Getting tested for colitis

[DontTrustGoogle]

Hi everyone,

I recently spoke to my doctor about some symptoms I’ve been having for a while. For background, I was previously a heavy drinker, drinking around 20 units per day for about 3-4 years straight (I don’t do this anymore, haven’t done for about 7 months). I also used to be a heavy smoker and gave that up at the same time.

due to the heavy drinking at the time, sometimes I’d have explosive blood coming out of my anus so this wasn’t anything new, but more recently I’ve been seeing more of this. As time has gone on, there’s either been bright red blood on the toilet paper (usually a small amount) and this is now being accompanied by some stomach pain, very inconsistent consistency of stool (never really solid though) and gurgling in my stomach. The colour isn’t really brown, it’s sometimes yellow, sometimes green.

I’ll be the first to admit I have a poor diet and I’m hoping that it can be put down to this, but (despite my username) you know what it’s like when you google something, you get very paranoid.

My doctor wants to do a blood test and a stool test to see how my liver is functioning and also to check for any signs of inflammation.

I know I have to wait for the tests but I’m getting more and more nervous. Im 25 if that helps.

please let me know your thoughts on my symptoms?

Thanks!

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi DontTrustGoogle,

Again, get those tests and get some direction as to what the issues may be. I think we all google things and from what you are describing, it could be a lot of different things going on. Your doctor will definitely help with the tests.

Also, if everything has been pretty consistent as far as eating habits and other activities, you're now experiencing something different. So something has changed and that's what you need to figure out.

Also, you are young and that's a good thing. You should know that you need to be diagnosed for the symptoms you are experiencing. Never accept a diagnosis that something could or couldn't be happening because you are “young” as it is the symptoms that need to be diagnosed no matter what your age.

I do wish you the best in finding out what's going on. Others on this site can give you some information in their personal experience. But please remember that there could be a lot of things going on that could be causing it.

Thank you,

Tom