Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Blood in stool and other symptoms--need advice
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Blood in stool and other symptoms--need advice
by bs1114, Oct 18, 2006 12:00AM
I'm a 34YO female--no surgery, no childbirth, no major medical history; no family history of colon cancer.
About 2 months ago I started getting a vague pain in my center pelvis which quickly gravitated to lower left side of my pelvis--not severe, more nagging. I assumed a gyn problem and made a gyn appt.
Sept 29 (3 days before gyn appt), the pain suddenly escalated and I went to ER. Abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound found only small, non-suspicious ovarian cysts which didn't really explain my pain. Pain subsided but did not disappear.
Gyn found nothing on exam and had no suggestions. Meanwhile, my GI system was getting more wacky. Thinking back I realized I had had a few months of bowel changes--softer and more frequent (daily) BMs (I thought this was GOOD because I had a long history of infrequent/slightly difficult BMs), plus occasional gas-type abdominal pains but nothing I would have made any note of.
In the past couple week I've noticed a very small amount of blood on my stool on 2-3 occasions (I wasn't sure the first time), most recently today. Passing the stool is never difficult or painful. Plus I've had problems with sharp "gas" pain in upper-center abdomen and, today, along left side a few hours after eating.
Today I could almost feel the pain work its way down my left colon to the painful place in my lower-left pelvis (at that point I headed to the bathroom where I passed a small stool with a bit of blood on it). Later I had a very loose (diarrhea) BM after which I felt better. I've been very bloated-feeling lately.
I'm feeling very scared and down and basically wanted to know:
1) What possibilites in addition to cancer might my symptoms point to? Is there the possibility this could be endometriosis-related? I haven't been diagnosed I have had other symptoms of that over the years (heavy menstrual cramps mainly).
2) What test should I request of my GI next week? Should I immediately push for a colonoscopy?
3) would the abdominal ultrasound I had a couple weeks ago have revealed anything at all about my colon? the radiologist didn't mention he saw anything on that one (he only mentioned cysts on the transvaginal scan).
4) 2 years ago I had an incident where I had extreme, stabbing pain in my upper abdomen. A trip to the ER (I believe I had a CT scan and I guess blood tests there) revealed nothing and the pain then went away completely. My internist said it might have been a gall bladder spasm and when looking at my CT scan mentioned in passing that I had a "few spots" on my liver but that was perfectly normal for someone my age. I never followed up on that at all. Might the current problems be related, do you think?
About 2 months ago I started getting a vague pain in my center pelvis which quickly gravitated to lower left side of my pelvis--not severe, more nagging. I assumed a gyn problem and made a gyn appt.
Sept 29 (3 days before gyn appt), the pain suddenly escalated and I went to ER. Abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound found only small, non-suspicious ovarian cysts which didn't really explain my pain. Pain subsided but did not disappear.
Gyn found nothing on exam and had no suggestions. Meanwhile, my GI system was getting more wacky. Thinking back I realized I had had a few months of bowel changes--softer and more frequent (daily) BMs (I thought this was GOOD because I had a long history of infrequent/slightly difficult BMs), plus occasional gas-type abdominal pains but nothing I would have made any note of.
In the past couple week I've noticed a very small amount of blood on my stool on 2-3 occasions (I wasn't sure the first time), most recently today. Passing the stool is never difficult or painful. Plus I've had problems with sharp "gas" pain in upper-center abdomen and, today, along left side a few hours after eating.
Today I could almost feel the pain work its way down my left colon to the painful place in my lower-left pelvis (at that point I headed to the bathroom where I passed a small stool with a bit of blood on it). Later I had a very loose (diarrhea) BM after which I felt better. I've been very bloated-feeling lately.
I'm feeling very scared and down and basically wanted to know:
1) What possibilites in addition to cancer might my symptoms point to? Is there the possibility this could be endometriosis-related? I haven't been diagnosed I have had other symptoms of that over the years (heavy menstrual cramps mainly).
2) What test should I request of my GI next week? Should I immediately push for a colonoscopy?
3) would the abdominal ultrasound I had a couple weeks ago have revealed anything at all about my colon? the radiologist didn't mention he saw anything on that one (he only mentioned cysts on the transvaginal scan).
4) 2 years ago I had an incident where I had extreme, stabbing pain in my upper abdomen. A trip to the ER (I believe I had a CT scan and I guess blood tests there) revealed nothing and the pain then went away completely. My internist said it might have been a gall bladder spasm and when looking at my CT scan mentioned in passing that I had a "few spots" on my liver but that was perfectly normal for someone my age. I never followed up on that at all. Might the current problems be related, do you think?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Oct 18, 2006 12:00AM
, Oct 18, 2006 12:00AM
To answer your questions:
1) Other causes can include hemorrhoids, an anal fissure, diverticulosis or an infection.
2) I would advise either a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
3) No, an abdominal ultrasound does not appropriately evaluate the colon.
4) Unlikely but possible that upper GI disease can lead to blood in the stool. If the lower endoscopy is negative, looking at upper GI disease can be considered.
These questions can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
1) Other causes can include hemorrhoids, an anal fissure, diverticulosis or an infection.
2) I would advise either a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
3) No, an abdominal ultrasound does not appropriately evaluate the colon.
4) Unlikely but possible that upper GI disease can lead to blood in the stool. If the lower endoscopy is negative, looking at upper GI disease can be considered.
These questions can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
