Hello,
I’ve been having a problem with a GI bleed, and was hoping to get some feedback. Here is a little background on my self:
I am 39 year old male, 5’ 6”, about 152 lbs. I exercise 6 days a week and eat generally well. Lots of fiber and very little red meat. For several years I have had on and off episodes of Diarrhea (clear liquid) bowel movements, usually triggered by stress and anxiety. I always assumed this was IBS. I have had soft, loose stools for as far as I can remember. I’ve also been very regular my entire life, with at least 3 bowel movements per day. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with a fatty liver through an ultrasound.
Family history:
My father had digestive problems, although I am not sure if it was anything specific. He died from complications of a brain aneurysm in 1982.
My mother is still alive, although she has type 2 diabetes and digestive issues (reflux, chronic gas)
About 2 months ago I started experiencing a bit of irregularity, some days I would wake up with no urge to have a bowel movement, other days the urge would actually wake me up from sleep. I also started experiencing this weird tingly, burning sensation on my skin(all over body, and it would come and go). The other thing I noticed is that I wasn’t gaining any weight, despite eating more and my increased snacking at night.
The big scare happened about 3 weeks ago when I woke up and passed stool with obvious blood in it, the blood was colored dark red.
This happened for about 2 days. The blood was definitely IN the soft stool, and the water in the toilet was also a maroon color. Very shocked and concerned, I went to see a GI and he performed a colonoscopy
as well as an upper Endoscopy. The colonoscopy came back clean (no polyps), except for a non-bleeding internal hemorrhoid. The upper endoscopy revealed Hiatial hernia and Short segment Barrett's Esophagus with no Dysplasia.
The puzzling thing is that there is no definitive explanation for the bleed I had weeks ago. I had my 2 week follow-up this past Monday and my GI sent me home with a 3-day occult test, which all came back positive. So I am still bleeding!!
He also sent me for a small bowel series (barium), which came back normal.
What can this be? What should be the next step? I am waiting for my doctor to get back with me, but the anxiety is killing me and I am starting to wonder if he missed something during the colonoscpy/upper endoscopy. I feel very tired and run down, which may be due to the worrying, I don’t know.
Should I see another doctor?
-Vic