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Avatar universal

My first time...for many things

First some information.

Age: 27
Symptoms: having go defecate about 10-20 minutes after eating (usually results in between 2-4 bowel movements), blood and mucus in still (blood is bright red, unless it's mixed entirely with mucus and then it's a salmon pink color), occasionally I have burning from my anus after a bowel movement, and bowels are fairly loose but formed (i.e. they're in chunks but are not pencil thin or anything), excessive gas (though not extreme).

I had terrible anxiety over this for 2 weeks and finally had my GI doctor's appointment today.  During the "exam," he seemed more concerned over my magnesium intake than my symptoms.  Anyways, he told me my symptoms sound like hemorrhoids, as they can excrete both mucus and blood.  I told him that on occasion, I can see and hear the blood drip into the toilet bowl.  When the stool first comes out, it has red streaks or red "blobs," if you will, on it.  Sometimes it just has a line or two of blood streaked along the side (classic hemorrhoid symptom).

Doctor scheduled me in for a colonoscopy for 2 1/2 weeks (27th of Feb).  I asked about colon cancer.  He said with being 27 years old, having no family history of colon cancer and not exhibiting more common cancer symptoms, the chances of me having it are minutely slim.  He said to not fear the colonoscopy, as many young people get them done to diagnose Crohn's and Colitis.

He did not want any blood taken or anything.  Is this common?  I can assume he is content enough with the colonoscopy but he said he does the stool sample "test" the same time as the colonoscopy (to check for parasites and such).  Seemed odd from what I've gathered from others.

So yeah, it's my first colonoscopy.  Needless to say this has been a very trying time for me.  I can't understanding having healthy bowel movements one week, and then the next, I'm using the restroom like it's a paid job and it's full of mucus with blood tinted in with it.  Very discerning.

Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms?  I have no pain at all.  He wrote down in my chart that my father has colitis.  I assume that can be hereditary?  He ironically asked of milk aggravates it, and it DOES seem to create more mucus than normal.

Also, I do not need those diagnosed with colon cancer coming in and saying "My only symptom was red blood in my stool."  I realize benign bowel symptoms mimic other malignant sources but I don't need any additional anxiety.

Thanks for any input anyone can offer.  Oh, and is there anything I can take to perhaps curb the amount of times I go to the bathroom prior to eating?  Are there foods I should be staying away from?  He recommended a bulking agent, but that's it.
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Avatar universal
Well, I had my colonoscopy today.  Ironically their sedative had very little affect on me, so I was awake the entire time.  I did have pain relievers, and it wasn't bad until he started turning into the transverse colon and then the ascending colon.  Overall, a decent procedure.

Oh, and my diagnosis:  Ulcerative Colitis.
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Avatar universal
Is it common for these symptoms to be worst at times and relatively meek at other times?  It seems like frequency has reduced, as has the gas, and quite significantly.  The red blood is still prevalent, and it almost seems to encapsulate the stool itself.  Upon examination, there is never blood within the stool; rather, it's always on the surface or isolated solely within the mucus that's passed.  The blood can be a hit or miss occasionally, too, though.  On occasion I will pass a fairly decent bowel movement with only a tint of blood at the very end of the stool itself, and other times I will pass a moderate bowel movement with quite a bit of mucus and blood, albeit blood in water can look like a lot when there really isn't a whole lot.

Stools are generally well formed.  If I go frequently throughout the day, they are fairly soft, but not diarrhea-like.  I dealt with chronic constipation for YEARS due to my Hypothyroidism.  My Endocrinologist said even with good TSH levels, constipation could still be a problem.

I am still simply utterly amazed at how all of this came on within a week's time.  There was no gradual increase of symptoms.  Literally one week I was passing perfect stools, and the next I started seeing a significant amount of mucus, followed by blood.
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Avatar universal
I agree with with you!! I have had the EXACT same mucus and gas symptoms for 20 years now without an answer of exact cause. I am still alive any cancer would have killed me by now!! You will be fine with your scope. Best wishes. Good for you listening to your body and getting this checked out early!!
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the input.  The bleeding is fairly intermittent, but things seem to be improving ever so slightly.  With my symptoms, however, I know I must have some type of colon or rectal infection.  Occasionally when I go to pass gas, I know I have to sit on the toilet to do so, and mucus comes out.  Sometimes clear, sometimes with a tint of red blood.  I am just amazed at how fast this came on.  It was literally within a few day span, when a week before that everything was kosher.

Like I said, my father has colitis and diverticulitis is also in the family but not immediate family.  Hemorrhoids are very prevalent in my family.

I was also relieved when he said they do a lot of colonoscopies on young people like myself.  He said bowel problems are very common and bleeding is a very common symptom for all kinds of bowel problems.

I also discussed with him the internet fear of googling "rectal bleeding" and people basically acting like it's a sign of impending death.  I understand that with any blood in something, i.e. cough phlegm, urine, stool, etc. you need to get it checked out because possible sinister diseases can be linked to that symptom, but my advice to anyone with blood in anything is to stay the hell off of cancer forums and just rely on your doctors for the diagnosis.
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Avatar universal
I have had similiar problems for years, my first scope at 16 with no pain and a toilet full of blood. Lots of blood streaked stools and tarry stools and pain especially left lower side later in years. They scoped me the same way, I have had 5 of them now, they keep thinking crohn's but nothing shows up. One with congestion probably why I have so much mucous in my stool. One scope showed minimal colitis. Try that bulking agent it killed my bowels though really increased my. Colitis is hereditary and you can have it and have no one in your family have it. Good chance it is irritable bowel syndrome with a small internal hemorrhoid causing the bleeding. Stress aggravates almost all bowel conditions so coochill as my little boy says. If it is colitis life will go on, you'll get treated and you will feel better. As a nurse I agree with your Dr colon cancer highly unlikely for your age. Good for you getting scoped so early anyway. It is not so bad, prep for it is worse, be prepared to eat afterward, you'll probably be starving, the meds they give will keep you comfy and a little high briefly, just relax and say a little prayer and you will have your answer soon enough. Certainly soon enough that even the worst possible news will be very treatable. Please post back, I am interested to see if they find anything. Good chance they will say IBS and a hemorhoid, sleep in peace tonight dear!
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