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Avatar universal

colitis

I am a 39 yo female.  I have an average 8 to 10 loose stools a day.  They are usually stringy and mucusy......For a month or more there is blood in the stool, it is the brighter red blood.  I do not have hemorrhoids. Every time I eat anything, I have to go to the bathroom within minutes. sometimes have to leave the table and go during dinner.  I have not lost weight and I some what over weight.  There are times I feel like I have the flu, my body aches so bad.....My doctor mention 3 things: cancer, ulcerative colitis, crohns.  I have to have a colonoscopy.  With my symptoms what is the likely outcome?  Any ideas? I do not think it is cancer, there is no history of cancer, but I know nothing about crohns or UC.

Thanks so much
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1532221 tn?1292652278
My story is very similar to ncole1957.  I was first diagnosed at 29 but the disease had been progressing slowly for about 5 yrs.  When I was about 31 I went through a terrible period of hip and knee joint pain to the point I could hardly walk.  All do to the inflammation coming from the UC. At that time (I am currently 52) sulfa drugs or steroids were all that was available; I managed with the sulfa.  When I was 39 my colonoscopies came back with dysplastic cells indicating cancer could be down the road.  I had J pouch sugery, took me about a year to get completely recovered due to some complications but its been pretty good since.  As ncole1957 said you still have watery stools depending on diet but not like before.

Good luck!
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Avatar universal
I am 53 years old , i used to suffer from UC for 21 yrs - started at 15 yrs - after a number of years it got worse (the colon was so bad that it was a risky thing, my surgeon said) , so at the age of around 36 yrs old I underwent an operation for total colectomy. I have no colon any more  and the surgeon fashioned a J pouch instead of my colon, it took me 6-8 months to get back on my feet, and it takes quite some time to get your muscle (anus) back to working order again.  I have come a long way since then, i go out without the need of rushing back in to the loo, but the pouch holds so much, and the stools are quite watery, it all depends on your diet.  I have heard that if you take Manuka honey everyday it helps, It is natural and it is said that the manuka honey has healing properties, it cannot do any harm cos it is natural. I wish you good health and whenever you need to empty your bowels and you are not anywhere near a toilet, take in deep breaths, breathe in from your nose and out from your mouth, and any spasms in the bowels will subside. Believe me it works and the more you try it out the more you will be able to control. May yr God Bless you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a sufferer of Ulcerative Colitis and your symptoms sound exactly the same as what mine were before I was diagnosed 5 years ago at the age of 15. there are also many other symptoms to look out for but not everyone suffers from them all! Look out for inflammation of the skin, eyes and joints. Iron deficient anaemia, so eat lots of red meat! Try not to take too many painkillers though as they can sometimes make other symptoms worse!
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Avatar universal
It sounds almost identical to my situation...down to the flu-like symptoms with aches and pains, multiple bathroom visits, and blood and mucus.  I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 5 years ago and had a very, very rough go of it the first 3 1/2 years but am now finally with some relief. The biopsies are very normal for them to do. Try taking something to bring down the inflamation in the mean time. Fish oil, Aloe Vera Juice, Probiotics. I hope things work out for u.
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1 Comments
There is a thread out in MedHelp somewhere warning that long term use of Aloe Vera juice can do more harm than good, and can actually irritate bowel problems. I wish I had marked it. But I read it after buying two bottles and taking one dose. I'm not going to take it until I discuss it with my doctor. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
483733 tn?1326798446
Yes, the biposies help them diagnose.  I hope you can get some relief soon.  Don't be afraid to take some Immodium and stay away from aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen.  They can affect the ulcers in your colon.  Keep to tylenoll for your pain relief.
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for the information.  I will get the results on the 27th., due to the Doctor being out of town.  He said he took a few biopsy's, not sure where or why. Maybe they always take biopsy's.  Are the biopsy's what tell you what you might have?  I know sometimes I feel like I have the flu, and my body aches so bad that I can hardly move when it does get really bad...

Thanks again
Helpful - 0
483733 tn?1326798446
Crohn's and UC are inflammatory bowel diseases.  There is some good info here on MedHelp if you click on the blue words at the top of this forum.  They are diagnosed via colonoscopy.  UC only affects the large bowel and rectum whereas Crohn's can affect any area in your digestive system.  Having the mucus along with the blood would tell me (in my non-medical opinion) that it is likely to not be cancer but more one of the inflammatory bowel diseases.  They have come a long way in treating these since I was sick with them.  The most important thing to do is to stay on teh meds they prescribe and at the first sign of increased symptoms, get to your doctor so it can be nipped in the bud.  There have been scientific studies that have proven that a gluten free diet can help and reducing stress will make a big difference.  Good luck and please come back and let us know how the tests go.
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