Colon Journey

[Cleaneats]

I thought I’d share my journey leading up to this point and I hope to continue to update as things move along. I hate it when nobody updates.

Timeline:

12 years ago: After my first daughter turned 1 I went to the bathroom with blood in stool. It was super bright red and a lot. Went to the doctor and they did an occult test which came up positive. Rectal exam showed no hemerhoids. Doctor said that it was probably nothing to worry about. Didn’t have it again.

10 years ago: Blood in stool came back but I just assumed it was nothing considering I met with doctor two years prior.

9 years ago: After having second child blood comes back in stool. Diarrhea every now and again with boiling over stomach pains. Saw different doctor and they suggested I see a gastroenterologist put in a referral. Didn’t hear from gastroenterologist.

8 years ago: Gastroenterologist called for appointment at which point I declined as the blood in stool stopped.

After this point I continue to have blood in the stool off and on but I don’t see a specialist because it goes away.

1 year ago: Blood in stool becomes more frequent, and now get awful left sided abdomen pain that comes and go. Episodes last a few hours then subside. I can’t even begin to describe the pain as it is horrific. Blood in stool is darker and get mucus with blood as well.

Present: seen gastroenterologist. Ct scan performed with nothing found. Specialist still wants to perform colonoscopy which I question it’s necessity since nothing found on ct.

Colonoscopy scheduled next Wed.

Picture of current stools with blood added. View at own risk. Can only upload one picture but I have a few others from the past couple of days. Those are just mucous with blood.

[Mondlee]

I think your issue are nothing on the serious one because it had been 12 years and your symptoms had been there for than a decade so I think it’s not a big issue but a colonoscopy could ease your mind right

[Cleaneats in reply to Mondlee]

Yep that is what I’m wondering. I didn’t really want the procedure because I’m scared of having it done and that something will happen but I keep getting told I need it done so I’m just going to go ahead and get it done. Thank you for your thoughts.

[PinkBubblez1]

Good luck for the colonoscopy, along with the CT scan they should hopefully get an idea of what is causing the blood/mucus etc.

[Cleaneats in reply to PinkBubblez1]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

My colonoscopy found things that the CT didnt find and the colonoscopy missed things that the CT found, so i wonder if thats why the specialist recommends scope in addition!??.

[Cleaneats in reply to Hidden]

Yea you’re right. They did say that not everything shows on CT. I just didn’t think it was very likely for it to show up in colonoscopy if it didn’t on CT. Thank you for sharing.

[Mah43]

I’m glad you have to decided to have the colonoscopy, hopefully it will give you some answers. I have my colonoscopy this Sunday, I’m scared too, so I totally understand how you feel. Have you had any weight loss?

[Cleaneats in reply to Mah43]

Thank you for sharing. I hope everything will be ok for you. Hopefully we’ll both get some answers. I have lost weight but I’m also 1.5years postpartum. I am extremely exhausted but I do work and chase her around as well so not sure if it’s from that. What has led you to getting a colonoscopy this Sunday? I hope it’s ok I’m asking.

[Mah43 in reply to Cleaneats]

I’ve had diarrhoea on & off since October, some bouts have lasted a lot longer than others, my current bout is awful & I have no appetite, my appetite has been suppressed on & off for a couple of months & I feel nauseous most mornings, spend a few minutes urging but nothing comes up. I’ve lost over a stone in weight. All of diarrhoea stresses me out, sometimes it can take me 3 or 4 attempts each morning to leave the house for work as I have to keep running back to the toilet,

To make the situation a little more complicated I was diagnosed with a hyperthyroid, my antibodies come back about 6 weeks ago confirming I have Graves disease, I’m now on medication for this to try & regulate it. Diarrhoea, weight loss & anxiety are all symptoms of graves, suppressed appetite is not a symptom, it’s meant to be the opposite an increased appetite so this is worrying me a lots. Originally in October my doctor said the diarrhoea was probably to do with stress anxiety & the hyperthyroidism. I have had stress poo’s in my life I said this definitely does not feel like that. Fast forward to January I seen a different doctor, she said let’s just rule out anything else just to be on the safe side, so I did a fit test & that came back positive at 107. She referred me down the 2 week pathway on the 22nd January, we are now over the 2 weeks as there was an issue with the referral due to incorrect bloods, my colonoscopy is now booked for 8am this Sunday, I had a CT scan on Monday of my thorax & abdomen, that’s come back all clear.

[Cleaneats in reply to Mah43]

I’m sorry to hear you have been going through this and hope you get some answers as well. What’s a 2 week pathway?

[Mah43 in reply to Cleaneats]

The Two-Week Wait appointment system was introduced so that anyone with symptoms that might indicate cancer could be seen by a specialist as quickly as possible.

[Cleaneats in reply to Mah43]

Oh ok. Thank you for clarifying.

[Newt1223]

Any update?

[Hihihihi5]

how did your colonscopy go? Best wishes