Back passage bleed but clear colonoscopy?

[Magpie91]

I have suspected endometriosis and adenomyosis. I've had bleeding (red) from my back passage during my pill (noriday) bleed (and sometimes outside of my 'period' or pill bleed) but my colonoscopy on Monday didn't find anything.

My MRI shows my uterus is pointing backwards and possibly stuck to my bowel but my gynaecologist says my bowel is not involved in the endometriosis.

I also have an cyst on my ovary, possibly a hydrosalpinx affecting my fallopian tube which they want to remove when I have my laparoscopy.

Has anyone had back passage bleeding with endo but had a clear colonoscopy?

[Qanngoth]

Hi Magpie, sorry that you're going through all this! I had a flexible sigmoidoscope back in August. Initially the doctor doing the procedure had down rectal bleeding as the reason for having the investigation. It was only when I mentioned that I have endometriosis and that was why I was there to check how affected my bowels were, that he knew to look for it. He actually said that it was only recently that he'd looked into endometriosis and the bowel and also said it can show up very subtly and wasn't what he expected it to look like. If I hadn't of said anything I don't think it would have been picked up!

My womb was also pulled back and attached to my bowel. I had a hysterectomy almost 3 weeks ago, and have had most of my endometriosis removed, however the consultant had to leave some on my bowel, as the Endo has infiltrated the bowel.

It might be worth getting a second opinion.

Good luck with your laparoscopy xx

[nikogirl18 in reply to Qanngoth]

This is so interesting! I have regular bleeding from my back passage and have had 2 sigmoidoscopy’s and a colonoscopy and they always come back clear! That was before I was diagnosed with endometriosis however so I did wonder if it wasn’t something they were looking for, would it have been missed and it does sound likely now. My surgeon during my lap said he was confident the bowel is not involved but since my surgery last year this bleeding has gotten worse so my gp does wonder if the endo is inside the bowel

[CitizenErased]

Hi, I had the same thing. I originally went to my GP for my suddenly heavy, long and super painful periods and bleeding and pain outside of my period plus a whole host of other symptoms. My GP did a stool sample to rule out other stuff and it came back positive for traces of blood, so I had to go have a colonoscopy. It came back 100% clear.

I've since had an MRI which shows evidence of endometriosis, including adhesions between my uterus and sigmoid colon.

I don't understand why your gynaecologist thinks your bowel isn't involved if it's stuck to your uterus? How else do they think that has happened? Have you had a previous surgery that might have caused scar tissue and adhesions? If not, it sounds like it could be endo related as endo causes adhesions.

[Dogmad6]

Bleeding from the back passage is a classic sign of endometriosis! All medics should know this but a lot of them don't. I had a clear colonoscopy but I most definitely did have endometriosis with bowel involvement. Hope this helps. I've heard this same story so many times over years. Good luck XX

[Lilac_10]

I have also had blood show up in my stool sample, along with lots of bowel symptoms that I’m convinced are due to my endometriosis but my colonoscopy was clear. I have since had a rectal shave during a diagnostic laparoscopy and my MRI following my surgery showed that I still have a plaque of endometriosis in my pouch of Douglas.

As someone mentioned, I have also read that the doctor doing the colonoscopy wouldn’t necessarily spot it if they’re not looking for it, and may not know what it looks like.

It’s incredibly frustrating when you feel like something is wrong but the tests say otherwise. Hopefully when you have your laparoscopy they’ll be able to have a better look at what’s happening with your bowels.

It’s definitely worth further discussion and questioning. I hope everything goes well x

[Magpie91]

Thank you all for replying, this is really helpful! I'm hoping to see an endo specialist this year so hopefully they'll be more informed than the gynae and the doctor doing the colonoscopy.