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Colon problems

Joe2
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Hi im joe and im 17, and i just wanted to talk about my symptoms or what evers going on inside me. since the start of this year i dont think ive gone to the toilet without problem, i dont really like talking about it as its really embarrassing but if i can just get an idea of whats going on or what to do that would be great, so basically when going to the toilet it is either constipation or diarrhoea, mainly i do my poo with constipation and i guess thhat tears me rectum causing it to bleed, it doesnt bleed every time but i get a nasty sharp pain as its coming out towards the exit of the anus which i think is a fissure i read about, but then some times after having the constipation poo i will have diarrhoea a few hours later or even the next day, but i rarely poop, its either once a week or 2 maybe 2 times a week if im lucky, and at the moment its the 4th day since ive pooped and havent felt the need to go as well as sitting on the toilet and straining to try go, ive had to take a laxative which did make me poop the next morning with constipation and diarrhoea again, so basically i havent had a normal poop in a while, i get a sharp pain before it comes out, and im barely pooping more than once a week. and im not sure wether this could be do to diet as i dont eat the best of foods or maybe even need to eat more fibers but i dont think ive changed my diet since last year so i really have no idea why this is happening or how to just go back to passing normally, i dont feel bloating or anything like that just generally rarely poop, bleed, constipation and diarrhoea every time, sorry for waffling on just wanna make sure i say everything and dont leave anything out but yeah thats what im having to deal with at the moment

thanks joe

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    Hi Joe, your symptoms sound similar to IBS irritable bowel syndrome and poor diet, are you drinking enough water,getting enough fibre? Even if you increase your fibre content you need to make sure you have enough water. 

    The bleeding as it's passing out like you said cpuid be a fissure especially from straining but loose bowels can also cause that too and irritate.you might actually benefit from taking some probiotics as they will balance your gut bacteria .

    If you're worried it is always wise to have an appointment with your doctor or even a nurse. My sister suffers with iBS a d they have her fibrogel which helps.

    My partner can swing from loose to constipation too a d not go for a while , 5 days once..he started on probiotics and managed to go now ,sometimes he had bleeding also.

  • Hello and thank you for getting back to us.

    I see that you are worried that you could have bowel cancer. Your symptoms do seem bothersome but of course are not necessarily anything to do with cancer. I think it would be a good idea to have a look at your diet to see if you're eating enough roughage, fruit and vegetables as well as drinking enough fluids and moving around. Because if you are not you might want to try improving your diet and becoming more active. The NHS has information about constipation that will help you, you can see it on their website here 

    If after doing this you still have your symptoms then do make a GP appointment to find out what is causing them. Remember bowel cancer at your age is rare. 

    You might also want to get some support from your family and friends.  You don't have yo go into great detail about what is the matter but sharing what worries you might help.  

    Take care,

    Caroline

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