Please help

[carrie21]

Hi, I am a 21 year old female and a couple times last month I saw bright red blood in my stool. Now I am having abdonminal cramps and heartburn and I think I may have had a black, tarry stool. I'm going to the gastroenterologist next week, but I'm very worried that I might have cancer. Can someone please help me? Thank you.

[jillybean]

Carrie,
Just wanted you to know that I went to the Dr. at about the same age as you are now. I was having bright red blleding also. He checked me out and said that I had a hemmorroid.  So, I would get it checked out because there are things that the DR. can give you for it.  Good luck!

[DougPoison]

Dear Carrie,
Aside from some of the mumbo jumbo posted above, I just wanted to post a friendly hello from a stranger to let you know how many people are out there who care.  I've had a ton of health trouble in the last year, but I can assure you that it was NEVER as bad as I feared it was.  There are MANY very simple things that can cause your problems, and you are on the right path by not ignoring it.  You are far from alone, and I'm sure everything will be alright.

Doug

[Bionic Granny]

Tobi, don't run away. This forum is for help, not diagnosis. If you share your problem, someone may have experienced the same thing and you will know what questions to ask your doctor. It has helped me to ask about what test should be done. That's also why they have so many books on the market, so you can educate yourself about your health. With so few minutes in the doctors office, you have to know what to ask. And remember that natural herbs can be as deadly as modern medicine---always talk to your doctor before taking all kind of herbal products. Just my experience from them. Best Wishes. Pat

[carrie21]

Wow, I never expected to see so many responses when I came back. I am not sorry I came here, it's the opposite actually. You guys were right, I was making myself overly nervous by trying to diagnose myself on the internet. After reading all your comments though, I do feel a lot better. Thank you all for taking the time to write to me and calm me down. I'll write back after I go to the doctor. Thank you all again.

[Bionic Granny]

Thanks everyone for this forum. I was severly depressed and thought I was alone with my health problems, but thanks to someone for leading me here, I have been able to get some comfort and a little knowledge. Not all of us are hypos---my belly looks like a road-map. Now who in their right mind would go through this for attention. God Bless all of you for your kind and thoughtful words. Pat

[Bionic Granny]

Carrie, God made doctors for a reason--go and ask the same questions you ask here. Bright red blood, normally is nothing to be concerned about, but you should still ask your doctor and not us.Best wishes to you. Pat

[Concerned lady]

Dear Carrie21,

I think the full moon brought out all these hostile comments. Don't let them get you down. There are many caring, positive people on this forum. You just take care of yourself, and just smile at the diversity of people's attitudes.

I hope you get this all figured out, and feel better soon. When you get diagnosed, if you have questions about treatments, ask, and caring people here will respond! :-)

It would be nice, too, if a caring Gastro-intestinal doc could answer many people's questions, here.

Hang in there, Carrie, Virgo, and others! To the other hostile folks, as a great song says, "Don't worry. Be happy." :-)

Sincerely, Concerned lady

P.S. Yes, there is that computer addiction. Like bad eating & lifestyle habits, it's a tough one to break.

PPSS. I have had over 190 people respond to my website about Vocal Cord Dysfunction. Some of them had gone undiagnosed for DECADES and some of them had to push their doctors to actually do a laryngoscopy. Since VCD is OFTEN caused by gastric reflux (experienced by my husband, myself, and MANY others), I like to help others to not have to suffer one minute longer than necessary.

[ccctalks]

My goodness, this was better than a tabloid.  This is my first visit here, and I can assure you all it will be my last.  I'm sure by now Carrie is very sorry she even came here.  You know, I started reading through alot of these postings out of curiosity, and I agree there are some very good ones, but I have to admit that I agree with topgun that some of you are scaring the daylights out of these people.  And no offense, but one of you (and she knows who she is) is all OVER this forum giving the same advice over and over and over again.  Someone has a breathing problem, must be VCD.  Someone has an upset stomach, must be reflux or GERD.  Someone has a sore throat, must be sinus.  My goodness, you must be spending most of your waking hours on this site - don't you have a home to take care of?  Or a family?  Or SOMEone??  Yours are probably the most upsetting on here and also very intimidating as you tend to come across as you know everything. And you also very much come across as a Drama Queen with all your CAPitol letters and exclamation points.  And pardon me for asking - but do you own stock in this Jewish place or something?  Because I find it highly irresponsible and thoughtless on your part that you tell everyone to go to this place, even if it's halfway across the country.  Get real.  I have read 'diagnoses' from you from gastro to respiration to God knows what.  And some of your postings are just unbelievable what you write to these people.  No wonder so many of them ignore you.  You alone are enough to keep me out of here permanently, and I can promise you that I won't be back after tonight.  There's alot more forums out there that are a little more professional than this one, where 'real' doctors will help, not people who like to pretend they're one.  No offense Ms. Lady, but you really need to lighten up and get a life outside of your computer.  And leave people alone who have a problem that is not only none of your business, but that you obviously know nothing about.  Good-by all.......and I still agree with you top three, you guys some it all up in a nutshell.  
PS - Hey virgoguy, just how long DID it take you to look up these past postings of your buddies on here?

[virgo57]

I too find comfort in this forum and I have learned alot of new things that i am able to mention to my doctor...he raises his eyebrow and is surprised that i know this or that. It is also nice that people can come together..after seeing their doctors of course..and give advice and help one another from their own knowledge and experience. Yes I frequent this site...to see read posts, learn new things and to see if maybe I can return the favor and give some insight to a person or two. Where else in this world can people come together in one room, where color, religion, sex, age doesn't make one bit of difference ...nothing matters but just to help another human being. I think this forum is a good thing as long as everyone consults their doctors.

[no where to turn to]

Thanks for your comment If this person reads these forums just for a laugh may his computor go on the fritz....                I don't know how this person knows so much about everyone on this forum. But,this forum has been a great comfort to me. It is helpful when you can share whats going on in your life with people that (some people) understand or just give a word of hope.

[Concerned lady]

To Virgo,

AMEN to your comments! :-)

Concerned lady

[virgo57]

Thankyou :o)

[Lynn28]

I think the point was highly missed. They were simply commenting on her quote about being worried it was cancer and yes, I too agree. One could drive themselves nuts reading this board as well as "any" medical forum for that matter, but that's not to say we don't get helpful information as well from here, one just has to be careful how they absorb it.

[virgo57]

I have never proclaimed to be a doctor nor do I scare people..it's people like you who decide to pass judgement on other people while you ridicule this site...I can see it's the first site you go to. Didn't take you long to see my post.
I copied your "helpful" advice to show you..you are just like the rest of us...not a doctor...but someone who is trying to help someone else. In one of your other "helpful" tips I seen no mention of you telling this person to consult a doctor...do you think you are one?
If you can take the time to pass judgement on people giving advice in this forum ..no one is forcing you to frequent it.
I wish you a good day and good health!

[RTFLY]

Wow...you got quite an earful for just one question. I agree with the other comments in here in that you are doing the right thing by getting some advice from a DR...not an internet forum. I suffered for 9 years with ulcerative colitis, the last 3 1/2 were nasty. I am a medical professional with over 10 years in my respective field, albeit not gastroenterology. My point is, I did A LOT of research on my disease and read a lot of great articles and study's regarding my disease all because I didn't get better and had to have surgery. I had a great relationship with my GI physician who led me into a world of great detail about my disease as well as the GI system. SO...there are some individuals in this forum that offer good tips and advice that some may find adequate and I like to think of myself as one of them. However, my OPINION'S are not FACT, I just share my experiences, which contain some factual information, with those who care to know. And if you choose to listen, listen with an open mind and an open ear. BUT...know that the ultimate answer comes from YOUR doctor, not me or anyone else in this forum. As for your question, bright red blood can be caused by numerous things. Bright red blood usually dictates that the bleeding source is closer to the anus, usually rectum area. Dark blood is usually related to bleeding in the colon/small bowel. This type of bleeding MAY cause the black tarry stools you describe. It may also cause "coffee ground" stools or vomiting...that is, emesis (vomit) that is dark and looks like coffee grounds or stool that looks the same way. So again, see your doctor and go from there. And by all means, relax. Prayer is always good if you are a believer. Take one day at a time... and be healthy...            J.C.I.

[top gun]

Excuse me, im siting here laughing, i cant believe that you actually copied my comment back in July, as you did with Green Sushi...There is nothing wrong of a serious nature with this young lady, i could go into great detail why i say this, but i wont..There are many people on here that get a kick out of scaring people on here, their lives must be very boring to be here on a daily basis, i have seen some of the posts on here, there are some very intelligent people on here, but there are also many hypochondriacs as well, they have everything under the sun, and the Dr,s are all wrong, simple blood work tell much about the human body and illness, but to these people, Cat Scans, Ultrasounds, sophisticated testing is all wrong with these people, the Dr,s missed this or they missed that, i dont think so, these are very sensitive tests, rarely do they miss anything, one test will give a hint as to something being wrong, i dont want to sound scarcastic, but people like yourself scare these people, when you become a Dr, then you qualify to give out medical advice, have a great day.....

[top gun]

I have counted your comments, 99, thats unreal......Virgo57 low 90,s, who,s coming here first Virgo as soon as they get on?  I might add, a lot of the comments made by the both of you were not in the persons best interest, many painted gloom and doom..I wont be commenting anymore on this.......Have a great day, and enjoy good health..

[Concerned lady]

Dear Top Gun,

Sorry you misunderstood my comments. I'm for working on getting better, and working on finding a GOOD DOC to help people to get better. This is not doom & gloom. It's optemistic to believe that you CAN get better! :-)

I have gotten help from the internet. People have steered me in the right direction, to find a specialist doc, to help diagnose things.

I'm always pushing people to find good docs, to get correctly diagnosed. Then, people will have treatment CHOICES, including natural, non-toxic methods, whenever possible!

I hope you conquer whatever you've got, too! :-)

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[Concerned lady]

Dear Carrie,

I'm glad you will be seeing the doctor next week. Then, you can hopefully find out exactly what's going on.

Even though it's probably not cancer, it's good to get thoroughly checked, to put your mind at ease!

However, you may possibly have several things going on, which you will find out at the doctor's.

Hemmorhoids can cause bright red blood.

But, the abdominal pain & possible black tarry stool, can mean bleeding coming from the stomach. But Pepto Bismol can also cause black stools.

If you are worried, you can always walk into an Emergency Room. If you had a bleeding ulcer, it is a medical emergency, and I would not ignore this as a possibility.

Follow your instincts, and don't worry about what anyone thinks of your decisions! They are not in your shoes.

Once you get correctly diagnosed, you will have treatment choices, including gentle, natural methods, when possible.

Hang in there!

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[virgo57]

Keep up your good work and keep posting and helping people!
Anyone with a lick of "common sense" who actually takes the time to read your posts know they are not filled with doom and gloom.
So you have 99 posts here well that just means you have a very kind heart and try your best to help people with your very  informative posts.
Keep it up! :)

[Bionic Granny]

To those who think that because a person has alot of medical problems are hypos, you might be right. However I have been very grateful that alot of people do have problems and some doctors are stumped. A friend just died and she was a nurse, and she complained of aches all over. They ran every test known to man and every one came out negative. Three months later, they re-tested her and she had cancer in her entire body. Doctors are human and known to make errors. I'm glad for this forum, because it gives me info and lets me know that I am not alone. And as for tests, I had a CT with contrast done and showed ONE hernia. During surgery the surgeon felt around and found FOUR more that did not show up on the test. I have had 10 surgeries in two years and I am not a hypo. I led a very active life before the acid totally eroded my reflux valve. I lost my spleen, had a staph infection, enterococcus, pneumonia and a ruptured gastro-tract from these infections. I think that some people need this forum, I know I do, because I suffer from depression now and can't afford therapy and there are alot of kind people in this forum. I pray that none of you who criticize this forum never get sick. I just recently had another surgery to remove scar tissue and put my intestines back where they belong and they blocked on me and I had to go back in the hospital to have an NG tube to drain the infection and bile that had backed up into my stomach. I hope everyone continues to help others by their experiances, BUT always consult your doctor. My doctor told me that an informed patient is a good patient. Most people don't even know what to ask their doctors. This forum has helped me.Pat

[virgo57]

It really doesn't sound like you are trying to diagnose yourself from the internet as you have an appointment with your doctor but you are trying to get some info to relieve some of your worry. Red blood in your stools can be caused by a number of things including hemmoriods. I know the first thing most of us think of is cancer but don't jump to that conclusion.
If you can make an appointment sooner to give yourself some peace of mind, you should. Keep an eye on your stools and if you do find they are black and tarry looking you should go to the hosptital right away. Are you experiencing light headedness or dizziness?
Black tarry stools can also be a sign of a bleeding ulcer...so get yourself checked out if you have this immeditatley. Any change in your bowel movements such as colour, regularity, texture and  blood should be brought to your doctors attention right away.
Take care and I wish you well

[virgo57]

Here is one of yours giving advice TOP Gun,,and like the rest of use you advise to see a doctor..but shared your experience which was helpful to this person. That is what the rest of us are doing..
top gun
(08-Jul-02)  . i though i was having a spasm in my chest like you, and i was having a heart attack, get to the Dr, asap...I dont want to scare you, but get it checked out....god bless you

[virgo57]

Am I mistaken or is this YOU giving advice sky hawk...
skyhawk
(21-Jul-02)  . I'm also a little confused. I read the name of your medication and thought it looked familiar so I went and looked - sure enough, Metronidazole is what my doctor gave me for a vaginal infection. Granted mine is a gel but I didn't know it came in a pill form also. And for parasites? I have to agree with the previous posting, I don't believe that's what you have either, unless it's something else your doctor thinks you have. In any case, I was told - and have read this also - that Metronidazole is linked to cancer and not to use if often. Now, I don't know if this only applies to mine or to any of it, but honestly? I'd toss the pills into a cupboard and see another doctor