Rectal bleeding...

[jfem]

I am a 40 yo female. I have been having stomach issues since December...GI doctor is thinking antibiotic associated diarrhea  ( it all started after taking Levaquin), VS IBS.

I had an endoscopy, blood tests, stool cultures, abd x-ray, a gyn exam with hemocult card done and  all negative...all these tests were done in January.

I had a sigmoidoscopy done in August because of 2 weeks of diarrhea...( post clindamyacin ) it was negative.

I also had a colonoscopy done in 2002 because my gyn got a positive fecal oocult card during the gyn exam-even though she knew I had hemorrhoids, she wanted to be sure it wasn't anything else. The colonoscopy was negative.

I have 4 children and the last 2 were big, and I had hemorrhoids after that.Not too bothersome except after eating spicy foods,etc... Occasionally I would have rectal bleeding after pushing/straining, but then it would go away after some fiber etc...


The past few days, I have been having rectal bleeding again.
It pretty much comes when I strain, although my stool isn't hard, but because of my stomach issues, I strain a bit.

The blood is on the outside of the stool, like a line, or a streak, and it's on the tissue paper when I wipe afterwards.
Today, it was a lot, and it scared me.
Yesterday, there wasn't any, so it's not every day.


I have also been feeling rectal pressure during these days, as well.

I have an appointment for the GI MD in 2 weeks, to schedule to colonoscopy which was part of the initial work up for all the stomach issues.

My questions are:

1. should I try to see him earlier, or is it ok to wait 2 weeks.

2. I'm scared that this is cancer...could it be so quickly even after having a negative sigmoidoscopy in August, and negative fecal occult cards, negative rectal exams in January and all the other tests negative?


I guess what I am asking is what is the likelyhood that this is colon cancer given all the negative recent tests.

Thank you for your insight on this.

Jane

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) I cannot make any specific recommendations without examination.  If there is any concern about the symptoms, I will always recommend seeing a physician sooner rather than later.  

2) A negative colonoscopy in 2002 would make cancer less likely.  I agree with repeating a colonoscopy.  Hemorrhoids or an anal fissure are possible.  

These options 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_b

[surgeon]

the chance of it being cancer from what you describe is very low. It's much more likely to be hemorrhoids, or possibly an anal fissure (although that is nearly always associated with pain when having a bowel movement.)

[jfem]

thanks for your comment...


I meant to add that it wasn't an abdominal x-ray, it was an ultrasound...

and also, when I was 13 , I had rectal bleeding, and after a barium xray, it was determined that I had a fissure.
It was relieved by some Senokot, and some fiber etc...

[hep62pj]

i just recently am having the same problems, lots of bleeding... i had a colonoscopy last July and i was ok except for hemoroids but it is still FREAKING ME OUT i cant stand this, how do i get rid of these??? the doctor gave me prescrip suppositories but my brother had to get his banded or something... the suppositories say 2 a day for 2 weeks i have not follwed that so i guess i should try that first right???

also just found out searching around on the net that this could be related to the fact that i have hepatitis C/liver disease my last biop showed stage2/grade 2, now that i am getting lots of bleeding does this mean the hep-c is getting worse or what???  I feel ok really, tried to tx for the hep-c but i did not clear... i dont drink much anymore but I did drink ALOT this past Sat night, Saint Patty's party, could that have something to do with the bleeding??

if so, another reason to completely stop drinking i guess....

[TMTNYC]

jfm4,
I am a 32 yo male who has been having the exact same problem.  I was given Levaquin for a sinus infection and 2 days later it felt like all the energy was sapped out of me and the diahhrea started.  It is now a month later and the loose stool and diahhrea still persist.  My GP insists that the Levaquin did not cause this.  I went to a gastroenterologist and had a colonoscopy with biopsies taken of my rectum and colon, checking for Colitis and infection, every test came back negative, including blood work which my GP performed.  All negative.  I was given Dicyclomine which is for Irritable Bowel, but I have no other symptoms apart from the diahhrea and occasional bleeding from straining at times.  I was completely healthy prior to the Levaquin except for the sinus infection and now I wonder if this drug has caused damage to my GI tract or anything else.  Would like more info if available.

[ljperla30]

A related discussion, levaquin was started.