Rectal Bleeding

[ginsa]

I just saw a GI Monday. I had been having severe contraction in my GI tract from my esophagus to my rectum. I had experienced tiny spots of blood a couple of times in the last 2 months, but couldn't tell if it was vaginal or rectal. I have the test kit to check for occult bleeding, but was unable to use it because I had a period that just ended yesterday.

Anyway....this morning I had a BM and I am definitely bleeding from my rectum. It's bright red. I haven't felt like I have  hemorrhoids, so I don't know why this could be happening. But I find it impossible to believe that all the other GI disturbances are unrelated.

I quit using Norco for chronic pain this past April. And I'm sick of Drs. blaming every problem I have on withdrawl. I have been feeling very sick for months now, and it's just getting worse. I called the GI's office and told his nurse about the bleeding and am waiting for her to call me back. In the mean time I wonder if anyone could give me a clue of what's happening. I'm so tired and stressed.

[ginsa]

Update. I called GI Dr. and am scheduled for a colonoscopy next week. As if I didn't already have enough to feel stressed about....

Bright red bleeding is a daily occurence, but no symptoms of hemorrhoids. I'm so tired I can hardly get up to shower. Even the amazing antidepressant I'm taking isn't helping with that. I did some searching about causes and what I'm reading is not good news. I am recognizing many other symptoms that point to advanced colorectal cancer. I hope I'm just being paranoid.

[Morecambe]

You don't mention your age - but normally colon cancer occurs at age 40+.  If you are much younger then colon cancer is unlikely (but not totally out of the question).

Your tiredness might be caused by loss of blood >>>> anaemia.

Anyway, you have done the right thing in arranging a prompt colonoscopy.

regards
Morecambe

[ginsa]

Just an update. I had a colonoscopy and it did show some minor internal hemorrhoids that were a probable cause of bleeding. That was good news. But there's bad news. Tiredness is probably not due to the very small blood loss from the hemorrhoids. My Dr. is referring me to U-M because she thinks my symptoms might be due to carciniod syndrome and Cushings.

Symptoms ( mine anyway ) :

Chronic intermittent diarrhea
Abdominal pain and discomfort ( esp. after meals )
Wheezing and coughing ( like asthma )
Flushing and itching
Extreme fatigue ( waking up that way and exhausted after only showering )
Anxiety and depression

It never would have occured to me that all of these things could be related. It apparently takes a lot of testing for bio-markers to have a certain diagnosis, so I can't say for sure if that's the problem. But that's the tentative diagnosis.