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Possible Bowel Cancer!!

Daveo1098
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6 Weeks ago I had quite bad constipation with blood and white mucus around stool, I had taken Amatripllin the day before for first time. It lasted until following week thrn doctor told me to stop and take Laxatives which I did for a day and went back to normal for 2 weeks. Constipation started again intermittently, so changed diet and used a nutribullet with fruit veg water eta and drank more and this improved things, stomach was a bit iffy and lower back pain. Last weekend had constipation again with straining not as bad as it's been but in Tuesday noticed a small bit of blood in jelly. Docs did blood test all normal and rectel exam week before was normal. I had normal stools since last Tuesday even first thing in morning, Thursday I had what looks like a small hair folicle of blood in jelly of stool. I have taken 3 FIT self check bowel tests all negative (the home ones). Since last week back pain lower has been sore more so at night and at times stomach feels like a knot in it when I Stretch like trapped gas as seem to have a lot more gas that I can feel when I eat at times in stomach etc. I'm 37 don't smoke or drink and bmi of 23. Doctor has now referred me to specialist but going out my mind could be bowel cancer etc. Anyone had anything similar especially stomach or back discomfort? It's at night I struggle more with stomach and back. 

  • I'm sorry to read what you've been contending with recently Daveo. It sounds like it's been a challenging time.

    Hopefully some of our members who have been in a similar situation will share their advice and experiences with you soon but in the meantime I just wanted to wish you all the best with your upcoming referral.

    Fingers crossed everything will be o.k.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Hi Daveo1098.

    I am not a doctor and I have medical qualifications.

    I've suffered from IBS since I was 20 (46 years ago), and your symptoms sound familiar.  For me, the symptoms were particularly bad when it started, and I've had a lot of flare ups over the next 40+ years. 

    Normally you don't pass blood with IBS, but perhaps this tiny amount can be explained with all the straining you've been doing recently.  Or perhaps it isn't actually blood, but a particle or red food that's gone through your system.  At your age it's less likely to be bowel cancer, but it's best to be checked out, since it has to be eliminated before most doctors will give you an IBS diagnosis.

  • Offline in reply to telemando

    The blood when i first had the constipation was on the white pus/jelly around the stool and on the toliet paper alongide the jelly, this was less than 24 hours after i had taken the Amatripplyin, i did wonder if this was the cause so soon after.

     

    Last Tuesday the blood was on the tissue I had used to trap/view the stool and was definately 3 tiny freckle sized bits, Thursday was so small it was only noticble if you looked and today hard to say as it was extremley small and could be a small food particle. 

     

    I have been diagnosed with IBS 10/12 years ago and freqently have an orangeish jelly but havent really had constipation until last 6 weeks mine was more stomach and acid reflux related. 

     

    Did you suffer from constipation and blood as well? i dont have stomach pain just a feeling of very very slighty discomft mainly at night and morning just left below my belly button. Thankfully have had a constipated stool since last tuedsday.

  • Offline in reply to Daveo1098

    I must remind you that I'm not a doctor, so treat everything I say with some scepticism.

     

    Red "blood" spots can be undigested food particles (tomato skins?), or possibly from piles.  If you're going a lot and wiping your bum, then this can definitely cause bleeding sore spots, which are painful but probably nothing to worry about. 

     

    I've had every IBS symptom under the sun!  Although I haven't (knowingly) passed blood from the bowel, at one time I was getting a lot of blood on the toilet paper from piles.  I've also tried every remedy: some working better than others.  I find Aloe Vera juice very soothing, and there are the old favourites of Fybogel, Buscopan and Mebeverine, but I actually haven't needed anything for the last few years.  My IBS was particularly bad a few years back, and because I'm over 60 the doctor sent me for a colonoscopy, which was clear.  My doctor then referred me to a nutritionist who put me on the FODMAP diet.  The diet is difficult and I don't think it's possible to do it without help, but it did identify my particular triggers.  Now I avoid them and my IBS is so much better.  I still get minor flare ups, but they soon settle down again.

     

    When are you seeing the specialist? Let us know what he/she says.

     

     

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