Pain

[stressedteen411]

Hello,
To start off, I am a 17 year old male with, as far as I know, know family history of colon problems, although my grandmother had bladder cancer in her 70's.

For a few years now, I have had a VERY sensitive stomach.  I have chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas pains, bloating, and sharp abdominal pains.  I frequently go to the bathroom and find that I do not pass as much stool as I thought I thought I would, and sometimes when I do, I feel like there is more left that I can not get out.  Sometimes I have small streaks of blood in my solid stools, and recently I have been having diarrhea with massive amounts of mucous and "strings" of blood that almost look like small chili peppers.  I am very worried that this could be colon cancer.  If anyone could give me any advice or share and knowledge they have, I would be most grateful.

[stressedteen411]

No my brother never got a colonoscopy or anything like that.  In fact, he claims that he is much better now.  He was on some medicine for a bit, and it seemed to work really well for him. He does not have anxiety like me.

I have always had anxiety, but it got worse in high school (not surprising).  
I am trying to convince my parents to take me, but I may just end up scheduling an appointment by myself, as they don't mind me trying to take care of myself, even if they find it unnecessary.

Thanks a bunch.

[meniere135]

I never did like the diagnosis "IBS" - it means "my bowel is irritable, but they don't know why".  

When did your twin brother start with his symptoms - at approximately the same age as you did?  And did your brother get "scoped" either through the esophagus, stomach, small intestinal areas or "scoped" through the colon (down yonder :) ?  Or no scopes?
Many people start with problems during the puberty years.  When the hormones start churning out in high gear, and something isn't operating correctly somewhere along the assembly line, then the end product has problems.  It would be nice if you could find the answer to your stomach/intestinal problem and find out that your anxiety was stemming from the same source.  When did you start with anxiety?  And does your twin have anxiety? The above symptoms that you added can point to several of the bowel probems.   I will tell you up front that I am big on changing the diet to help these problems.  So, after you see a doctor (if your parents take you), if you're interested, we'll talk food elimination, etc.  I'll watch for your postings.

[stressedteen411]

Thanks guys, I am trying to convince my parents to see a GI (I am only 17 and just graduated high school)

Yes, I do sometimes get white specks on my nails, but not very often.  I can tell you that I am a twin and my twin brother is the exact same as me: tall and very skinny.  He was recently diagnosed with IBS because of his almost constant diarrhea, where as mine was mostly in the morning.  I should also point out that I have severe anxiety as well, and quite often, the anxiety will just tip my bowels over the edge.

It was strange: in the mornings, when I woke up EARLY for school, I would have lots of gas, and a watery stool, a few hours into school, mostly every week day EXCEPT for Friday.  And when I woke up LATE on the weekends, the gas and diarrhea would be gone, but my decreased appetite would remain.
Does anyone find this odd?

A few things I forgot that might point to something:
-I have a very fast metabolism (I poop twice a day sometimes)
-I have had acid reflux
-I have A LOT of gas

Thanks guys

[meniere135]

Yes, you can have just gluten intolerance without the autoimmune condition celiac disease.   It's not that the body disagrees with the gluten  with gluten intolerance - it doesn't have enough enzymes to break down the gluten (which is a protein).  In celiac disease, the body recognizes the unbroken down gluten as a foreign invader and attacks itself.  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease.   As the above post says, you can have something else.  Do you have white specks on your nails (zinc deficiency)?  This is also usually associated with celiac disease.  And since you are male and a teenager having had growth spurts - zinc is needed in greater amounts - zinc is important for intestinal health and to keep the male hormone testosterone in normal limits.  Some people can have hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) - look that one up - too many problems associated with that to type on here.  Hopefully, the doctor can pinpoint your problem.  We're here to help you if we can.  We don't like to see anyone suffer.  Keep us posted.

[patient915]

I can say with almost 100% assurance that you do not have colon cancer.  You probably do have something else like celiac disease, IBS, chrons disease, etc.  It is so unlikely to have colon cancer at your age.  You can have a gluten intolerance without having celiac disease where your body just doesn't like gluten.  However, the only 100% sure way to test for celiac disease is with a biopsy performed during a colonoscopy (although the blood test is mostly accurate).  You should see a doctor, probably a GI doctor, to get some testing done because although it is almost surely not colon cancer, it could be something serious.  Good luck.

[stressedteen411]

Thank you both.

I was wondering, since I can not get a definitive answer, if, in fact I did have a gluten intolerance, does that mean that i definitely have celiac disease? Or could it simply be that my body just disagrees with gluten?
For the record, I do not think that anyone in my family has had it, and, although I am very skinny, only around 140 pounds, I am 6'1, a little tall for someone with celiac disease.

And I was also informed that my great grandfather had colon cancer at age 90. (He did not die from it, and lived many years after that)

[meniere135]

I had the exact same symptoms as you describe above and it turned out to be gluten intolerance.  I don't eat anything with wheat, barley, rye or oats in it.  You can give the diet a try to see if it helps.  You'll need to educate  yourself first before starting it.  Even the vitamins have to be gluten free (Nature Made brand).  Mention this to the doctor and see what he/she thinks.  My brother was a few days away from surgery to have his colon resected.  I happened to call him up and he told me all of his symptoms.  I suggested he try the diet and VOILA! he's 150% better now.  He didn't have the surgery and he feels great!  I tell you this in case your answer is as simple as trying this diet.  If it doesn't help, you'll be able to inform your doctor that you tried this diet and it didn't work - one more thing off the checklist.  Good luck finding answers.

[jeaninem1]

My dad had colon cancer.  I have the same signs as you have; and, I have had 6 Colonoscopies since 1995. I recently had one in March.  No doctor has been able to help me.  My Gastro doctor suggested I be checked for hemroids, but before I went to see that doctor the bleeding stopped.  The Gastro doctor told me to take Colase, a stool softner, for hard stools, 3 times a day.  I take it once or twice a day.  Then days that I have diarrea I take imodium D.  I follow the directions on the package.  That was recommended by two doctors.  The main thing is have you seen a Gastroenterologist?  Or, talked to your doctor about your problem?  Don't wait until you are 48 years of age like I did.  I am now 72; and, I have been going thru this all my life. I have been diagnosed for IBS, but the medicine did not help.  I do not have any signs of Cancer.  Your doctor is your best bet.