Only 19 with gastro problems ?

[Sn33kz]

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.

[Sn33kz]

????????

[Sn33kz]

C'mon nobody there? Im contemplating making a trip to Bangkok, Thailand to recieve cheaper medical care. Should I really think about this?

[Matthew007]

i'm in the same boat.. no health insurance and too poor to see a doctor..I don't qualify for disability..

well based on those things sadly you will need to see a gi specialist i think.  Blood in the stool (visible) is a sign of chron's or colitis or hemroids or anal fissure..

depends on the color as well..if it's really dark blood then that means it came up from higher up in the digestive tract which would suggest ulcer or chron's..if it's bright red that means it came from the lower area of the digestive tract.  Could pe proctitis or some inflammation  caused by infection as well.

You're lucky you're not having nausea so i'm assuming it's not infection..you're probably just had hard stool or possible tear/polyp/diverticulitis/fissure of some kind.. that's the hard part is if you do fiber it could make it worse..or if you don't it could make it worse..usually you need a diagnosis before you go on fiber or not..

Another idea is to pay the $14 online (your choice not suggesting it..) and ask the expert in the expert forum what he thinks the chances are..

in the meantime, if it's bright red blood i would totally avoid fiber at all costs, ANYTHING with fiber in it..another idea added to that is to go on a liquid or clear liquid diet for a good 4-7 days.  Soups...jello whatever to give your bowel a complete rest and hopefully it'll heal...avoid asprin if you've been taking any...the thin stools are caused by some inflammation of some kind narrowing the tract and hopefully not colitis related or a bad polyp or something...  also above all do not strain at all.  Don't want to tear it up or cause more problems.

Either way eventually it's a good idea to talk to a specialist and sadly you're looking at colonoscopy or digital exam I think they call it so they can figure it out...hopefully not serious. Could be a bunch of things.

[Sn33kz]

Going back to the ER today, my mom is insisting on it. Went to the bathroom today to no avail except more blood and mucas.

[Matthew007]

yeah sadly they might just send you on your way if a ct scan doesn't pick anything up.. but hopefully they help you! :) good luck!

[Sn33kz]

yeah, just as you suspected. CT scan picked u[ nothing and hemo was normal again, although I dont understand how, I expel blood everyday through stool, and alot at that, well atleast in my eyes.  They gave me loratabs for my rectal pressure pain which was surprising. but there known to cause constipation which wouldnt be a step forward at all. I now though have a mandatory referral to a GI. But with no insurance we'll see how it goes. Untill then I guess I can only cross my fingers and hope if its something like CC it doesnt spread. And if it is UC that it dissipates a little bit.

[Sn33kz]

A new day, and a new symptom. Diarrhea has now ensued, which is along the guidlines for Uclerative Colitis, Agreed?

[Matthew007]

yeah that's what I figured...when I had super bad attacks (anxiety/dehyrration/severe nausea) I'd go to the ER room..one negative ct scan and you're sent home to follow up with a GI with a nice $1000+ bill.  It's too bad they don't offer any help.. at least test for something else instead of sending you home..


anyway, ulcerative colitis if I remember right *usually* doesn't have blood in it but I COULD be wrong..I think ulcerative colitis is inflammation that causes IBS-D..so my guess is, you're having an infection of some kind in your stool..did they make you drink that cool-aid barium stuff for your ct scan?  If they did that would *help* rule out chron's too..but not always sometimes ct scans pick up chron's.  So my guess is you've got a tear or diverticulitis or some super bad infection that will require stool studies and antibiotics.  If you don't have money maybe your GI will put you on a trial of an antibiotic but most likely if the stool study is negative they'll want a colonoscopy.  Chron's is still a possibility along with ulcers.  Since you're having IBS-D you could try some tums and see if you note any improvement.

anyway that's too bad..hang in there, i'd get the ball rolling and see a specialist.  Blood in the stool is def. a visit to the doctor.

[loveactually30]

Contact your state health department to see about a clinic of go to the ER. You need to be seen. If you indeed are diagnosed with something you may qualify for medical assistance.

[loveactually30]

I meant to say OR go to the ER. Start with the health department. Tell them you are having health concerns and you have no insurance.

[loveactually30]

Or just go to ER if you are bleeding

[Sn33kz]

Well, I guess Im just gonna ride it out? See whatever happens happens. It would take me weeks to gather the money for a colonoscopy. I guess I can research it a little more and see if a GI will take installments. I just still so fed up with my whole situation. Its so hard to fully focus on anything because my mind goes right back to my condition. Im sure alot of people feel this way though I suppose, **** happens thats life, no pun intended. Blood and mucus is still pouring out, with very limited marble sized stools. Drinking more liquids and watching what I eat so maybe that'll hold me over until I can get the help I need. Frustration is such an understatement at this point, but stress can aid to anything so I guess I should try and find my zen before it does.

[Matthew007]

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

[Sn33kz]

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.

[Sn33kz]

And still ridiculous amount of mucas & blood. more so mucas.

[Matthew007]

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.

[JDS2805]

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!

[Sn33kz]

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?

[Matthew007]

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.  

[coughting]

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.

[Sn33kz]

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.

[Matthew007]

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)

[Sn33kz]

Yeah.

Picked up the meds today ( Flagyl, Cipro & Azulfidine ) Not too happy after reading their side effects. Oh well its for the best.

[coughting]

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.