Bleeding from bottom

[Strawbsss]

So I want to start by saying, if anyone else asked this, I'd say "don't be stupid, go to the doctors, they've seen it all before"...

But I feel so embarrassed.

I have a face to face GP appointment tomorrow as I've finally had the courage to speak to someone about my rectal bleeding.

I'm not just talking a few spots on the toilet paper, I'm talking toilet bowl filled with blood

I have always blamed it on piles from pushing during childbirth but it's getting much heavier.

My worry is... I'm MORTIFIED.

Has anyone had their bottom checked over before?

How do you 'show' them? Do I bend over? Do I lie on the bed?

Don’t worry yourself over it, doctors have seen many bums over their time. Sounds like it could be piles from what you’ve described but always best to check. I had to go once for a bum check and they told me to lie on my side and pull my knees up a bit which made the whole appointment more bearable because I could just lay on my side look away and not think about the fact someone was looking at my bum hole haha

Just on my way to the appointment now.

Feeling a bit sick but knowing it'll be over shortly makes me feel better - and I can enjoy a lovely, relaxing weekend with my three angels 🤣

So, it wasn't as bad as I thought but I still feel mortified 😳

Nothing seen externally and nothing felt internally.
I've done a FIT test and booked in for bloods.

I was sort of hoping they would feel internal piles and that would be the answer.

It's just a case of sitting and waiting I guess now for FIT results.

Surely if I have bleeding when passing bowel movement the screening will show blood anyway?

Thanks ladies x

If it helps at all, the first time I had a GP stick a finger up my bum, I had made the appointment without checking which GP it was.

It was a school mum (also GP, not a random!) who I had been out drinking with. I was mortified but she was lovely.

Brilliant 🤣

If it helps GP didn't find anything on my exam but there were definitely internal haemorrhoids visible on the colonoscopy (and that's all there was). Bright red blood usually suggests lower end too.

Well done for going

@MassiveOvaryaction

This does help! Thank you.

Hopefully my FIT results don't take too long now and I can proceed to the next stage of the investigation.

Is a colonoscopy awful? X

I would definitely opt for the sedation for your colonoscopy. They also had gas and air which I was most appreciative of. The view on the screen is actually very interesting and I found the colours very lovely (perhaps this was related to the sedation)

Yikes - sedation? Is it that bad?! X

Thankfully not had colonoscopy but for an endoscopy the sedation is brilliant.

@eatreadsleeprepeat how did you feel during it? Do you remember it? X

Currently experiencing this.

The Gp did not do a bottom check. She took blood pressure, weight etc and felt tummy for lumps.

She then requested blood test, FIT Test and stool test.
(Mine were abnormally high), so referred on 2 week cancer pathway.
Had a colonoscopy yesterday - which showed no cancer thank God.
Does show inflamed bowel so sent off biopsies.

To add-
For colonoscopy - I didn't have any pain relief or sedation. Nothing. I wouldn't say it's painful. More discomfort.

Also - I was also embarrassed. I didn't go to the GP until after 4 solid weeks of bleeding.

I cried to the colonoscopy doctor that this is so embarrassing. (My butt is so big and her hands were so small!). She was lovely. Does this multiple times daily. And has seen much worse.

I'm so glad your results were positive. What a relief.

I hope subsequent tests are okay and it's all something and nothing for you 🩷

I don’t remember anything from about a minute after he put in the sedation till after it was all done and the nurse was taking me through to recovery.
Bit disconcerting to later realise I must have been awake enough to talk to the nurse because she referred to something I had said, heaven only knows what garbage I was spouting.
Seriously though it relaxes you enough and switches you off from the process that must make it easier for the staff and is one less thing to worry about.

I had a colonoscopy with sedation, so still awake but rather away with the fairies. No pain but found it highly interesting seeing the camera on the video screen with the view of my insides!

I had a colonoscopy without sedation and whilst it was a bit uncomfortable, it was fine. The consultant was hilarious and as I was being wheeled out he shouted "tell your friends, buy one, get one free!" I was appreciative of the fact I was told there was nothing of concern there and then.

People's experiences of colonoscopy seem to range from 'discomfort' to 'so painful they couldn't finish the procedure'.
They offer sedation for a reason, so I've always taken it. A relaxed patient must be easier for the staff to perform the procedure on too.

Well done OP for going.x
Please keep us updated.

If you have a colonoscopy have sedation. I did but it wasn’t v effective - I would say it was uncomfortable but something like a hysteroscopy is worse tbh. Subsequently I had an endoscopy and I was out for the count so different drugs must have been used.
However, dh had one recently and as it was awkward for me to go with and he’s so busy at work, he drove and opted for gas and air - and they told him off and said if his haemorrhoid had needed banding they only do that under sedation (his was nhs, I had mine done privately).
Hope all is ok for you.

I ignored heavy bleeding and ended up severely anaemic. Had Qfit, colonoscopy, endoscopy etc. still don't know what caused it! Could be haemorrhoids or colitis but colitis tests all come back low and could only find one tiny haemorrhoid so who knows.

Thank you all SO much for your replies and sharing experiences.

I don't know why, but I thought a colonoscopy would be a quick 20 min in and out appointment. I have a Colposcopy years ago and it was a standard appointment really, no sedation etc.

From what I'm reading online, this could be a full prep prior to appointment, hospital admit, gown job?!

Thank you again, I get a bit nervous posting on MN as some responses can be a bit abrupt but you've all been great xx

Yes I did an enema at home when I woke up (oh joy) then went to the ward where I was given a gown but waited in a cubicle with just a chair. I then walked into the room where the procedure was done and popped onto a bed which they wheeled me out on although I was fine to walk! I think I was in for maybe 30 minutes? I can't remember as it was 10 years ago but with all the chat and banter it didn't feel long. I think there were one or two others there inc a nurse. Then DH drove me home but again would have be fine to drive myself as I didn't opt for sedation.

I found the colposcopy more uncomfortable with the speculum and then that weird injection in the cervix. Also there's no where to hide, everything is on display. But the colonoscopy felt more discreet and it does take a bit longer even if they don't have to action anything because there is more to look at but my consultant kept up a running commentary of what he was looking at and whether it was normal or needed action.