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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
What next if anything ?
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.
What next if anything ?
by Jon__0, Sep 14, 1998 12:00AM
For three years now I have had loose stools, constipation, pale & grainy (unprocessed) stools, abdominal & and anal cramps, bad smelling gas, bloating and back pain. Two years ago I went to the doctor and had stool and blood analysis and barium enema. All showed up to be normal and IBS was the diagnosis. After that I have just lived with the discomfort and to some extent the cramping and back pain have calmed down but the loose, nasty looking stools continue. Just recently I have noticed tiny smudges of blood on toilet paper, a really trace amount and if I wasn't actively looking for it I wouldn't have noticed it. It occurs irregularly, maybe once a month. Sometimes I think it is just tomato or something I've eaten. The next step according to my doctor is a colonoscopy but I have such a busy life and don't really want to take the time out if it isn't really necessarily going to find anything new.
Does the barium enema disclude cancer and is it necessary to have a colonoscopy to find other conditions that a barium enema cant find ? What would we be looking for if I went for a colonoscopy ? I also get tiny white painless ulcers in my mouth occasionally, could this be significant ? I'm 30 years of age.
Also after three years, if this was anything serious, wouldn't I be on my death bed by now ?
Thanks for any advice.
______________
Dear Jon,
While it is unlikely that you have colon cancer, you could have other conditions which would benefit from diagnosis. For example, Crohn's disease could cause many of your symptoms including the mouth ulcers. Although barium enema is a sensitive test, it can miss superficial and small mucosal lesions. I would favor doing the colonscopy not only to investigate the cause of the bleeding but to determine if there is a unifying diagnosis.
Thias information is presented for educational purposes. Always ask specific questions to your personal physician.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: stool, b;leeding
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