Passing gas with blood and mucus

I started having abnormal symptoms and changes to my bowel movements about a year and a half ago.    My doctor told me that my iron was very low.  I started have 3 large mushy/shiny bowel movements everyday before lunch without even eating,  If I was stressed out I would have up to 5 bowel movements in one day. After 10 months of these (plus gas/blood/mucus/bloating) ongoing symptoms, my symptoms completely subsided for 5 months.  They have now resumed. I have started passing gas with small globs of bright red blood and mucus it seems like maybe a small amount of watery stool mixed together?  Some pieces would be about the size of a pencil eraser and some pieces a couple inches.  It seems to denigrate when flushed.  This happens when I first wake up as well as throughout the day.  My "normal" bowel movement is once/twice a day, soft and light brown and not really formed (as a banana ect).  Sometimes they are flat or flat and wide. Little to no blood on stool but some when I wipe.  I am 137lbs, female, 34 years old, no kids. I stay in shape and exercise, lots of water and fiber. It has been confirmed by 2 doctors that I do not have hemorrhoids. Little to no weight loss.  I had a barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy, all which came back normal.  I also had a small bowel contrast study which took hours longer than others taking the same exam and I had to drink the barium again.  The doctor stated there was mild inflammation of the terminal ileum. This was done before the colonoscopy.  No family history of IBD/cancer/ect..  Sometimes it feels like there is rumbling in my rectum?  I don't have any pain but I do have gas and discomfort in my abdomen.  Its not always in the same spot.  I feel as though I have had all the tests done and they haven't found anything.    Should I still be concerned? I really appreciate your advice.  Thank you so much.

[coughting]

It sounds like you may have early stages of Crohns.  Ask the doctor about trying antibiotics for Crohns and see if it helps.  If you are not seeing a GI doctor - go to one.  If he doesn't help find a new one.

[surprisinglife]

I have crohns and have had all of your symptoms. Thats how it all started with me 5 years ago. Exact same symptoms and got worse all of a sudden. My GI perfromed a colonoscopy and diagnosed me with Crohns colitis. Hope you feel better soon and its just something minor with similer symptoms. Good luck :)

[lizziecee]

Hi - two non-invasive methods of discerning whether you have an inflammatory condition are:
1. Calprotectin stool assay test. You just need to give a stool sample - this will look for blood in the stool and inflammation of the intestines. It is quick and cheap to do. I believe the norm is around 8.
2. C-reactive protein blood test.  This is a non-specific inflammatory marker, but if elevated will mean you have inflammation somewhere in the body. The norm is 0.1 - 5.  When I have a  Crohn's flare my C-rp is highly elevated, on occasions as high as 190 and 270.

Should either of these tests be elevated, then it is time to redo a colonoscopy, or an endoscopy of the small intestine.  Chrohn's usually, but not always, starts around the terminal ileum (the last part of the small intestine) but can be anywhere from the mouth to the anus.  A gastroenterologist with experience of inflammatory bowel diseases should be able to diagnose Crohn's or Ulcerative colitis.

Take care,
Liz.