My back story is I started with pelvic pain about three and a half years ago. It seems it is related to my bladder as I have suffered with UTI's. I have had a cystoscopy and scans.When the pain first started though I didn't know if it was bowel related as I had seen blood in my stool on occasion as I suffer with constipation. I went down the gastro route originally and had a sigmoidoscopy via the NHS, results were all clear. I asked the surgeon if I had haemorrhoids and he just casually said 'everyone has haemorrhoids'. It played on my mind for a bit (I have health anxiety) so I went to see a private gastro and paid for a colonoscopy and a small bowel MRI. All scans were clear, no polyps or biopsy needed. I can't remember discussing haemorrhoids' with the consultant but as all was clear I accepted the bleeding was down to that and tried to reassure myself. I improved my diet and worked hard to avoid constipation, which in the main I have. I usually only see bright red blood now if I have to strain and my anus is usually sore after for a short while. I could also bleed on the next bowl movement even if soft if it's after a strained movement.
My point of this post is that I've just seen a reflexologist ( on recommendation of my pelvic floor physio) she thought might relax me. I booked three sessions one per week to gain the most benefit.
When the reflexologist started to work on my feet she asked me if I had any bowel issues as I had a large dent in my left foot, the area related to the bowel. She told me I should get it checked out. I told her my history and that I had already had a colonoscopy which was clear. She said that was good and at the end of the session the dent had gone anyway. I left with mixed feelings and my health anxiety went through the roof again. I reluctantly went to the second session, I didn't mention the dent and neither did she, so I hoped it had gone. On my final third session I decided to mention it at the end. I asked her if if still had the dent and she said yes, and it's a large one. My heart sank, I didn't ask any questions and she didn't say anything.
The point of my post is should I be worried by her observation? I have health anxiety so of course I googled if reflexology could diagnose the 'C' word and I found other people who had a similar situation, not with bowels but where they had been advised to get it checked out and it turned out to be something.
I do feel fairly confident it's haemorrhoids causing the occasional bleeding, the soreness around my anus, the blood is bright red and starts when I have needed to strain. I have had the colonoscopy almost three years ago and it was extremely painful, I wouldn't want to go through it again unless necessary. Any advice is welcome as I don't know what to do 🙂
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RedTeddy
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Unfortunately having any form of IBS can lead to experiencing anxiety and like you, l also have health anxiety. This is often around when l experience any kind of bodily symptoms including haemorrhoids. I also experience the problems you have experienced on occasion and have learnt to accept the situation and this has helped me to have fewer episodes.
Reflexology has very little scientific evidence to support its use. As it grows in popularity, some controlled evidence is becoming available. These studies do not appear to support the use of reflexology to diagnose medical illnesses, or to treat acute illnesses. A review of more than 8,000 cases in China found no evidence of effectiveness for acute conditions.
oh yes it can my dear! i saw a good reflexologist and she was better than any nhs doctor i have seen , and i have seen a lot, am 81 years old and much wiser. btw so can a good dowser too much stress with today's nhs exacerbates and prolongs dis-ease, taking in synthetic chemicals is not the answer, i don't follow any specific religion but it says in the bible genesis something 'the herbs and seeds shall be for thy meat. we are not living a natural life anymore. mentally, emotionally and physically and our bodies are still human not machines. i grew up in the 50's and people were much healthier no fast foods no snacking no plastic people looked after themselves rather than pay a doctor not many cars we walked or cycled miles, i had no vaccinations i got chicken pox and measles both were gone after a week no drugs no antibiotics built up a proper immune system, my current issue is from lung damage from dust fungus and air pollution makes me so sad reading all these posts i think we are being brainwashed into taking drugs for the benefit of the pharmaceutical companies. i think about the poor creatures cruelly treated testing their inventions because there not enough herbs around and they take a long time to grow. hope this post we not be wiped its taken 2 hrs to type with one shaky finger. i mean well kayx
Bright red blood indicates that you probably have a little scratch or cut or hemorrhoids. The darker the blood the deeper it is in the bowel and the more likely there is an issue. A reflexologist is just a fancy name for a massage therapist. Do not take medical advice from them. They're trying to scare you so you will buy additional services and supplements. You've had all the scans, try to increase your fiber to make your bowels a little bit softer more often.
sorry to hear your concerns. I too have bled when passing stools, in fact it was all in the pan and the paper on 2 occasions. I ended up going to A&E twice and was told it was haemorrhoids.
Ive had 2 colonoscopy’s about 2 years ago and am scheduled to go again in 3 years time (I’m 74).Both times I asked for sedative which helped greatly and I was more relaxed. It meant staying there longer till it wears off but like you, I am terrified of anything medical due to bad experience whilst going through my breast cancer (doctors refusing to listen to me during chemo, resulting in me getting sepsis due to low immune system through thyroid removal).
I had polyps which were luckily benign.
I still occasionally pass blood on straining and told I have ibs, alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
I panic now and often take a senna tablet if I feel constipation is the issue. It’s natural and taken before bed.
Your GP should be able to examine you and tell if you have haemorrhoids but if you strain, it could be a slight tear in the skin.
I agree with other replies about the opinion of your reflexologist. I do hope all the reassurance will put your mind at rest - great bunch on here.
please read my reply to xjrs i believe stress and anxiety do disturb the body and cause many ailments that affect our sometimes fragile bodies try and keep calm we are going through very stressful times worldwide now anyway, it affects us all esp if you are sensitive. do something nice for yourself and stop thinking too much xx.
It is so sad you have bladder and bowel and there is not much you can do - if yiur sure its not cancer from the scans then you are ok - I suppose the more you think about it the worse it needs distraction the pain is sad - but I have bladder and bowel too and loads of worse symptoms throat flu frailness I just live on with it constantly ---its so difficult to feel sick all the time -its no yours my fault and sciety does not see us or want to see us then we r in a hole
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Colonoscopy worries
endoscopy. Should I be worried?
Very loopy redundant sigmoid
Recurring Haemorrhoids 
Very unsettled and worried at the moment 
