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Blood and mucous

Pollyputthekettleon
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Hello, 

I wondered if anyone had had a similar experience or could offer further advice on if I should seek further help. 

apologies in advance for being graphic. 

I'm 34 years old and female, quite healthy- I don't smoke or drink alcohol anymore and I exercise a couple of times a week. I'd say for the last 4 years I have been back and forth to the doctors with pain in my lower back and tummy. I never have what I'd call a normal BM it is always in ribbons really thin, runny or mainly mucous. Occasionally I have mucous and blood mixed in with my stool and on the tissue, it's ALWAYS with a lot of mucous. The last time I went to the doctor, I felt embarrassed ( because speaking about this is right?) but I explained the stomach cramps and bleeding. She advised that with mucous it was likely allergies or IBS and I should keep a food diary - this was months ago, at the time I explained the bleeding was worrying me as it comes and goes and sometimes it's an alarming amount she asked why I was so worried when I had previously been told this happens in some cases of IBS and I hadn't taken other things out of my diet yet, I said I was afraid of things like crohns desease and cancer in my bowel or stomach, she smirked and said this was HIGHLY I'm unlikely as I wasn't showing other symptoms ( BMI high if anything) and for my age I really shouldn't worry about anything serious ' a bit of blood or mucous in your bowel movements is likely nothing to worry about, most people wouldn't even see it, it's just because you are looking'. I have taken dairy out of my diet completely and gluten- to see if this improves the pain. 
It hasn't. The last couple of days my stools are mainly just blood and mucous, it's like the blood is mucous and it's bright red and there is a lot of it. I am constantly tired and I ache all over most of the time - I keep putting this down to having children and a baby- I have also started getting patechie ( spelling?) tiny pin sized bruises on my arms, tummy and legs, although they don't appear in a rash like formation they are spread out and some bigger than others. 
 

I believe if I go back to my GP she will label me a hypercondriac and just ask for my food diary. 
this time I have taken photos of my stool ( as I genuinely don't think people believe me when I say Im bleeding) Im wondering if I should seek help privately and if this is even an option? that would be able to rule out cancer in any part of my down below area.

or I'm being a drama queen and it's untreated piles or I need to cut out more things in my diet.
 

P 

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    Can you see another doctor? I was referred for a colonoscopy for probably less symptoms. It was just precautionary; nobody thought anything serious was in the least likely and it turned out my symptoms were piles, probably combined with the stress of the whole thing. But she doesn't seem to be taking it seriously at all. Have you at least had a FIT test?

    I don't think you are being a drama queen or a hypochondriac. At our age, cancer is unlikely and t sounds like your doctor thinks your symptoms don't quite meet the ceiling for worry, but it's not impossible and things like IBD are a bit more likely. I'm no expert, but t does sound like it should be checked out, if only to rule out anything serious.

  • Offline in reply to MargaretMary

    I could request to and I probably should- I hate feeling like I'm moaning too much y'know? 
    does piles cause a lot of pressure and pain? 
    I ordered myself a FIT test from letsgetchecked. It's to check for blood in the stool, but I can see the blood. Do they tell you if it's more within it, rather than collecting it on the way out? With an FIT
    They haven't sent me for any other tests. So, I am probably fretting over nothing. 
     

    thank you for replying to me

  • Offline in reply to Pollyputthekettleon

    I think it will tell if there is blood in the stool as opposed to just bleeding with it. Our health service got hacked just when I was having symptoms and they weren't able to process the FIT so I just got the other stool test done, which showed no blood, even though I was having rectal bleeding, because the bleeding wasn't really in or on the stool, just after going. If you are already seeing blood in the stool, it is very likely the test will be positive, but I think the FIT also gives an indication of how much blood there is and while that doesn't tell you what is causing it, my impression is that a FIT result of 40, while indicating the presence of blood, would be less concerning than a FIT result of 900. Either could be many things, but small amounts of blood are probably more likely to be caused by something like IBS or piles than larger amounts.

    I think piles can cause pressure. I don't think they would be likely to cause pain in your back or stomach.

    And honestly, try not to feel like you are moaning too much. I do understand the concern, but you are having symptoms that indicate something is wrong. It might be something very minor, but it should still be investigated.

    And I want to reiterate that I am not an expert and this may not be 100% accurate. It's just stuff I either read or was told by doctors while having symptoms myself.

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