Rectal Bleeding

[MsSmith976]

When I was 19 I had a colonoscopy and was I was told that I had colitis. Last year I had another colonoscopy and was told that I have Diverticulosis, Hemorroids and I had 3 or 4 polyps that were removed & found to be benign. My mother has Diverticulitis and has had 2 surgeries, she is 48. My great aunt just passed from colon cancer, 2 of my maternal aunts have had sugery for Diverticulitis and at least 3 other relatives have passed from colon cancer.
Recently I have had nausea and minor stomach pain, but for the last 24 hours I have had constant bleeding with and without bm. When I have a bm I pass clots up to the size of a half dollar. There is no pain. The blood has gone from slightly tinting the toilet water to turning it a red enough that I can't see through it and I have to flush twice to avoid the water remaining a light pink. I am afraid to go to the doctor without preparing myself for the worse. Any help that you can give me, without simply saying "Go to the hospital" would be great.

[Morecambe]

I suggest that you type in rectal bleeding to google/yahoo and click on to one of the sites that will provide more information.  The Medicinenet site is particularly informative.  With this information you will be much better informed when you visit a G.I. specialist (which I strongly suggest).  Unless the doctor can positively confirm that the cause of your bleeding is one of the minor causes (such as anal fissure or haemorrhoids) I suggest that you insist on a colonoscopy.

Since there is a history of colon cancer in your family, in my opinion it may be a good idea to ask your doctor whether you should undergo regular colonoscopies - and at what interval to ensure that anything "nasty" that develops, is caught before it becomes threatening.

Colon cancer is quite treatable and curable if diagnosed early.  Don't follow the footsteps of my Wife's uncle who, inspite of obvious signs of colon cancer, was disinclined to seek medical help.  When eventually he visited a specialist he was told "if only you would have come to see us sooner".  He died a couple of years later from colon cancer.  Don't let this happen to you.

regards
Morecambe

[MsSmith976]

So I went to the ER and was advised that the bleeding is diverticular. I also found out that I had passed more blood than I thought. I have been placed on bedrest and a liquid diet and advised that I have to have my colon looked at by a specialist within the next 48 hours. I am glad that I did eventually face my fears.

[Morecambe]

Hi - if you are suffering from diverticular bleeding then there is a (slight??) risk that this can suddenly become severe - I suggest that you ask your G.I. doctor to elaborate.  I would imagine that you have two choices:-

a) treat the diverticular bleeding (howsoever) and trust that you are not suddenly afflicted with a torrential bleed that could be life-threatening if you do not receive prompt medical treatment (as happened to me)

b) more drastic - undergo surgery to remove the colon (total colectomy) which eliminates the risk of severe bleeding - but exposes you to the risks and discomfort of surgery.

Do discuss this fully with your specialist.

Five years ago I underwent a total colectomy for torrential diverticular bleeding and, in response to another Medhelp patient's question, I recorded my experiences on:-

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166

You might like to print this off and show it to your specialist to see whether he/she concurs with my own experiences as a basis for reaching a decision on (a) or (b) above - or any other option that may be offered to you.

Good luck

regards
Morecambe

[MsSmith976]

At this point it is still a waiting game for me. I have been having consistant bleeding since Friday, today is Monday. I have had blood before, but not EVERYTIME I go...even if I don't #2. I researched and found that these bleeds typically end on their own, but how long do I wait for that to happen? I have a doctor's appt tomorrow, but I want to know what to expect.

[Morecambe]

I believe that diverticular bleeding does sometimes suddenly cease - but is there a guarantee that it may not recur in a more severe form at sometime in the future?  If bleeding is on a small scale - but continuous - maybe there is a chance (by underoing an angiogram) to identify the blood vessels from which bleeding takes place and cauterise these with a "hot filament" incorporated in the colonoscope??  Ask your specialist.  However, I believe that it is very hit and miss to discover the source of the bleeding and that you will eventually be faced with options (a) or (b) as mentioned in my earlier "post comments".

regards
Morecambe