Blood in stool, doctors stumped

[eatatj0s]

My wife is 23 years old, and for the past year, probably about 75% of the time she has had bright red blood in her stool. In the past 2 months, it has been getting worse, and she is passing roughly an ounce of blood now. She has already been to the doctor, and had a colonoscopy and a barium enema, and nothing was found. Hemroids, cancer, IBD, ulcers, and a number of other possibilities have already been ruled out.

She has had no pain at all. However, these last couple months she has been nautious and bloated when she first lays down to go to sleep. I did forget to mention she has a redundant colon, and the colonoscopy was not able to go past the bend in her colon, but if anything was beyond that, I would think that barium enema would have caught something. The closest thing I have been able to find to her symptoms, at least those not ruled out, is Diverticular Bleeding, which I am having a hard time finding details about.

If anyone has any ideas on what this could be, your information would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[catburgler]

I have always had times in my life where I would have bright red blood.  Even though they couldn't find a heamorrhoids they said that it was probably the case.  Anyway, my doc said that as long as the blood is bright red that there is very rarely a major problem.  Sometimes it is tearing of the rectum.  Only dark blood should be cause for panic at her age.  That's my take anyway and I am no doctor.

[eatatj0s]

Thanks a million for this reply.  It has given me more to look in to, and I will definitely check out what you have said.

[lizziecee]

Bright red blood in the stool is usually from the colon/rectum i.e. haemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's and of course, cancer of the colon, although at your wife's young age this would be most unusual.  You don't mention having an upper endoscopy of the oesophagus/stomach/small intestine - perhaps this could be done to rule out problems in the upper GI tract. I have had Crohn's for some 37 yrs and my gastro always prescribes an endoscopy of the small intestine rather than the old barium follow through.

Although I have not had it, the intestinal capsule might be something else to consider, as this may be able to get through the redundant colon.  Really, getting a good, experienced gastro is the best bet. Are you near a medical academy that is affiliated to a major university? They usually have the best doctors.

Hopefully someone else will come along soon with some other ideas. However, blood in the stool is not normal and needs proper diagnosis and treatment. This part of the forum is only answered by people like me, with a gastro problem. You may wish to post on the part of the site where Dr. Pho answers. He might have some ideas as to the next step to take.

Take care,
Liz.