I am going through something similar. Had rectal bleeding on and off for 8 years, was originally told piles, thought nothing more of it but over the past few years I've noticed the bleeding is more frequent and I also seem to get bouts of passing wind and mucus mixed with blood too. This can happen for several weeks then go away for months and months then come back again. Dr recently gave me suppository's to try and it's not helped at all, infact it's been worse since taking them so I really don't think it's piles at all. My dr is making me send off a stool sample before they will refer me to the hospital. I wish I could just go there right now and find out what's going on. The worrying and what ifs are driving me mad. I am female and 33 years old. I keep thinking what is it's never been piles like they said and it's been left too long!! 
 

I hope your sigmoidoscopy goes well, how long do you have to wait for the appointment? 

Hello, 

Sorry to hear about what you're going through, it is very worrying isn't it!!! I imagine the chances are you suffer from some sort of food intolerance which is what I'm hoping mine is too. I know it feels like you're being annoying but I've noticed the best way to be referred is to be persistent with calling the doctors and expressing your concern repeatedly. I wasn't even expecting to be referred to the hospital I just wanted to be seen face to face not over the phone. I had a bad bout of bleeding last April and was told I had an anal fissure over the phone, I'm really frustrated for allowing myself to accept and over the phone diagnosis like that. 
 

I had a call from the hospital to say my appointment will be the 5th January but the appointment was made the start of November so took me a couple of months to be referred. 
 

Please keep me updated and message me anytime, I know how worrying it can be and because it's not everyday conversation it's hard to bring it up to people. 
 

Take care, 

In the hopes it will give some reassurance, I can tell you that I started having rectal bleeding last May. I also started getting some loose stools (maybe once a week or so), trapped wind and realised I'd lost about a stone in the previous year. 

Like you, I expected to be simply told I had piles but I was referred for a colonoscopy. The specialist said that at my age (40 at the time) bowel cancer was very unlikely and I'd have to be "the unluckiest person in the world" for it to turn out to be that.

All that was found in the colonoscopy was piles. The supository didn't help in my case either so I don't necessarily think that rules out piles.

Hello,

Thank you for your response I'm glad everything turned out okay for you! That does make me feel more at ease thank you. 
 

I think the change in bowel habit is what started to worry me a bit more but there's no point worrying until I actually know what it is I guess! 
 

Hope you're well, 

It is so worrying and like you say, not an easy thing to bring up to your friends and family to get some reassurance! That's good you have the date for the appointment, hopefully you can relax in the meantime knowing you'll get answers soon enough. I'm going to drop my sample off the week lol so hopefully I'll get a referral soon too. And the same goes for you, drop me a message or keep us updated on here! 
 

[@MargaretMary]‍  that's very reassuring to read regarding the suppositories! Thankyou, I'll breathe a big sigh of relief if they confirm that's what's causing it. 

Hey 

I'm currently going through the same thing. I'm 29 , I've been having bleeding on and off for 4 years with bloating etc. I've been fobbed off multiple times that it just Ibs. My calprotien stool test has always come back normal so they've dismissed any concerns based on that. I've been anemic for 3 years. I have a mri booked on the 8th jan and I'm still awaiting for my appointment to have colonoscopy. My left side of stomach has been hurting consistently for a month with back pain . I'm just finding the whole thing stressful. All the symptoms I have match to cancer so I can't help but think the worst.