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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Blood in stool
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Blood in stool
by Jane, Mar 16, 2000 12:00AM
I am 22 years old, I have had an ongoing problem for the last three years or so. I occasionally pass blood and/or mucus in my stools - the mucus is usually either a dark or pinkish color, I don't have any pain. I'm very worried about what this could be, I have tests at the hospital but they couldn't find anything (I think a sigmodoscopy??) and my family don't have any history of anything like this.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf, Mar 27, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Jane,
In young adults without a family history of gastrointestinal problems, symptoms of blood and mucus passed with the stool are usually indicative of lower rectal or anal problems such as hemarrhoids or fissures. It is necessary, however, to exclude mucosal conditions e.g. polyps or tumors and that is why a colonoscopy is done. IF the blood is MIXED with the stool, then it is necessary to rule out conditions above the level of the sigmoidoscope. For these instances we do a colonoscopy or an air contrast barium enema.
In young adults without a family history of gastrointestinal problems, symptoms of blood and mucus passed with the stool are usually indicative of lower rectal or anal problems such as hemarrhoids or fissures. It is necessary, however, to exclude mucosal conditions e.g. polyps or tumors and that is why a colonoscopy is done. IF the blood is MIXED with the stool, then it is necessary to rule out conditions above the level of the sigmoidoscope. For these instances we do a colonoscopy or an air contrast barium enema.
Background:
Aidan started out in the 75 %, 7lbs 12 and 20 1/2 inches but started to decline at about 4 month and was completely off the chart on weight by six months but height was about still 40%. We've always watched him carefully and weighed him every two weeks to once a month - he's been on a high fat, high protein diet since he was about eight months (extra formula in everything, cheese, recently half and half milk on advise of GI doc- lots of meat etc.) and though he eats a lot we've never manage to get his weight up.
He's always had a problem with vomitting and I first went to the doctor when he was three months old cause he would projectile vomit about once a day - usually first thing in the morning. The doctor always told me it was normal and he would grow out of it. Last summer (18 months) he started to throw up more frequently and later this fall it was almost every night. He usually starts with this cough and then sounds like he's choking. We always ran to him because it sounded like he couldn't breath - just chiking. And with it the vomitting. It wasn't just a little or once - but he'd throw up everything in his stomach and then bile. If he had a cold, fell down, played too hard, choked on food he'd throw up. Of course I was concerned but the doctor just dismissed it. I can understand why cause he always seems so healthy - unless you see him throwing up. So at the urge of my family (who'd seen him throw up) and father (cardiologist), I switched doctors. In December his height was also off the chart. The
pediatrician thought the vomitting must be keeping him from absorbing adequate nutrition and was now stunting his growth. So she sent us to Pediatritic GI who took it all quite seriously and sent us for cf test (negative), upper g.i.(normal), blood work (?), etc. Oh and she also put him on Prevacid for the vomitting.
The good news is that after only six weeks on prevacid he's gone from 31.5 in to 33 in (amazing) and now weighs 23 lbs from 21 lbs. (also amazing). He's still tiny but he's now back at the bottom of the chart. Within the first two days on Prevacid he threw up three times and not again for the whole six weeks.
At his 2-year appointment 2 weeks ago his pediatrition took him off the prevacid since he was now back on the chart and upper gi was normal. DH took him to the appointment so I didn't get to protest this. Isn't the fact that this is working be the very reason he stays on it? Of course, he threw up again the first night but hasn't again. He is, however, waking several times a night choking though.
That first night last week he vomitted again I videotaped him while DH held him over the tub. I did this because I feel like the doctors don't know what I mean by the choking since it usually happens at night. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I write this all now because last night at my sisters he started to choke on apple juice and it freaked my sister out! He turns all read and I have to run to get him standing upright. His face turns very red and his eyes tear while he coughs without intaking.
Q: Do any of your kids choke like this before, during or instead of vomitting? Should I be concerned about him choking in sleep? does this ever happen to 2-year olds?
Does this sound like reflux? Can it still be reflux if upper gi was normal. Would the fact that he had prevacid four hours prior to gi make it normal? No one told me not to give it to him, but I wished I hadn't so we could see if he refluxes without it.
We have a follow up with gi in 6 weeks. The receptionist called me yesterday to tell me that some of his blood work was sent back to lab to retest because something was abnormal, though they say it looked ok second time around? Though doc wants me to bring him back in. Of course I can't get in til May. GI had mentioned doing endiscope for celiacs, fissures (in esophagus) if other tests were normal. i was gong to suggest not doing it since the whole reason for all this was "failure to thrive" and now he's thriving. This choking thing is making me reconsider.
Opinions, comments, advice wanted
I am 24 years old and have had a very similar problem for about four years. As in your family, we have no history of any sort of thing. I recommend a colonoscopy. The procedure takes about 1 hour and is done in an outpatient facility of a hosptial. The blood could mean anything from a hemroid to warning signs of polips that can be cancerous. Like you I had the sigmoidoscopy first and nothing was detected. The additional testing was covered by my insurance and did find evidence of non-cancerous polips. I wish you luck. Colon Cancer is the most treatable of cancers and if found early is close to 95% recovery. And always seek a second opinion.
Thoughs and Prayers,
Paula
I'm 23 years old and have just recently found blood in my stools. I was wondering if this could be related to having my appendix taken out a month ago? I really hope to find a reasonable explanations for this and am wondering if I should go see a doctor right away or see if the problem persists. I have no pain and this has never happened before.
I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks
There is one other thing that may be a possibility, which happened to my little cousin. He went through the same symptoms, choking and then vomiting. They couldn't figure out what it was. It turns out he has asthma. He would choke on phlegm (sp?) which would make him vomit the phlegm along with his entire stomach contents. He was especially bad when he had a cold, when there was more congestion. Once the asthma was treated his problem resolved.
In my opinion this does not sound like reflux, although it sounds like it might be part of his underlying problem. Gastroparesis also causes terrible reflux. If he is choking in his sleep he may be aspirating the reflux of stomach contents. If you can, I would try elevating the head of his bed at least 6 inches. You can have reflux even if an upper GI is normal. I am living proof of that! If the Prevacid helps that's great, I would keep him on it. If the vomiting continues I would really recommend the gastric emptying test, it's totally painless. It's best to have this test run when he is having symptoms. I hope I have helped you, may your son feel better soon. God bless you.
I am suffering from the same exact symptoms as you! I am currently having a Fecal Blood Occult test being done that tries to detect Colon Rectal Cancer. If there are no findings, I will have a Coloscopy done. It is really scaryI know! I am only 30. I keep wondering if it is something in my diet or not.