I’m writing this for anyone scouring the internet after finding blood in their stool. I know you’re probably terrified and you’re googling over and over trying to find out if you’re dying. Here’s some comfort for you!
I started noticing flat stools when I was 27 (6 years ago) I was nervous after googling my symptoms and I ended up going to my Primary and telling him. He actually took the flat stools serious enough order me a home colon cancer test kit. I took it and a few weeks later it came back negative.
Years went by and in the back of my mind I still felt something was wrong. My doctor diagnosed me with IBS and I noticed that my bowel movements were very irregular. I would have diarrhea and constipation all the time. Because I didn’t have a colonoscopy, I was still very skeptical about the home test results.
I put the worries to the back of my mind but something still felt wrong. Fast forward to October of this year (2023), I went on a weekend getaway in October. Because of my worries, I made it a habit to at least look at my stool before flushing a few times a week. This particular time, I ate a s’more and had some strong liquor. All of a sudden I had a bad stomachache. I was used to the random stomach pains so I just decided to sleep it off. I got up at around 3am with severe pain and ran to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet for almost an hour with severe cramps and diarrhea. The next morning I went to the toilet again and when I looked in the toilet I saw blood for the first time.
Now I had an internal hemorrhoid at 21 years old so I tried ti convince myself that that’s what it was, but I was scared. I didn’t wait, I called my doctor immediately to schedule an appointment. I forgot that I asked my primary to refer me for a colonoscopy back in Feb rod 2023 (earlier this year) but I forgot about it and missed the appointment. I lied to my doctor and told him I had a brother who had colon cancer so that he wouldn’t blow me off. (Try that if the doctors aren’t taking you serious)
anyway I was scheduled for an endoscopy on Halloween and a colonoscopy on the 28th of November. The endoscopy came back clear besides gastritis, which I knew I had and took meds for already. The only thing left was the colonoscopy and I was terrified about what they might find. I googled myself into a depression. I questioned everything about life. Somehow I convinced myself that I had an internal hemorrhoid and that helped me ease my mind.
On the 28th if November I went in for colonoscopy and by that time I wanted it over and done with regardless of how bad the news was. I found out that I didn’t have a tumor or any polyps, the bleeding is coming from Colitis. They took a biopsy to figure out what’s triggering it so they can decide how to treat it. It sucks but I was very relieved to find out what was wrong with me. I knew it wasn’t nothing, but I also knew not to wait.
So if you’re reading this stop googling. For your own sake, I know it’s easier said than done, but it won’t make this any better. Also don’t wait and don’t take no for an answer. Lie if you have to. If that’s what it takes to be taken serious. Don’t wait until your symptoms get worse to get a colonoscopy. I know it’s scary but it can save your life. I told myself that no matter what I would write about my experience to help someone else.
Go get checked please don’t wait and don’t take no for an answer. Also don’t google. Listen to your body. You’ll be ok I’m attaching pics of my stool because it helped for me to see if people had the same thing going on as me. There are people who say if it’s bright red don’t worry, or if it’s mixed in to worry. None of that is true to you. All of us have our own special scenarios.