bowel habits. It is probably due to hormonal changes but nevertheless you need a proper appointment.

I have similar symptoms. I vary from constipation to dhiarhea(sp) I have mucous when I go to the toilet and sometimes just pass mucous and blood.

I asked my gp to refer me and with the help of a camera they diagnosed me as having internal piles and inflammation.

Get your gp to refer you or carry out tests to rule out what they've told you it is.

"...... I have spoken to the doctor and she suggested going gluten free but ....."

What?

Just like that ?

No testing ? no attempt at diagnosis ?

Perhaps she the practice does not want to know......

I doubt she has a clue as to the ( lifestyle ) implications of ( true ) GF living

Is changing GP an option ?

I went to see another doctor and she was just as useless. She said it is likely to be worse through pregnancy but I asked to be tested for inflammation etc and she said with no pain/blood it's unlikely so they are doing a blood test for celiac first. I guess I'll have to wait and see the results for that although I would have thought if its celiac I'd have been experiencing symptoms longer....