Discomfort in anus

[drillbittaylor]

I am a 21 year old male. A few weeks ago i had a few days span where i was somewhat constipated/ had way normal then average sized bowel movements. Anyways since then I have had a few random days where my anus is really itchy and irratable.

What concerns me most though is it feels like there is a lump/unpassed fecal matter/ something in my anus. Its felt this way for about 10-12 days.I dont always feel it, and when i do it feels pretty small....it sort of comes and goes and ill randomly feel it now and then when im walking. It doesnt cause me any pain when i walk or do anything else. I have no bleeding or discomfort in my stools. Ive checked around the area and it looks normal...nothing out of the ordinary.

Any idea as to what it might be? Id like to avoid a trip to the doctors over this if at all possible

[Marc76Law]

I suspect this "lump" was thrombosed internal hemmrhoid.   They can be painful but usually resolve on their own.  Other possibilities are HPV (warts) but that woulnd't come and go as quickly?

You shoudl have had at a minimum a sigmoidoscopy or colonscopy by a coloerectal doctor to visualize the area with a scope by retroflexing the scope from the inside pointing out.

Believeit or not, some doctors are just very dismissive of these thigns and will without a thorough work up say, "hemrhoids" don't worry about it.   You know your body and I would go with your gut instinct, just realize, that you need to research and find a doctor who will not blow you off because some will.  

For example, ask friends, ask you primary care to get some recommendations, go to a doctor who is on the faculty of a medical school or university - they tend to be more thorough.

[drillbittaylor]

So I went to the doctors for this yesterday. He did the rectal examination (worst thing ever!!) He said he didnt find anything abnormal and that it was prolly a hemmroid or anal fissure that healed on its own. He said to add more fiber to the diet.

Thanks for the help here Boron.

[boron]

You can expect doctor will do 'digital rectal examination'. He will examine your rectum with a gloved finger. Hemoccult test (for blood in stool) will probably be ordered.

Bleeding from intestine is always considered as urgent situation, so you should solve this. Bright red blood is from the distal part of the colon, like from hemorrhoids, dark red blood is from more upper parts, like from small intestine. Black tarry stool occurs in bleeding from the stomach.

Colorectal cancer is not likely at your age. If they are not hemorrhoids or fissure, it could be diverticulitis or other, but this can be only found by further testing.

[drillbittaylor]

Been reading up a little more and it seems that dark blood is more serious then bright/light colored blood. It looked darker to me and like it came out at the end of the stool. Blehhhhhh : (

Hopefully its just internal hemmroids and not something serious, ****.

[drillbittaylor]

Alright Im sick of wondering wtf is going on...so im gonna schedule a doctors appt for either thursday or friday. Does anyone know what goes on in these type of appointments? Im sure its gonna be pretty embaresing to say the least. Are there any procedures that they will do for sure?

Any light someone could shed on this would be great, thanks.

[drillbittaylor]

Okay new update. Just a few minutes ago I took my first ever poop that involved blood. It wasnt the type of blood where it makes the water red it looked like the blood was inbedded into the fecal matter.

I just talked to my friend and he said when he went to the docs they told him to buy a certain thing from the store...but his were external. Im pretty sure mine are internal since it doesnt hurt to sit down or anything....should I just go with the high fiber diet and X amnt of water per day?

[boron]

The problem with fissures is that in some people heal quickly and in some not. Healing which requires such and such is not considered 'on their own' by me :) . Anyway doctor should tell what can help, or if someone from this forum has personal experience.

[drillbittaylor]

I just read an article that said 90% of anal fissures go away on there own if you do such n such. So many different takes on stuff like this. I'll trust yours though you seem very well informed.

[boron]

You can see only external hemorrhoids but not internal ones. Hemorrhoids can retract, if you won't strain. Constant sitting without walking around is bad for hemorrhoids. Loads of water won't help. If you urinate twice a day, and if you excrete at least 200 ml urine in the morning, you probably drink enough. You should better consider taking more fibers: cereals, bread, or even psyllium husk or shredded wheat.

Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins, they bleed only if they are torn by hard stool or rough wiping. They grow from increased pressure during constant straining or sitting all the day, or in obesity. Now it's up to you. If you go and see a doctor you will at least nknow what it is, and you can get some anestetic ointment for the first help.

Again, it could be prolapsed rectal mucosa, or even more likely, an anal fissure. These don't go away by themselves.

[drillbittaylor]

Ok well the past few days the lump like feeling has remained about the same. Today however, I passed a soft stool but there was a lot of burning/firey sensation. It hurt to whipe I had to use baby whipes.

Now does this make it all the more likely that I do indeed have hemroids? Even if I cannot see then and theres no bleeding?? Should I give them a week or two to go away on there own??

I really dont know what my gameplan should be from here on it...I guess im about to go get a bunch of water and drink a ton of that. Im really at a loss I just wish this would stop.

[boron]

The first thought is: internal hemorrhoids. They may itch or hurt, they can cause constipation, if you are unconsciously avoiding bms. Mucus may appear and they may (or not) bleed.

The other posibility is a rectal prolapse - a part of rectal mucosa...well find some article about it. :)

Colorectal cancer is not likely at your age.
Prostatitis..enlarged prostate wouldn't come and go...also you'd feel burning at urination.
Crohn's disease/ulcerative colitis is possible, but this almost always goes with more symptoms, feeling ill, slightly feverish, urgency, nausea, diarrhea.

If you assume they're hemorrhoids, it can help, if you can maintain soft stools, and do not strain a lot at defecating. A little less high energy food (meat, eggs, chocolate) and a little more fibers...bread is great by my opinion (not plain white bread though). Rice may constipate. Sugary foods also (sweets, soda..). Be well hydrated all the time helps (drink so much fluid that you'll urinate at least twice a day, but not so much you'll need to get up at night). Vegetables are more friendly for digestion then fruits, but some can irritate you (tomatoes, spices).

This way hemorrhoids can retract somewhat. If itching won't go away, you can go to your primary doc, he will do rectal examination. If necessary, further investigation by GI can follow. Hemorrhoids can be treated with simplke operation or laser procedure.