Bleeding?

[Moonrat]

Hello! I'm very new to all of this. I contacted my doctor a few weeks ago because I occasionally bleed from my back passage and produce a lot of mucus (sorry, it's gross). I also experience painful trapped wind followed by a lot of gas, plus constipation. After a few discussions, tests and an examination my doctor says he thinks it's IBS and recommended I try eliminating/cutting down on various food groups. I've been researching IBS and I guess it's IBS-C that I have, but everything I read says that IBS doesn't cause bleeding, and mucus is only present with IBS-D. Does anybody else experience similar symptoms? During my examination no hemorrhoids or fissures were found so that wouldn't explain the bleeding. I can't help but feel like IBS is a kind of umbrella term used to describe non-life threatening symptoms without an identifiable cause that are unique to each individual.

[Maureen1958]

Yes, that is exactly what it is, unique to each individual describes us exactly. I assume your doctor did blood tests and a stool test. I tend to be on the IBS(D) side of things so I will leave it up to my friends on here with constipation to help you with ideas for what you can try for that! Welcome to the club that nobody wants to belong to. 🙂

[Moonrat in reply to Maureen1958]

Thank you very much for your response! 👋 Yes, I had the blood and stool tests for coeliac disease and IBD which came back negative. I'm pleased that the doctor doesn't think it's anything serious but this seems like a frustrating condition without any clear solutions. I'm looking forward to hearing about other people's experiences and hopefully learning about what I can do to improve the situation.

[marthaalice]

Have you been referred for a colonoscopy ? I would insist on one, see a different GP if yours says you don’t need one. My son in law had similar issues and was told it was IBS for a couple of years. Finally had a colonoscopy and he has Ulcerative Colitis, you need to find out what is causing the bleeding.

[Moonrat in reply to marthaalice]

Hi marthaalice, thank you for your response. I haven't been referred for a colonoscopy but I did have a stool test to screen for IBD but this came back negative. Do you know if your son in law had a similar test?

[juniepoonie]

Hi sorry you have had to join us but it's a good informative group did he give you a fit stool test! It checks where abouts bloods coming from

[Moonrat in reply to juniepoonie]

Hi juniepoonie! I haven't had one of those. The blood is bright red so not coming from too far up the digestive tract.