Bowel issues and early pregnancy. Please help!

[Mummycharlottie]

I’ve been in contact with the doctor already and sent off a FIT test due to blood after passing a stool but I’m getting more and more anxious so wondered if anyone could share similar stories to help me whilst I have the wait ahead.

Ive suffered with constipation post natal since having my now 7 month old. Had little dots of red blood on toilet paper too but pretty sure this came from the outside as I could see very little tears. Doctor examined me a few months ago and wasn’t concerned.

At the weekend I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant. Then on Monday I passed a stool and had a lot of bright red blood on the paper and on the outside of my stool. Complete panic! Doctor has examined me and cannot feel anything abnormal. I have sent off a poo sample and waiting results. Blood tests booked for 2 weeks time. I cannot stop worrying. I have a 4 year old and a 6 month old and now pregnant with my 3rd and I’m convinced I have bowel cancer. I’m so upset with worry. Has anyone had similar and it been nothing?

I am pretty sure the poo test will come back positive due to seeing blood myself. And alongside constipation, sometimes loose and now a lot of blood, I can’t think of what else it could be, especially because the doctor couldn’t feel anything abnormal when she examined me. Since having my baby, passing stools has sometimes stung but not every time. I have strained a lot sometimes but didn’t on this occasion (did 2 days prior). I don’t pass a stool daily. My fibre intake isn’t great.

I really want to keep this pregnancy but worried I may not be able to if it’s something serious. Any positive stories out there? thank you in advance.

I had a positive poop test / qfit test - for blood in my poop - ( wasnt visible to me but there according to test results)
I had bowel polyps.
They got removed in an urgent colonoscopy & then had biopsies which were fine

Theres many non cancer reasons 4 blood in poop

Count to 10

If it's bright red, it's probably a little tear from constipation. They can take a while to heal. Some stool softener may help? You carry more blood for some reason when pregnant so bleeding is a bit more common (eg nosebleeds too) so there ia a strong possibility it's nothing to worry about.

IBD (crohns and ulcerative colitis) can often flare (or strangly, settle) during pregnancy. Lots of women with IBD will tell you that hormone fluctuations can upset their guts. Might they test your stool for calprotectin, or blood for ESR/CRP? Please don’t jump to the worst possible explanation, there’s lots of things between it’s all fine and cancer.

You may have piles, very common with pregnancy and childbirth! Internal piles causes bleeding

I had blood and mucus in my stool for 6 weeks, like every time I went, it was agony every time I went. This was around 12 weeks pregnant. Eventually went to my GP who was amazing, sent off samples which were all clear of infection, took my bloods which were fine and sent a sample for calprotectin. This came back at 800 and i was referred to gastroenterology. While waiting for my gastroenterology appointment it all cleared up and i've never had a symptoms since. Im 33 weeks now. Very strange.

Hi op. So sorry you are going through this. I know it’s easy to say, but try not to worry until you know for sure. Stress like this can adversely affect the bowel. Try and keep calm.

You have done the right thing to get tested. it’s good to trust your instincts on these things. There is an outside chance it’s something sinister but it’s equally likely it’s something benign.

Wishing you all the best.

@Summerbreeze111 this was my first thought but when the doctor examined me she couldn’t feel any. Can you have piles if they can’t be felt on examinations?