Can mucus in stool be normal?

[Knsj]

hi everyone,

im a 34 year old female who has mucus in her stool. No weight loss, no fatigue, nothing like that. Back in February of this year, I made an appt with my PCP regarding the issue of mucus. I had also gone to the ER because I saw a little bit of bright red blood mixed with mucus and panicked. The ER did a CT scan and the results stated that I had mild inflammation suggestive of colitis. I took these results to my PCP who ran bloodwork to look for any inflammatory markers (celiac, chrons, UC, and any autoimmune) everything came back normal. I took it upon myself and cut out coffee, spicy food, and dairy and noticed my stools returned to normal. Fast forward a few months and I thought I was in the clear and introduced everything back into my diet. I know have mucus in my stool again (it’s yellow or light brown). I went to my PCP again today who said that he feels it may be some irritable bowel issue but was unsure so he put the referral in for a Gastroenterologist. I guess I came on here to see if anyone has had these symptoms and if it just turned out to be IBS, UC, or Chrons? I do tend to have a lot of anxiety around my health and think the worst.

Thank you in advance. Please note: I’m not looking or asking for a diagnosis, just to see if anyone has been on the same boat as me.

[JessFM]

Hi, i get alot of mucus too and suffer with piles alot as well. I'm waiting on results for a full colonoscopy and mri of my bowel. I have severe weight loss too though.

Hope you get answers soon

[Knsj in reply to JessFM]

Thank you… i hope you get answers soon as well. It’s tiring constantly worrying about health and what each symptom can mean. Has your dr given you any inclination of what he or she believes it may be?

[JessFM in reply to Knsj]

Still waiting on results from consultant, was on annual leave so i' waiting even longer! I do have IBS but theu want to further investigation because of the weight loss.

[Shoosh_kw]

Hi dear, mucus is very normal with IBS and I usually notice that if my gut is not normal due to irritability. Blood in stool means that you may have inflamation in in the intestine that might need medication or could subside by its own. I usually get blood in stool if I catch tummy bug or food poisoning because my stomach is very sensitive. See your GP and check if all is good then nothing to worry about because it is normal. Hope you feel better.

[Knsj in reply to Shoosh_kw]

Thank you for responding! My PCP is also an internal medicine specialist (which I know isn’t a gastroenterologist but gives me some extra comfort) and stated he made the referral to seeIBS VS. IBD. States he may do a colonoscopy to check it out. I did ask if he thought it was cancer and he said no not at all, he felt that I just have an irritable bowel and wants to help me get to the bottom of it.

[Shoosh_kw in reply to Knsj]

I am sure when you do yoyr colonoscopy procedure all results will be ok so do not worry and enjoy your life.

[xjrs]

Mucus is naturally in the colon to perform many functions including protecting your intestinal lining. It comes out in stool but is normally not visible. Visible mucus can be due to extra production of mucus often from constipation to try to ease out stools. Are you or were you constipated when you were getting these episodes? It might also explain the blood. Mucus can be common with IBS.

[JulieB5200 in reply to xjrs]

That’s interesting. Glad I read this as I didn’t understand what the mucus was and now I do 👍

[Superzob in reply to xjrs]

Exactly my symptoms, too, and same apparent cause!

[Knsj in reply to xjrs]

I wasn’t constipayed but I had diarrhea that day… I remember precisely. I had two Vente Starbucks coffees and I probably irritated my intestines. It didn’t happen again after that.

[xjrs in reply to Knsj]

Yes. Extra mucus may also be down to gut irritation. The fact that it has stopped and you know what it is to do with is good.

[Catspaws100]

Mucas and IBS is very common. I get a lot of mucas myself.

[Knsj in reply to Catspaws100]

Would you say it’s clear mucus or is it yellow or brown ?

[Catspaws100 in reply to Knsj]

It's yellow

[Leo70]

Mucus on its own is common with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but as there is some blood, a colonoscopy would be the "gold standard" investigation, as clearly it is worrying you.

[Knsj in reply to Leo70]

Yes, that is what I keep hearing. My appt with a GI is on Tuesday!

[JulieB5200]

Hi, I suffer with ibs constipation and mucus in my stool happens pretty much on a daily basis for me. It’s usually a yellowish colour and sometimes when I get the urge to go,that’s all that comes out. It’s not nice but I was told years ago it’s part of ibs symptoms.Honestly it’s nothing to worry about and worry only makes our symptoms worse.x

[Ceasersalad]

HiI was first diagnosed over 12 yrs ago

I have mucus in my stool . My doctor told me I have full blown IBS . All the indicators are present . I still get it time to time , for me it's normal.

Try not to worry.

Wishing you good health

[Knsj in reply to Ceasersalad]

Thank you so much! I have my appt with my GI on Tuesday

[Ceasersalad in reply to Knsj]

I hope it goes well , and your anxieties fade away x

[QuiltLady]

Hi, I occasionally get mucus too. I had a colonoscopy done 14 years ago because of it, and it showed areas of inflammation also. They did biopsies which came back normal, so not sure if it's diet or constipation that causes it or what. I tried getting information from the doctor as to what causes the blood and mucus and she only replied, "Who's the doctor here? It's normal." Nice, huh?

[Knsj]

yes, my dr literally said “I’m not worried about that. Diarrhea can cause irritation which can lead to that”. It’s hard not to panic. I have my consult with the GI dr on 7/23. I’m thinking if it was something sinister, I would have blood all the time and not just once back in February.