I am beside myself with worry about my DH

[Ozziegirly]

My DH is 30 years old, non smoker, vaguely heavy drinker, but not problematic, not overweight.

For the last year he has had blood in his stools. He underwent a colonoscopy and gastroscopy which came back all clear. He has a little camera that he swallowed, again, all clear.

Over the past month he has been feeling exhausted, and anxious. He also suffers from bloating and often goes to the loo 3 times a day, and normally after a meal. Last Sunday he was queasy and kept thinking he was going to be sick. We thought it was dehydration (it had been 40 degrees here!).

This morning he woke up shivering (the room was cold, I was chilly too) and was then sick. He says he was bringing up blood. We had chilli for dinner last night, but he said there wasn't really any food, just liquid.

He is going to the Dr today, but I am really so worried. This can't be good surely? But I have no idea what it can be as he has had throat to bottom scanned during the tests last time.

I had thought IBS - anxiety, tiredness, bloating, odd bowel habits. But the bleeding and now vomiting blood have me seriously worried.

Any thoughts/stories at all?

I don't really have any stories for you.

It does sound worrying though. Hopefully nothing serious.

Vaguely heavy drinker? How much does he drink?

All of what you've said reminds me of my aunt, she had all those symptoms. It was excessive drinking and she had renal failure.

It's so hard because part of me thinks - how can it be serious, he's 30, he's (otherwise) healthy. But then the other part of me thinks - how on earth can pooing and vomming blood be anything but serious?

But then the passing blood has been going on for a year, so surely the specialist would have done further checks if he was concerned?

Anyway, we have recently moved to a new city, and have a nice Dr near our house instead of the other side of the city like before. I have basically said to my DH that at 30 he should be feeling fine with no health worries, and that we are not going to rest until we find out what's wrong.

TDWP - we share about 1 1/2 bottles of wine in the evening, but not every night.

Plus he gave up for 6 weeks before Christmas in the hope it might be caused by booze, but the symptoms were no different, still bleeding.

How old was your aunt?

42 when she was diagnosed, but she really did drink a lot.

I hope you can get some answers.

Have you asked about Chrons or ulcerative colitis?

Well my DH probably used to drink more than he does now (he was in the army). The thought of liver disease did cross my mind (as did loads of other really serious scary things).

But surely 30 is too young? He only really started drinking at University anyway (was at boarding school before that) so he's only really been drinking for 10 years, and not any heavier than anyone else I know.

TDWP - hmm, I actually hadn't thought of those. Partly because my friend's brother has UC and was really really ill with it and almost died - so I kind of thought of it as "worse" iyswim?

Until today, DH hasn't had to have any time off work, hasn't really had REALLY loose stools - eg, he has no problems getting to the loo on time.

But things like that are possibilities as definitely some food makes him more bloated than others (pizza for example!).

Also the tiredness I wondered is him not getting all the nutrients he needs from food.

Ok, well he's back from the Drs - luckily the new dr was great.

He has him in for a raft of blood tests, but said he thinks it is actually all down to anxiety. He thinks he feels anxious, which then means he probably drinks too much, then pours coffee on top, all which have irritated his insides.

So he has given him a low level anti anxiety drug and he has another appt in a couple of weeks.

I'm pleased the Dr is looking at this from both a medical and psychological perspective. I was hoping he wouldn't ignore either and it seems he is taking both seriously.

So, will just have to hope I guess.

I may not post for a couple of days as we have a bank holiday here on Monday, but if anyone else has any thoughts, please don't be offended if I don't respond until next week.

Thank you.

Oh, and god bless the Australian healthcare system. To be able to call up and get an appt at the local surgery that day (where we hadn't even signed up yet) and see a nice Dr, get a script and have a follow up appt is great.

Sounds reassuring Ozziegirly.

Sounds funny to hear Australia Day called a bank holiday. Is that another term for public holiday?

Our healthcare system is great. Be warned that it is not always that easy. I have a fantastic Dr and sometimes wait a week or so for an appointment with him.

If he is tired it could be due to the blood loss iyswim - long term that could cause some degree of anaemia.

I hope you find out what's wrong soon.

Yes, sorry I still think of them as bank holidays, but yes, a public holiday is correct!

Healthcare just so different to UK where I had a surly and mean Dr but couldn't change because of the daft rule that you have to register where you live, rather than where is convenient.

I am a bit reassured - we shall see how things go.

Watoose, that was what I thought as well. Hopefully the blood test will let us know.

I hope I find out too - it's so horrid watching someone you love like this. I would happily take it on and have the symptoms myself if it would take it away from him.

Ok, off now to nurse him. Thanks for all your messages.

Enjoy the public holiday other ozzie posters.