Rectal Bleeding

I have a question and I hope that some of you can calm my fears.

(On a side note, I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks, so bear with me while I explain my situation)

I am 26 years old, female, mother of two children, and otherwise in good health. Annual blood physicals show no issues and no anemia, vitamin deficiencies, etc...

For the past 9 years (yes, I know...) I have been experiencing rectal bleeding off and on. Streaks on the stool but not IN the stool, bright red, and occurring probably weekly. No mucus, however sometimes the urge to have a bowel movement comes on so suddenly that I literally have to ask my husband to pull the car over in the next 5 minutes or I may not be able to make it. That only has happened a couple of times. I think that the fear of having an "accident" on myself makes the urges worse and causes the panic (see psychological disorder above).

When I do have a bowel movement, they are not usually hard and I am rarely constipated. I am honestly terrified to go the doctor, for fear that I may have cancer, although I do realize that at my age that is unlikely. I have never been through any sort of sedation in my life, and the thought of being not coherant also scares me.

The reason I am posting my symptoms to the Colitis thread is I recently found out that my father suffered for several years from Ulcerative Colitis prior to his death from completely unrelated causes in 1995. Do these symptoms correlate to UC, or possibly Crohn's? Or, is cancer a real possibility?

As I said, I am really scared and I have two sons who I love dearly, and I am just really nervous. Logically I know that I will have to go get some sort of treatment one day or another, I just need some sort of reassurance.

Thanks.

[anandbharti]

I suffered from rectal bleeding. However, my stools were hard. Adding prunes to my breakfast cereal eliminated that problem.
I am not a doctor and so any rectal bleeding should be investigated by a medical professional

[Morecambe]

Rectal bleeding is not normal and should always be medically investigated.  For possible causes google rectal bleeding and click on to one of the many sites - the Medicinenet site is particularly informative.

As you mention, at your age there is a microscopic chance that you have colon cancer -but if you are the unfortunate one in a million (or whatever) then the chance of a cure at a young age with early diagnosis is excellent so don't let inaction catalyse unnecessary anxiety.

regards
Morecambe

[KamalaBubbles]

HI,
You sound just like me with the anxiety and the blood and the attacks. I had a colonscopy and found out I have ulcerative colitis......dont be scared, just please go to a gastro doc. I was in fear for 10 years. I thought everyone had diarhea (diarrhea) aatacks and blood in thier stool, wrong!
Take care and write back if you want.......
Kamala

[KamalaBubbles]

Oh I just read your question again and am here to REASSURE YOU. You will not really feel the colonoscopy, it will be quick, and then you will most probably be diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD or ulcerative colistic~all the same thing.

Then you will be prescribed lydi and it will prevent colon cancr. Dont be scared and get yourself looked at. I have to get another colonoscopy in January and as much as I do not want to do it and would rather go to Disneyland  I will because I am a MOM to a 13 yr old daughter and I need to be healthy. Be strong and get your diagnosis so you do not have to be so anxious about the blood! I know and go thru the same thing...u r not alone!!!!

[patient915]

Rectal bleeding is more likely something else than IBD or UC.  You will most probably not be diagnosed with this, but it is still good to get a colonoscopy.

[katie8181]

my mother has Chron's and she has the same problems u do .........I would test for that !!! don't wanna scare you but i'm just sayin