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953325 tn?1246529343

Only 19 with gastro problems ?

I am only 19 with only one family member having had colon cancer, a distant one. I have not had a normal bowel movement in weeks my symptoms include : Blood in stool
                                                              : Lots  Mucas in stool
                                                              : odd pressure at my tailbone
                                                              : Actual stool itself varies from hard to soft
                                                              : Stool is also narrow
                                                              I cannot stress the mucas and blood enough though. I have no abdominal pain nausea or vomiting. No weight loss or loss of appetite. I went to the ER and they wouldnt admit me becaseu my Hemo levels were still normal. I have no health insurance so I cant even see a GI. What am I suppose to do if this is someting like colon cancer, just sit here and wait until its too late? I am absolutely fed up with the american healthcare system.
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140029 tn?1393298142
oh trust me I don't blame you for venting...

I was watching a special on tv, basically in Japan - the goverment sets the rate at which doctors/hospitals can charge so it forces the healthcare system to live within its means.  This keeps costs down, and if you're over 65 or unemployed (like me..) it's free health care and the goverment picks up the tab.  Most employers and self employed all have some health care coverage...there is no doctor list or certain people you can see or can't because the bill is the same.

the real ironic thing was, per capita the cost of their health care system was like $2000+ per person in Japan yet in America it's over $7000+..and they have a higher average of life expectancy...

So yeah i'm not looking to get into a debate weather we should have goverment health care but yeah i'm in the same boat as you..trying to figure things out without a doctor..because the bills totally cleaned me out without an answer.. :(

So i'm for change..with options so not forcing anyone else for change..but also being able to look at our own medical records either online or in person because that would help me and probably you and a million others if doctors would share our own information so we can use the powerful internet to our advantage.  And be a healthier bunch of people!...


ok off my soapbox but I decided to join, good luck on the colonoscopy..maybe diverticulitis...
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953325 tn?1246529343
Im going crazy and coming on here to vent. this pain is getting ridiculous now. I have found that if I flex my sphincter muscle or attempt to make a bowel movement with some light straining the pain will dissipate for awhile but come right back. Although I hate to bring up the "THE BIG C" I have read this type of pain when searched in google by" tailbone pressure and cancer" can be related to rectal cancer according to testimonies. I find myself at the library every couple of days reading any book I can get my hands on related gastrointestinal. I have ruled out hemorrhoids because I experience no pain when I do pass a bowel. Just getting this off my chest. August 25th is my date for the "roto-rootering" if you will. Was scheduled for the 6th but due to financial reasons it was rescheduled.





Sort of off topic but in retrospect to health care cost. Going out on a limb here but I think health care should be free, in regards to if proper care is taken the patient will live and continue to pay taxes the rest of his/her life funding the government longer out weighing the free health care, Is this theory correct? Of course the extent of medical care needed has to be taken into consideration but so much is running through my head in these times.
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140029 tn?1393298142
No problemo..might as well help someone save $$$ on tests they don't need..this is a good site to lurk for answers.

Umm not sure..since you did your antibiotic regimen; if it was a bug that caused colitis normally that would have solved it unless it's a specific bug or virus or something...basically they need a biopsy of whatever area is swollen and then they'll check for those things.  I think you said your colonoscopy was scheduled on the 6th, did you do the test?  That would probably get you a diagnosis of either IBS or colitis or..chron's or whatever the problem is.  Hopefully it's just stupid IBS and you just need to keep adding more and more fiber to the diet and stay away from caffine/tylenol and other things (spicy foods) that can irritate the system..
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953325 tn?1246529343
Will do. And thnx again for all the info. But Im still sort of curious as to what is causing this odd pressure. Is it just the colitis and inflammation of my colon ?
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140029 tn?1393298142
niiiiice...good i'm glad things are better, how much fiber and what type are you doing?

*wish I could say the same i'm still dealing with mine..

yeah probably a good idea to stay on fiber for life so you don't run into this situation ever again..that's probably what I have to do as well.  It's healthy anyway..
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953325 tn?1246529343
well no stomach pains anymore. It has narrowed down to only the rectal/tailbone pressure now.
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Avatar universal
When I was your age I was diagnosed with Colitis. I have a VERY STRONG history of colon cancer in my family. (I lost an aunt about a month ago to it.) Anyway, your diet and level of activity will help out a lot. When I started eating better, my symptoms went away. I only eat poultry, seafood and veggies. I don't eat shellfish or scavengers. I avoid fried foods. All things that are hard to do at your age! LOL (Smile please!) Anyway, I wish you the best!  
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140029 tn?1393298142
Fiber time.

Yeah once you stop the medication you need to hit water and fiber like a madman..not going overboard on the fiber and starting slow but i'd get some physillium husk/citrucel..metamucel..whatever (not all work...it's trial and error).  Normally when your colon is straining you usually get pains on both sides either near the ribs or hips but yeah.. I have a hunch you just need some fiber and you'll probably feel better.

Glad the meds are working (flagyl is fun huh?)
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953325 tn?1246529343
Update:


Medication has slowed the Blood/Mucus substantially. I now have more common looking stools except the fact that they are much more narrow than usually. I've noticed a slight pain on either side of my stomach. not sharp or serious at the moment, just sort of there. Im getting sort of worried as the usual person would be. I know cancer is still a long shot at my age oof 19 but its still on my mind. I dont know if I should be working or not or be involved in any dort of physical activities. Well thats it for now, any elaboration on what I just said would help, later.
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140029 tn?1393298142
yeah usually you need a colonoscopy to diagnose things a little better (they take samples of the inflammed area and see if there's an offender or reason why for the inflammation..if none usually it's either chron's or ulcerative colitis)..also they can look for polyp's and it's one way to get a good diagnosis and not miss a problem.

Nooormally the medicine...it might take a few days if this is a bug, sometimes it takes 3-4 days..but normally when I took it - it was pretty quick and actually gave me IBS-C instead of D.. so i'm guessing you still need that colonoscopy but hopefully your drugs will kill whatever it is giving you problems so i'd stick with the medicine.  Flagyl has a anti-inflammatory property about it anyway so it's best to take all your meds and give it an honest shot (I think your doctor is hoping you have some infection..and hopefully it'll save you from a colonoscopy)

Sometimes they do stool studies to see if they can catch it and *sometimes* it's less expensive than doing a full conoloscopy but since he already noted colitis then it's good to do a colonoscopy to find out what is wrong.  You might be having colitis at the very end and beggining of the tract..or it might be multiple issues or the ulcer..so it's good to view the entire colon intead of guessing on what the sigmoidoscope found.  I think they can do biopsies using a sigmoidoscope but it's for sure easier for them during a colonscopy (and you'll be knocked out too..).  

That *****..hang in there, you'll get answers soon, hopefully the meds work..if not then you should get some answer for sure on the conoloscopy.  You could go to g o o g le and type in emedicine comma colitis and it'll list the general causes of it and such so you can educate yourself while you're sitting around.  Hopefully it's not infammatory bowel disease like chron's or ulcerative colitis..that requires medicine and diet to get that under control..  
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953325 tn?1246529343
My stool is consistently diarrhea consistence now, I still have the mucus and the blood seems to have dissipated a little. I still have a severe cramping pressure when I sit down at the toilet like im about to make a huge bowel movement but dont and only the diarrhea comes out.  Do these meds take a long time to take effect? Or will I only see a true improvement after I get the colonscopy and then follow procedure after I know what is truly wrong? Im not scheduled for one until August 6th. Like they said I def have some colitus going on after he investigated my colon through a sigmoidoscope, but didnt say anything about ulcers or polyps. I guess you would need to go deeper ( colonoscopy ) to know this?
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140029 tn?1393298142
yeah flagyl is super nasty to deal with but stick with it because usually that's the drug that will reduce the inflammation/get rid of the colitis (hopefully).  But on flagyl everything tastes super nasty, smells awful and usually you get darker urine (drink lots of water..it dehydrates you)

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Avatar universal
Make sure you do not drink any alcohol at all with these meds.  No mouth wash either.  Eat before you take them.  The Flagyl and Cipro are strong but they really help.  But the phamicist said if I drank any alcohol that I would wish I were dead.  Also anything with alcohol in it like mouthwas or cough meds.  

Hopefully you will be feeling better soon.
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953325 tn?1246529343
Yeah.

Picked up the meds today ( Flagyl, Cipro & Azulfidine ) Not too happy after reading their side effects. Oh well its for the best.
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140029 tn?1393298142
well least you know for sure there's something wrong...hopefully it's just a bug or virus and not chron's or ulcerative colitis or something like that..but glad you got in.  Quicker you get diagnosed the quicker you'll feel better so it's worth biting the bullet and paying the price (or else you'll turn into me..unemployed and sick chronically trying to figure things out so it's best to attack it up front)

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953325 tn?1246529343
Hey all.

Yeah, So turns out there is DEF some colitis in my rectum. He said its pretty inflammated in there. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for the 6th of August, and at a really good price too, only 700.
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Avatar universal
Your GI dr can do a colonoscopy in his office.  He will only go so far up and they know when it would start to be painful.  I have had many full colonoscopy and 1 in the office.  It was not painful at all.  If it hurts tell him and he won't go any further unless he sees something he needs to go a little further.  However, it is cheaper than the full colonoscopy.






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140029 tn?1393298142
well you probably already experienced it (sorry been stressing offline for a few days) but your GI probably suspects they'll spot the problem with a exam sometimes using a 'digital exam' (it's not comfy so just try to relax) but they're going to try and spot the problem and hope they see it in your lower colon area.. reason they want you empty is because they want to see if there's any tears or inflammation or whatever..it might save you a colonosocpy.

So your GI is on the right track to the quickest possibly way of hopefully getting a diagnosis.  Good move.  
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953325 tn?1246529343
Have an appointment at the local GI tomorrow. Was told to bring my insurrance info with me, seeing as I dont have any, will I get turned down at the door? Im going to bring some cash with me becasue I know just the consultation cost around $80-$150. ***** becasue I just got a job offer in New York, and if this turns out to be something of a more serious cause, then that will go down the drain. Back to the GI though, was told to enemize myself 2 hours before the meeting, so im assuming he's goign to do some sort of endoscopy? what exactly is he going to do?

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Avatar universal
Statistically, colon cancer is very rare in people under 40- not impossible though. I would urge you to find a place that would work out a payment schedule. It could be something as minor as internal hemmroids or an anal fissure- but I think a colonoscopy can't hurt anything- it can show if you have Crohns, inflamation, or polyps. It seems to be that IBS would be a likely diagnosis. One other alternative would be going to a major medical university to have a colonoscopy- we have Ohio State here. The procedures are usually done by 3rd, 4th year students along with interns and residents but are always supervised by attendings with many years of experienced. The fees sometimes are much lower there that at a private practice. I wish you all the best- I've been currently dealing with some similar issues and am waiting for a referal to get a colonoscopy as a percaution and am lucky since my family doctor is an old friend from high school. Hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted!
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140029 tn?1393298142
usually mucus means a blockage..or is sometimes with a food allergy or intolerance.  In your case with blood you probably have a partial blockage causing that.  I think as long as the stools are soft you're on the right path (either via fiber or miralax) but keep saving $$ to go see a gi specialist in case it gets worse.
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953325 tn?1246529343
And still ridiculous amount of mucas & blood. more so mucas.
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953325 tn?1246529343
so yeah, Im constipated, yet the stool I expel is soft and not of of a very solid state. This doesn't make too much sense,unless my colon/rectal area is so inflammated that even softer less dense stool cant pass.
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140029 tn?1393298142
yeah I know the feeling.. pratically broke here looking for work and sick...

well since you're sitting around - there are certain things I would do to help you out.. the majority of GI's will say the same stupid thing so i'll save you the bills..there is risk of making it worse but you'll know right away if it isn't working...

Basically there are 2 things you can try.. bulk and soften so i'd go to the store and get some miralax and a bottle of citrucel.  Mix a full cap together of miralax with one scoop of citrucel and take it in the morning daily and try that.  Sounds like you're having severe IBS-C.  Either this is going to totally help your situation or make it worse but it's worth a try.. if you get IBS-D then slowly back off the miralax to like half a cup or less until it goes away but keep mixing it with one cap a day of citrucel..after a week do 2 scoops of citrucel, one in the morning and one at night..make sure you drink tons of water...

Also I'd avoid lactose/dairy completely since it causes constipation.

That's an idea.. it would bulken/soften and help your constipation and the miralax would take the pressure off and help heal..*hopefully* it's just a small tear inside or something but if you keep having severe IBS-C like you're saying you could end up with more troubles down the road..

give it a shot - just be warned if you feel super super bad pains..then i'd go off the citrucel but stay on the miralax so at least you're going every day with a healthy movement.  Good luck :S
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