Hi what was your out come

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

Hi yes I lost weight but that wasn't the bleeding or anything it was the fear of the stomach pain I got when I ate. My anxiety was through the roof and my fear of passing stools and seeing blood was just too much some days. I felt bloated and heavy after food so I avoided eating a lot and drank dioralyte a lot that's why I lost weight really. I had convinced myself that food was the enemy. Worrying didn't help either and not talking to someone to share my fears didn't help but as I mentioned before my kids live in USA and dad died of covid so it's been a rough 12 months . Thank you again for listening .
don't do what I did and stop eating out of fear because they told me eating doesn't cause the blood it was the polyps apparently and now the blood has gone 

I'm always here if you need to chat. It's a rollercoaster honestly and I have had to just make a list of tests and tick them off and eliminate as I go along just to keep sane lol x stay strong 

Can't imagine how tough that must all be. Try to focus on seeing your kids this year. Hopefully it won't be much longer now :)

Thank you. It's been really tough, but I know others have been suffering too. 
live had my letter for them to remove the polyps soon so I will know when next week.

im glad they are not worried but I would feel better once it's gone. Thankfully it's not a full colonoscopy. I hope you are feeling better and more positive. Xx

I have read all the posts. I was told yesterday that I am being referred for a colonoscopy due to blood detected in stool - this has been visible on and off for the past few months along with mucous. I am also still waiting of results of another stool test which are still to come back.

I am worried sick about this. I have some questions - how long did you wait for the procedure after being referred? I have no one to take me and collect me from hospital so thinking of either getting the bus (not ideal) or driving myself there but not sure if I could drive home after. If anyone could tell me a bit about the procedure itself and how they felt after i.e if they had sedation. Also, do you have to wait on results or do they give you details of what has been found on the day..?

Any information or advice would be appreciated 

Hi 

I had the procedure. I had sedation but was awake but drowsy. It was a little uncomfortable but bearable. They spoke to me all and a nurse sat at my side reassuring me. When they were finishing the procedure she talked me through and took me to recovery. I was cared for by another nurse who cheeked oxygen levels etc. After 15 minutes I was fine. They gave me a sandwich, a biscuit and a cup of tea. I was given the results after that and spoke to the doctor. I had the same symptoms as you and it was a tiny polyps that they want to remove. They usually do it at the time but it was in an awkward place 

the prep was harder than the procedure lol. I would get a taxi or a friend to take you. You are fine but they like to be sure and if you can have someone to stay with you the night they are happier. I waited five days as I was fast tracked. They were amazing and I had a covid test before it to make sure I was safe as the department was covid free. I felt much better about this. It might even be something more simple. Be strong we are here x

Thank you so much - you have no idea how much this information helps. Now that I know I have to have it I just want it done as I am worrying so much about it and the results The gp said something about two weeks but I don't know if that was an appointment within two weeks or just a letter with a date for procedure...I'll just have to wait and see. I think I'll ask my sister if she can take me and collect me, but I won't mention it until I know when it is to be. I haven't told anyone about this - I am on my own and my Mum is elderly and I don't want her to worry too.

I have also been worried about covid so good to know they test for it , although I feel that I will need to isolate from my mum (we are in a bubble) for two weeks after in case I catch covid in hospital. 
Do they give you the sedation intravenously? I hate needles but I guess I am just going to have to be brave and get on with it. Hoping so much that it's nothing too serious but you will know what it is like to have this constantly playing on your mind. 
thanks again for your support x

Don't worry I will be here to support.  They put a small cannula in your right hand so they can add the sedation solution. You don't feel it and it really relaxes you. You lie on your left side and they may ask you to roll over half way through. The nurse helps you. Honestly our nhs are amazing they help you, care for you before and after and I cannot tell you how easy they made the procedure for me. Our hospital definitely gave a covid test for safety and I was glad. I too stressed out but it was easier than I thought. It's good if someone can take you. My mum is elderly too and I'm an only child so I knew I was safe but still stayed in my room for at least 6 days to be sure but she bought me home so it was probably a waste of time but I felt better. Try to relax and think positive 

Thanks so much. I think I have a better idea what to expect now.

I phoned the hospital to see if they can tell me when the appointment is likely to be. They have the referral from the GP but it's not been looked at yet. So they suggested I phone back next Tuesday to see if they can tell me any more.

Will try and not think too much about it until next week.

Thanks for your support x

Hey! 

Just wondering how you got on with the appointment?

I have the same symptoms as you, however I have mucus pretty much every time I go. Had blood tests, stools tested, rectal exam, abdomen felt and urine checked - all came back fine. I'm also young (26) so I think the chances of it being something really serious are slim, however still a possibilty which is worrying me.

After my tests came back fine my GP told me not to worry as it sounds like IBS. I then mentioned about the blood in the mucus (couple of times a month, more often recently) and she then said that it "ticks the persistant bleeding box" - I don't think she knew it was that often. I'm now waiting for a flexible sigmoidoscopy appointment to check what's causing it all. 

Oh and I was prescribed with some hemmeroid treatment and supposorites as she seems to think it's potentially that, however I wouldve thought the rectal exam picks stuff like that up! Also I'm not in any pain down there, just mucus and occasional blood. Such a worry at the moment. 

Hi. Sorry to hear about that. Sounds like you're in the same boat as me. Probably nothing serious, but like myself, will be a concern until it diagnosed. It's really hard to forget about it when it won't go away isn't it.

I have a consultation tomorrow with a specialist. Not sure how much they're going to check. I think probably the same as my GP (feel around abdominal area, rectal exam with finger) and then maybe look a bit further inside. This could be an anoscopy I think, so could potentially be able to diagnose something like hemorrhoids if it's that, but if they can't, I guess I'll get booked in for a sigmoidoscopy. I still have mucus pretty much every time and blood every time (possibly a bit less in the past week) but no pain. Stools seem less firm but I'm always really nervous in the mornings when I go the toilet, so that would probably explain it being more loose.

You've done the right thing by chasing it up straight away. I know I'll only be able to relax fully once I get told I can by a doctor.

For now, focus on the positives:

You've not got other worrying symptoms, not in any pain, tests have all come back normal. And the odds of someone aged 25-29 getting bowel cancer in any given year are like 0.06%. (Or 60 cases in every 100,000 for that age group). So even though it can't be ruled out, it's so extremely unlikely, and your test results only back that up. 
 

I hope you get some answers soon. Keep pushing for whatever tests/procedures you feel like you need until you get them. If a doctor tells you that you shouldn't worry, you can take that advice, but if you still find yourself worrying to the point it's affecting your life, then you should pursue it until you're satisfied and can relax again. 
 

Hoping for good news tomorrow. Will update here once I know more. Feel free to ask any other questions!

Hi. Sorry to hear about that. Sounds like you're in the same boat as me. Probably nothing serious, but like myself, will be a concern until it diagnosed. It's really hard to forget about it when it won't go away isn't it.

I have a consultation tomorrow with a specialist. Not sure how much they're going to check. I think probably the same as my GP (feel around abdominal area, rectal exam with finger) and then maybe look a bit further inside. This could be an anoscopy I think, so could potentially be able to diagnose something like hemorrhoids if it's that, but if they can't, I guess I'll get booked in for a sigmoidoscopy. I still have mucus pretty much every time and blood every time (possibly a bit less in the past week) but no pain. Stools seem less firm but I'm always really nervous in the mornings when I go the toilet, so that would probably explain it being more loose.

You've done the right thing by chasing it up straight away. I know I'll only be able to relax fully once I get told I can by a doctor.

For now, focus on the positives:

You've not got other worrying symptoms, not in any pain, tests have all come back normal. And the odds of someone aged 25-29 getting bowel cancer in any given year are like 0.06%. (Or 60 cases in every 100,000 for that age group). So even though it can't be ruled out, it's so extremely unlikely, and your test results only back that up. 
 

I hope you get some answers soon. Keep pushing for whatever tests/procedures you feel like you need until you get them. If a doctor tells you that you shouldn't worry, you can take that advice, but if you still find yourself worrying to the point it's affecting your life, then you should pursue it until you're satisfied and can relax again. 
 

Hoping for good news tomorrow. Will update here once I know more. Feel free to ask any other questions!

There's so many different things that it could be, but I guess we always go to the worst case scenario. With the stats too, around 10% of people with a new diagnosis have a history of bowel cancer. My GP told me it's "once in a century" that someone under 50 gets the C word in the bowel. 

When I get blood, it's mixed in with the mucus and usually at the start of the stool - which makes me think it could be something like a hemmeroid, but the digital exam didn't pick anything up and I'm in no pain down there. I feel like I've googled every single possibility, but everyone's body is different I guess. 

Please keep us up to date! 

In my case I think the mucus is attached to the bit that comes out last. Can't be sure as it's not always easy to know what came first and what came last just by looking in the toilet. I've had a few lately where the blood isn't really visible in it, only when wiping, which leads me to believe it's coming out last.
 

From online research i can't see much evidence of mucus attached to stool with hemorhoids (only separate to stool), but it's quite possible it could be IBS causing the mucus and hemorrhoids causing the blood. And apparently it's very hard to diagnose hems with just a finger exam because they're so soft and therefore difficult to feel, they're normally diagnosed when they're seen during a more invasive exam/procedure.

did you have a fecal calprotectin test?

Good news!

Went for my appointment just now and the doctor said it it's hemorrhoids. He done some sort of rectal exam and could see them. Such a relief.

I still have to go for a flexible sigmoidoscopy in a few weeks which they said I would do before he done the exam. I think that's mainly because it's a private hospital so they have the capacity to do that and rule out anything else in addition to the piles. I'm NHS by the way, just got referred to this private hospital which is further away as they have shorter wait times. Not looking forward to sigmoidoscopy but I may as well take advantage of being under the care of a private practice while I can! I don't think I'd be getting a sigmoidoscopy if this was all done NHS to be honest. 

Thanks to everyone who's spoken to me on here so much. Has really helped having someone to talk to.
 

I will likewise be here for anyone going through the same.

Brilliant news! I bet you are so relieved? What was the rectal exam if you don't mind me asking? As your symptoms are similar to mine I'm hoping I'll have the same result from the sigmoidoscopy. 

Hi I'm so pleased for you. I wondered where everyone had disappeared to I couldn't find any body to talk to talk to. Apparently my meassages were not being posted

 I m so glad all is well. I too will be here if I'm needed to chat to 

I'm not 100% sure. It was a normal finger rectal exam like I had from my GP but then they looked inside with something that I think was a sort of tube to allow them to see just inside.

I was just that relieved to hear it was piles that I didn't have many questions about the exam.
 

I bet! So is the mucus a result of the piles I guess? 

He never confirmed that but I'd guess so. 

Hi all

I hope you don't mind me joining the chat?

I have had a bit of a tough time, Covid over Xmas and then tests revealed H Pylori, a stomach bacteria which made me feel  rotten. A week of double antibiotics and omeprazole and I'm pretty much back to normal after a few more weeks.

Then at the weekend I had a tummy upset which is pretty rare for me. Days later when I went to the toilet I noticed a mucus on the toilet paper with a little blood. I checked my poo and there was some there. Then yesterday morning a bit more.

Doc has asked for stool samples now. I don't have any weight loss/tiredness or pain but my paternal grandmother had bowel cancer so it's a bit scary!

I am so grateful to come across this forum.

Any advice greatly received! I hope everyone is well this morning :-)

Many thanks 

Hi, sorry to hear about your symptoms. 
 

First thing I'd say is that you've done the right thing by going straight to the doctor. I know that it can take a while to get a diagnosis, so the sooner you go, the sooner you can find out what it is and put your mind at ease. I couldn't say if the blood is linked to your other illness that you suffered over Christmas, but it could be. 
 

If you're not in pain and don't have fatigue or weight loss, it seems like it's probably hemorrhoids.

I started keeping a diary of my meals, bowel movements and how I was feeling each day which helped me to be sure of what to tell my GP or doctors. After my GP said she assumed it would be piles, I asked if there was anything I could do and she said no, so other than just drinking plenty of water and getting enough fibre, I don't have any advice for you.

If you feel any discomfort or twinges or anything, make sure you don't ignore them completely, but once you start paying attention to every little thing your body does, you'll notice things that normally you would pay no attention to. So I'd say only class something as a symptom if it persists for a few days, rather than if it's just a one off thing.

Happy to answer any other questions. :)