Stool Occult blood positive

I found out today my mail in stool sample came back positive. Since I’m on a multitude of meds, leflunimide giving me diarrhea for years I’m convinced it’s hemorrhoids or crohns. IBS etc. don’t think I’m going for a colonoscopy and all the other tests. Anyone have this?

[sassy59]

Positive for what Apeter7874? This should be followed up just to make sure it’s not anything reality serious like bowel cancer.

Please don’t just leave it and self diagnose. Wishing you well. Xxxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Blood in stool

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Sound advice Sassy - you always say the right thing. My son who is fifty one was diagnosed last May with Cancer of the Colon... no symptoms whatsoever. It was diagnosed at a 50+ Well Man Clinic - had he been in this country ( he lives in America ) he wouldn’t have been tested until he was sixty, by which time it would almost certainly have been too late. He was Stage 2, had Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy combined for six weeks, Surgery in October ( unfortunately a permanent Colostomy although his Surgeon had hoped for a temporary one) & is now coming up to his third session of Intravenous Chemotherapy next week. He has it every two weeks - planned for four months. He is making a good recovery & has been so positive throughout but we are so thankful it was found at a relatively early stage. I personally feel if anyone has any suspicion that something could be seriously wrong they should go ahead & be tested. If Mark’s hadn’t been diagnosed at this stage he could, probably would, have been leaving a wonderful wife & two sons + of course his sister & myself.

Hope you & Pete are keeping well Sassy - I’m starting to look around the Worthing area now so that I can move to be nearer my daughter & Grandson & help out more. Take care, Helen. Xx

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Helen, blood in stools need to be taken very seriously in my opinion. I’m so glad your son is doing well and hope he continues to do so.

We’re not too bad thank you and hoping to get Pete’s back problems sorted soon.

Good luck with your property search. It will be lovely to be closer to family. We’re lucky like that.

Take care Helen.

Good wishes from Carole xxx

[Hidden]

Yes, a couple of years ago my bowel cancer test, occult blood, came back positive and I was 'invited' for a colonoscopy. When they explained I would be given a very powerful medicine to clear out my bowel and would need to dash for the loo, I laughed. I can barely walk quickly let alone run. I declined and no longer do the tests. Like you I believe I have a type of IBS connected to my ever growing list of AI diseases. RA, Sjogren's and Vasculitis.

[Caspiana]

Hello Hidden ,

I'm not sure what this means but perhaps you can bring the results to your next doctor's appointment. I really hope it's nothing serious. xx 😕

[peege in reply to Caspiana]

In the UK after a certain age we are all given the opportunity to use a testing kit, sending tiny samples to the labs. I believe it's to diagnose cancer early, before it can mastesesize to elsewhere like my dear mum. Bowel cancer is very treatable especially when caught early. I think it's a marvellous scheme and do it willingly - I've 5 beautiful grandchildren from 0-8 to enjoy.

[Caspiana in reply to peege]

That's a good scheme I think Peege. It seems like many cancers if caught early are treatable. xx

[Soul01]

Bleeding can be caused by internal haemorrhoids that you can’t see. The problem is that you won’t know unless you go for further tests. The best thing is to go back for an appointment so that this isn’t hanging over you. It must likely is nothing serious but wise to check it out.

[powderpuff]

Please do opt for the scope Apeter7874! Yes, the bowel prep isn’t pleasant but the procedure can give definitive results so is important in dx.

Occult blood doesn’t have to be sinister but it’s better to know for sure.

[CDPO16]

I had a positive test result a little over 2 years ago. I have very severe emphysema and said no way could I cope with the bowel prep for colonoscopy. After deliberation the consensus of opinion from the bowel specialist and my then respiratory consultant was that I was not a suitable candidate for colonoscopy any way and there was considerable concern that I was also not a good candidate for abdominal surgery if problems were discovered.

In spite of all that I was persuaded to undergo a faecal tagging scan which involved a few days prep with a low residue diet followed by drinking a solution that coated any bowel residue so that it could be identified from any possible polyps at the scan review. The result came back clear which was a relief as my dad died of colon cancer.

I still have blood loss from time to time the cause of which has not been identified so no longer take part in the screening programme but I think we all have to make our own decision after taking everything into consideration.

[Hidden in reply to CDPO16]

I’m thinking more on your lines. I have stage 4 very severe alpha one antitrypsin deficiency. The chemo meds I’m now taking along with about 8 others I believe has caused hemorrhoids and possibly ulcerative colitis. I’ve had diarrhea for years. I’m not doing the colonoscopy. It will just make me sicker and if they found something like cancer my body couldn’t go through that severe surgery anyway. I have heart disease due to the emphysema and psoriatic arthritis. It’s been difficult to treat the arthritis and lung disease as the correct meds are in conflict with both diseases. I really don’t think it’s colon cancer and I’ll talk to my dr. About something non invasive. Some other test. But if it were to be cancer...I don’t know..I may just throw in the towel! I’m not coming out of this alive anyway. I’m not a candidate for lung transplant due to comorbidities. My sats get into the 70’s now. I’ve been fighting this 12 years.

[CDPO16 in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry to learn that you have so many health problems. It's hard when life throws us another curve ball on top of everything else. Best wishes to you whatever decision you make xx

[Hidden in reply to CDPO16]

Yes thank you. I realize that. I also realize there are many on this sight going through worse. I’m just at the point of quality of life verses being bankrupt. This disease is a money pit.

[peege in reply to Hidden]

I can quite understand why you don't want to have further tests, you already have much to cope with. P xx

[cofdrop-UK]

A while ago I had a huge PR bleed and had a sigmoidoscopy. For this you have an enema and they basically do the first part of a colonoscopy in the large bowel. I would imagine as it was from a sample, they would need to check exactly where the blood was coming from, which may not be sinister at all. To be honest if you have IBS the Clean Prep would probably not be that different from what you already experience.

Hope you get this sorted soon and the results are uneventful for you.

Love cx

[Lemon7]

Maybe discussing the way forward with specialist doctors who know all your medical history would be best. Take their advice too what they think are the best options for you. All good wishes to you.