Blood/mucus stool

Hi

For tge past 8 months ive had blood and mucus in stools, i went to the docs and they said IBS, tge symptoms persisted so i went back, they took blood tests which were all normal, a stool test which said i had high calproctin levels (1200) so gp said i had suspected IBD, i have a colonoscopy appt in 2 weeks. Obviously no one can diagnose other than the docs after colonoscopy but im freaking out and expecting the worst! Has anyone else had anything similar? I have absolutely so other symptoms just mucus at rhe top of stool (first bit to come out) then blood on the outside sometimes quite a bit sometimes barely any and thats it but it has been every stool apart from maybe 5 in total for the last 8 months! Maybe a slight niggle in left lower side of stomach occasionally right but nothing major at all.

No family history, no weight loss, no tiredness, bowel habbits normal, no pain, no other symptoms, just an increase in anxiety!

Thanks for reading

Parents
  • Hi i have Pan Colitis....Ulcerative colitis of the entire bowel x

  • Oh ok thanks. I feel absolutely fine, but the blood is the same amount every time I go. At least it's not getting worse. 
     

    Glad to help and same back to you. I'll try switch off now until Monday/Tuesday when I should know stool sample results.

  • Ok lovey, have a good weekend x

  • Tried to not think about it over the weekend but much easier said than done. Some moments I felt at ease and not worried at all. Others, I was so scared, couldn't be positive at all. Anyway...

    Rang my GP again just now and they finally have my stool sample results (faecal calprotectin). All normal. Similar to getting my blood test results I felt a weight was lifted but not 100% as my symptoms have remained the same. Still blood and mucus in about the same amounts every time I have a bowel movement. Also notice little black bits which other times I thought were bits of food like blueberries. This was backed up when I stopped eating blueberries and then stopped seeing them, but I saw them this morning and not sure what food they could've been from yesterday. I'm going to eat all plain foods today and check again tomorrow morning.

    I asked the doctors what the next step would be now these results have come back normal but symptoms have remained, she said I'd need to book another consultation if I want to discuss next steps, so I will have to call back in the morning.

    I would guess that based on my normal blood and stool results, they'd say this just increases the likelihood of it being a hemorrhoid or fissure, and they may recommend that I take fibre supplements, laxatives etc. And to call back after a certain amount of time if it doesn't clear up. I don't know, I'm only guessing there. They may offer me to have sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy if I push for it.

    I can breath a bit easier today knowing they've found nothing to worry about. Could be able to put this all behind me if the blood starts to disappear soon. Fingers crossed!

    How have you been over the weekend?

  • Hi, it's great news everything has come back normal. This was the same as me. The only reason I had a colonoscopy was to check for fissures etc. The very small polyps was the problem. It is not of high concern to them so I feel more calm now. Be strong. I was told to eliminate tests one by one which is what they did. Blood scares me so much but now I know the cause I'm ok. Please don't worry, let's keep positive. It's not easy to do but I will be here to support you. Sorry I didn't answer straight away. I think you might be right about the blueberry thing. I too ate something eg rice and they could be seen. I ate soups for a week, but when I spoke to the specialist he said eat and drink normally and document it. Together we will get through this, please don't worry xx

  • Thanks, I have been feeling so much better in terms of worrying today. I'm much more confident that it's nothing serious but I'll continue asking for doctors advice and chasing things up until the bleeding has stopped. Might just happen on its own in the next week or so. Still no pain or discomfort. Will see what they say when I ring tomorrow.

  • Yes keep asking the questions until you are satisfied. Keep positive. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about at all, it probably is something like a fissure. For me it's a tiny polyps in an awkward position. Nothing sinister at all and I'm grateful. I was told that if bloods are clear take it as a positive. I'm here whenever you need to chat. Keep thinking positive thoughts. X

  • Thanks for all your support :)

  • Anytime x if you need support I'm here. I know what it's like to have little support so if I can help I will xx

  • Had another consultation over the phone just now with my GP. She said it's obviously good news that my results are normal as you would likely see raised calprotectin levels with something that was inflaming the bowel, such as an IBD or something sinister, and my levels are well within normal amounts.

     

    She said I should hear from the rectal bleed referral service before 8th Feb but I have a number to call if they don't call me before then to book a sigmoidoscopy. 
     

    Would be good to find out it was something non serious so I can move on. Will be very nervous when the date comes for sigmoidoscopy however, but I need to try to focus on the positives of the normal test results and the lack of other worrying symptoms.

  • It's great news that there isn't anything sinister. I'm so happy for you . That's a positive result. Try not to worry especially because you have had negative results and that's great. You are on the home stretch. Be strong, I'm here. I think you will be ok xxxx 

Reply Children
  • Yeah, still nervous but would be much more so if those results hadn't been as good. Thanks again 

  • Anytime x always here x keep positive and strong 

  • I feel like at times i have a bit of discomfort in lower left abdomen. Have felt this before but passed it off as trapped wind or just overthinking, but I feel I've had this feeling most of the day now. No pain, sort of feels a bit like a stitch, or trapped gas/unempty bowels, but could be some form of something in bowels. Again, a bit worried, but just reminding myself of the odds in my favour with the normal calprotectin levels.

    Did you have any similar feeling to this?

  • Yes I was told it could be a touch of irritable bowel because they looked at my ct scan and they couldn't see anything. I seem to get spasms in the tummy above the belly button that no one can name. They mentioned many ideas but the tests showed nothing. Since the colonoscopy I've had two stools both with a little blood and mucus and they said it's due to the polyps. I have to say the scan put my mind at ease as it showed nothing at all. But the spasms make me panic a little. I have normal gas and I'm eating well but get spasms and it's a pain but I can't explain it only trapped wind because all the tests are clear. Honestly sometimes I feel I'm mad lol x

  • Exactly. You feel like you're analysing every little feeling because you don't want to miss a symptom that might be important, but that can cause you to overthink which makes things worse! 
     

     

  • Yep definitely over thinking im Sure of that 

    thank you 

    stay safe and strong 

  • I think we are all so worried we are all overthinking things. Between us we will get through this and be strong for each other. We have to be positive even if some days seem bleak. My husband was trying to be positive too but partly he thought he was helping and partly he was trying to convince himself because he's no good without me lol x I was grateful for his positive thoughts but I'm so glad I have you two 

    let's support each other and stay strong x

  • I feel quite strange because I'm not having any other symptoms but the amount of blood is remaining the same. I tend to wake up feeling nervy, go the toilet, see some blood, and then feel worried for a few hours. Then throughout the day I feel less worried, and at times no worry at all. Even sometimes I feel daft about worrying in the first place, but then the next morning I wake up worrying again!

    Even though my test results all came back normal and I'm young, have no other serious symptoms, and no family history of anything sinister, I keep asking myself why the bleeding isn't stopping. I sort of feel like if it was a hemorrhoid or fissure (the type that bleeds for 3-4 weeks) that there would be some pain. But there never is. I found it a bit strange that my GP never suggested trying anything to to heal a fissure/Hemorrhoid tbh considering that was what she said is the most likely cause

  • Did your go ask you to have a full colonoscopy. I had one in the end and they found the polys. After four weeks of diarreah and blood it has now gone completely. I'm grateful for that but now I have abdominal pains when I pass water  only slightly but it could be they have disturbed the bowl they said. My scans were clear it was confirmed again today . I still have the large ovarian cysts but hey ho. I have decided that my stress bought on a lot of my symptoms because I just didn't know what was happening and I couldn't understand why. I knew it wasn't right and stressed everyday. After all of the tests and my results I realised that there was nothing sinister despite my gran dying of bowl cancer. I do not have it. I have gone back to normal eating and drinking because I had lost over a stone. My stools are back to normal, no blood or mucus. I am relieved. 
    I believe you will be fine once you get all the answers. I am always going to be here to help you and if you need to talk. Stay strong , I'm here xx

     

     

  • Hi Everyone 

    I have recently had a colonoscopy after years of suffering with pain and being told i had IBS and nothing more, years of being told to take a codeine a day to stop running to the toilet between 7 and 20 times a day oh and my bowel was back ward and that i should be taking anti depression tablets for it . Years of blood tests and stool samples coming back normal/satisfactory. A female doctor told me she wouldn't send me for a colonoscopy because its a very uncomfortable and invasive procedure ??? That she would just give me enzymes because thats all they would give me after a colonoscopy anyway , I begged for a colonoscopy i said that something was not right she referred me in the end 5 years down the line ...to then have the consultant ring me and tell me he wouldnt be doing it as i have IBS and i have no red flags ....i told him i would complain and take legal action if he did not perform the colonoscopy and i am so glad i stuck up for myself for once!! another Dr performed the colonoscopy and found that i have been suffering with crohns disease he also took 22 biopsies of my bowel/colon the results im still waiting for but im so glad a pushed for the colonoscopy anyway the point im trying to make with my long winded story is all of your tests may come back normal but if you are suffering you need a colonoscopy yes its uncomfortable but for half an hour for your life that could save your life please don't be worried its the only thing that will settle your mind and believe me the prep is the hardest part but not horrendous. 

    Good luck to all xxx