Blood in Stool!

[smokeater]

Hi I am a 25 year old female and I have been having blood in my stool for several years.  I have had several rectal exams and have gone to a few gastroentrologist and none of them have been able to tell be exactly what is wrong.  They seem to think it has some affiliation to my endometriosis.  I do not have hemmoroids (hemorrhoids) in nor out.  They have done stool cultures and there has been blood in and outside of the stool.  They told be that just tells them that that means that the blood is coming from further up inside from like the lower intestines or something.  They have not done a scope or anything like that.  To look for poolops or tears etc.
  But  Lately  meaning in the past year  everytime I eat, doesnt matter what I eat, within 10 minutes I have to go to the bathroom with diareaha.  My stomach begins to hurt and I get horrible gas and it just hurts.  I am afraid to even go out to eat in public because of it becuase I know I won't be able ot make the car ride home before I will have to go to the bathroom, but in the same sense I wouldnt dream of going in a public restroom for that either.
  I don't believe that's Normal.  I was reading a question posted earlier today I think and I have similar symptoms as her.  The diffrent colorations of the stool and when I mean I have blood in my stool, I don't mean spotting, I mean the water is so red you can see the stool at the bottom of the bowl, nor the hole at the bottom, and I have to wipe several, several times and flush and then wipe again to get all the blood off.  Kind of like a bloody nose in sorts. Any input would be great.

[pikamom]

Maybe you have chrones' or some similar bowel disease. I can't think of what the other one's called, I think ulcerative cholitis. Those cause bloody diahrea with the pain you describe. Get your doctor to run more tests, a colonoscopy at the least. Have you been losing weight, having fevers?

[smokeater]

I have been losing weight but only on purpose.  No fevers.  I only have diareah after I eat.  Any other time I have normal solid stool and even that is bloody.  When they took a sample of my solid stool they ran tests on it and it was shown that blood was actually processed into the stoll which meant that it wasnt just on the outside of it.  So it could't have come from just a hemmroid or a tear etc.
  That's what I couldn't figure out, is if these doctors knew that it wasn't something minor like that, then why weren't they running more tests.  I went for second and third opinions all in diffrent towns and got nowhere each time but got the same old anwsers.
  "We know it's coming from further up like your colon or your small intestines and that it's not hemroids or pollops or tears, but we just don't know exactly what it is yet" and then they just leave it at that.  And when I question it further, I guess in order to shut me up they just simply say it could be associated with my endometriosis.  Which I think is not the case, per my gynocologist.

[smokeater]

Has anyone noticed on this forum that not one of these questions has ever been anwsered by a doctor.  Dated all the way back to June of 2001.  Does that mean that it is pointless to post questions on this particular forum?  Is there even a doctor on this forum to anwser questions?

[pikamom]

No, no doctor here, it's patient to patient. If I was you I'd press for more tests. Go back to your doctor and ask lots of questions, make sure they don't just blow you off. I can't understand that with your symptoms and the doctor knowing the blood is coming from more than hemmoroids (hemorrhoids) that you haven't had a colonoscopy. It's important to find out what's wrong and get the proper treatment before you get worse! Has anyone run blood tests? If you're constantly bleeding like that you are probably anemic.

[smokeater]

Thanks for the info, I saw the note now about the patient to patien.  I feel stupid now.  LOL  Anyway, they have run CBC and regular blood wrok etc, and my bloodwork has always been messed up but can't really tell you how, meaning levels etc, because it's been a while since my last work up, meaning LAB PANEL.  But I do know that my blood pressure is always low no matter what I do, I mean like 80-90/45-50.  I mean crazy low.  I think it's from the blood loss my self.  You would think they would do something else but I have gone to 3 doctors and they wouldn't do anything so I don't know what else to do.  I was beginiing to think I was just crazy, but then again how can you dispute blood?  I have to constantly wear a maxi pad and I don't have periods, so noone can tell me that is normal, I dont care what they say.  Somwthing`is wrong somehwere, I just fear it's some sort of cancer, but can you get cancer at 25 there?

[jackie_del_au]

Hi,
The symptoms described by the person with blood in the stool is typical of parasitic infection.
Please visit this site:
http://bara.idx.com.au/dfragilis/info.htm for more info.
I'm in the process of putting together a page on the parasite Blastocystis hominis which is a cause of blood in stool...and frequently not found by stool testing. so please check back in a few days.
Jackie

[pikamom]

Sure you can get cancer at 25. Find a new doctor right away and insist on tests till they find out what's going on so you can get treatment. Your bloodwork is messed up and you're bleeding constantly. Have you always had low blood pressure or just since you started bleeding so much? Do you have medical insurance? I just can't understand why nothing is being done for you!

[smokeater]

I can't recall my blood pressure being low before the blood in my stool but this has been going on for so long, I could be mistaken.  But to the best of my knowledge it didn't start until after the rectal bleeding.  Yes I have excellent medical coverage.  I don't even need referral from my PCP to go to other doctors.  But the things is I have and got the same response.  Im not tsure where to try next.  I looked up the website from the  previous post, but I don't think that's what it is becuase they tested for parasites etc in the stool cultures and they were all negative for bacteria etc.
  Like I said before unless they are on target with it being in some way related with my endometriosis, but then again if it is and it's causing that much of a problem, youi would think thatt they would do something.  I mean I do know my platelet count is down and my blood count, hematocrit I think was down at one point to where they almost had to give a transfusion .  But my gynecologist doesn't feel that this is relate.  He has been inside surgically on this particular matter and did not see and fibroids or cysts in that area but then again thats been 2 years ago, but this has been going on longer that that too though so I don't know.  I need to get someone who will do someting.

[feelbetter]

Hi. I can relate to you somewhat except it sounds like you are having a way harder time with it. I have had blood in my stools for about 3 years now. I too had tests done and they could not find anything wrong. Sometimes I can just see the blood in the stool and other times it is like having a period from the wrong place. I had a Doc that I spoke with on the phone ask me if I WAS SURE it was blood. I was very frustrated. I went for another sigmoidoscopy about a month ago and the Doc said for now it would remain a "mystery". I wend to my GYN and she said that it certainly may be endometriosis. The only way to know for sure is to have surgery so for now I am on a birth control pills and must faithfully track my symptoms until May when I go back. My bowel movements are pretty normal and except for some tiredness, I feel pretty good. I hope we both get the answers that we need. I really am sick of not knowing. Your doc should have you go for a colonoscopy because they can see a lot that way. I had one and was relieved that I did not have cancer. I wish you all the best.

[smokeater]

Thanks.  You too.  If you find something out before I do let me know please.  Do you have regular menstrual cycle?  I don't  I haven't had a period since December of 2000 and I don't take anything.  I tried taking birth control pills and premirin etc. to regulate them and nothing worked, they just stopped.  I wonder if it really is endometriosis?  What is involved ina cholenoscopy?  Do you have to be put to sleep for that?  Does it hurt?  I would really wish I could find a doctor that knew a little something about something and would just do whatever and fix me already.  I dont care about surgery, I'm no stranger to it.  I think I have just about every medical problem there is to have. or atleast it feels like it some days.  LOL  Anyway  I live in a small rural town so it's hard to find good doctors sometimes.  PLease write back when you can.  Thanks again.

Smokeater!:-)

[feelbetter]

Hi. Yes you need a colonoscopy to find out if there is something wrong at that end and to give yourself piece of mind that at least you had it checked. They put you in a light sleep and you don't feel anything. I have a vague recollection of seeing the tv screen but that is it. The worse thing about a colonoscopy is that you can't eat the day before and the prep is awful, at least it was for me. Some doctors have you just drink some stuff and it is not too bad but mine had me take laxatives and drink 2 bottles of magnesium citrate which was probably overkill. My friend had it done and she only had to drink some fleets soda or something like that and she said it was no problem. She even chose to be awake for hers. As far as my period goes, I am 38 and have always been pretty regular. I have had some very heavy periods and I had trouble with my last 2 pregnancys and had 2 miscarriages also (I have 4 girls). My big problem besides wicked PMS was bloating. I puff out so much I can't even wear my "fat" jeans. I think that is why the GYN thinks I may have endo. Since no other cause could be found for the bleeding (and it usually happens the week before my period) she is going to assume that I do have endo at least for now. I am taking a new BC pill called Yasmin which is supposed to especially help with the bloating. I have not had any blood for about 3 weeks now but this is my first cycle on the BC pills so it is too early to tell. It is very frustrating not to know for sure. You just worry that something awful is brewing that they just can't find. I was devastated when I had blood again shortly after the colonoscopy. It was like, ok now what? I hated picking up the phone and calling the Doc again and of course that end is not the most fun place to be examined. I was aggravated that my gasto doc did not even consider endo whereas your doc seems too quick to assume that endo is your problem without checking further. I hope you feel better soon keep us posted.

[NickRex]

I have Blood in my stool and have hemmoroids (hemorrhoids). These do not occur everytime I have a bowel movement but it seems to happen approximately once month to once every two months. I have medical coverage but have not talked to a doctor about this. Does anyone think it is anything to worry about?

[Philip1815]

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[reptile]

Blood in your stool can be indicative of many things from hemmorhoids to cancer and everything in between. When I first presented my doctor with blood in the stool and mucous, the first thing he did was test for parasites and do a sigmoidoscopy in his office. When they came up negative, he referred me to a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy (which I was lightly sedated for and don't remember a thing), another scope (can't remember the name) that looked at my mouth, throat and stomach and he also did upper GI series ( "moving x-rays" of stomach and upper part of small intestines). I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Medicine and lifestyle changes have made all the difference. One thing I can tell you for sure is to quit taking NSAIDS, they all cause gastrointestinal bleeding as a side effect. The only pain reliever not considered a n NSAID is acetominaphen (Tylenol). This might sound rude but you need a new doctor!! "We know there is blood coming from somewhere farther up but aren't going to do any further tests"???? Are all the doctors you went to affiliated with the same hospital? If so, you might want to think about seeing a doctor who is affiliated with a different hospital. Are all the doctors you saw the same type of doctor. i.e. MD or DO. If so you might consider going to the other. They all get the same length of training they just approach these things in a different manner.

[RTFLY]

Everyone seems to have some informative comments. Blood in the stool IS NOT NORMAL. Whether it is a tear, a hemmoroid, IBD/IBS, polyp, diverticulitis, infection (C.Diff) blood is not normal. I 100% agree with reptile...YOU NEED A NEW DOCTOR! I don't know what these doctors are all about but the symptoms you have call for some stool samples, at LEAST a flexible sigmoidoscopy (fiberoptic look at the lower portion of large bowel) or better yet, a colonoscopy. I am telling you this because after 9 years of ulcerative colitis and taking every medicine available and going through every test known and seeing some EXCELLENT docs (including Cleveland Clinic)I had to have surgery and have my colon out. Sometimes medicines and diet changes don't work...unfortunately. But whatever the case, start out my getting some tests done to find out what is causing the blood. You do have a problem and to find out how significant it is, you need some tests run. Please e-mail me at "***@****" so we can chat. I'd love to talk with you more and find out how you are doing. Good luck and take care.
                                                J.C.I.