Blood found in stool. Have to get colonscopy. Scared
Hi everyone,
I am trying to search for answers. I went to doctor for routine pap and he checked stool and said it was positive for blood. Told me I need to get a colonoscopy.
I have been constipated lately and having lower back pain. I am so scared..... What kind of symptoms were you having when you were diagnosed?
Thanks,
Miche
Comments
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Told you but didn't refer you?
Did you Doctor not refer you to a Gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy? If he/she didn't shame on him/her. Ask around people you know for recommendatoins. Read up on different GI Doctors and find yourself a good one. You may still need a referal from your Doctor, especially if you are under 50 or do not have a family history of colorectal Cancer.
Blood in the stool can happen for several reasons and not just Cancer, so try not to stress over this (easily said than done). Constipation can cause hard stools and hard stools cause tears as the fecal matter passes. Hemmeroids can bleed. If the blood is on the outside of the stool, allot of the time that is blood from both of these causes. If it is in the stool, then that can be more worrisome.
Whatever the cause, best get yourself to a GI Doc and get your colonoscopy.
As for symptoms; they vary from person to person. I had no real symptoms until my tumour was the size of a softball. At the end, I did have constipation followed by diarrhea. No pain but in hindsight, I did have bloating for several months which I put down to gaining weight.
Try your best not to be too scared. Keep us posted. I am glad you found this forum and wish you luck in the coming weeks.
TRU
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Thank you so much forTrubrit said:Told you but didn't refer you?
Did you Doctor not refer you to a Gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy? If he/she didn't shame on him/her. Ask around people you know for recommendatoins. Read up on different GI Doctors and find yourself a good one. You may still need a referal from your Doctor, especially if you are under 50 or do not have a family history of colorectal Cancer.
Blood in the stool can happen for several reasons and not just Cancer, so try not to stress over this (easily said than done). Constipation can cause hard stools and hard stools cause tears as the fecal matter passes. Hemmeroids can bleed. If the blood is on the outside of the stool, allot of the time that is blood from both of these causes. If it is in the stool, then that can be more worrisome.
Whatever the cause, best get yourself to a GI Doc and get your colonoscopy.
As for symptoms; they vary from person to person. I had no real symptoms until my tumour was the size of a softball. At the end, I did have constipation followed by diarrhea. No pain but in hindsight, I did have bloating for several months which I put down to gaining weight.
Try your best not to be too scared. Keep us posted. I am glad you found this forum and wish you luck in the coming weeks.
TRU
Thank you so much for replying. I think the referral was to a specialist.
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Goodmiche01 said:Thank you so much for
Thank you so much for replying. I think the referral was to a specialist.
I'm sure the specialist is the Gastroenterologist (GI Doctor), who will do the colonoscopy. You can still choose who to go with, depending on insurance coverage and all.
TRU
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See the GI doctor as soon as you can
It is best to follow up with the GI doctor as soon as you can get in. There are many reasons for blood in stool as mentioned above. If you have any polyps they can be removed during the colonoscopy. If you do have a tumor and it is caught early your treatment is easier and you have a good chance of beating the cancer. Colon cancer is called the "Silent Killer" because people either don't have any symptoms, or have symptoms that are attributed to other causes.
I don't want to scare you, and am only describing my symptoms in the hopes that it may help somehow. I overlooked symptoms just as Trubit said. I had been on meloxicam for arthritis for about 18 months. It is known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding, so I didn't worry about having blood in my stool. I didn't have any Gastrointestinal problems - no diahrea or constipation and so didn't suspect colon cancer. I went to an urgent care center the end of January 2016 due to a pain in my right side - I thought I might have a kidney infection. The tests showed no infection, but the pain was so bad the doctor ordered an ultrasound - that test showed a polyp in my gall bladder that she thought was causing the pain - but also showed a growth on my liver. After seeing mulitple tumors on an MRI, they ordered a biopsy of the larger tumor and said it was metastasized colon cancer. After that I had the colonoscopy (March 2016). they found 2 polyps and a small tumor.
After learning I had colon cancer and learning about more of the symptoms, I know that I overlooked more than just specks of blood. A couple of months prior to the diagnosis, I felt bloating in my abdominal area and felt alot of pressure when I bent over. This was in upper abdomen by my liver, but I thought it was just from gaining weight. Also about 4-6 months prior to the diagnosis I tired more easily and would have problems breathing when I climbed stairs or vacuumed my carpets. My doctor ordered pulmonary tests, but no MRI or Xrays for that. They didn't have me do any activities that caused the same level of exertion so I didn't have the same difficulty breathing at the clinic during their lung function tests. Turns out my colon cancer spread to the liver and lungs. So it caused problems in both of these areas which you wouldn't think are related to a colon tumor.
Also something that people don't talk about much - "skinny poop". That sounds kind of weird, but if you have a tumor in the colon it can change the diamater and shape of your bowel movements. It turned out that the blood wasn't related to my tumor, the GI doctor said the blood I described was most likely from hemoroids which they saw during the colonoscopy.
Probably more information than you wanted. Just follow up with your GI doctor as soon as you can.
Best of luck to you!
Joan
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I had no symptoms. I had the
I had no symptoms. I had the constipation that initially made them send me for a colonoscopy but after the one bout of it I didn't have that again, either. Blood can be present in the stoll for several reasons that do not include cancer but it can also be from cancer. Best to get it done and they can deal with whatever caused it, if anything. If you have polyps they will get rid of them during the colonoscopy. Polyps can become cancerous so it's good to have them gone. You could have an internal hemorrhoid or a weak section in the wall or a bit of a tear. If it does turn out to be cancer we're all here to tell you that it can be dealt with. I hope for the best for you and try not to stress about it.
Jan
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It's better to have it
It's better to have it checked out! I had strange bowel habits and blood in stool! Luckily my doctors did not brushing it off, and I was diagnosed with stage 1rectal cancer.
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Do tumors grow THE differenceAaronP said:Nate's wife
Sudden narrowing, though? What if your stools were all 'normal', then after a colon infection they became narrow? Is it also a 'pencil-sized' deal?
Do tumors grow THE difference in literally a day or two; as in, 'normal stool with a polyp one day and within a few days the narrowed stool is from a surge in growth?" I like specifics, as Im certain does the author of this thread.
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Fear and anxiety
Fear and anxiety
WHOA.... Pull back on the reins a bit.
Cancer is generally slow moving. It can take years for a tumor to grow large enough to present a blockage; there will usually be other signs of a "problem" - bleeding, discomfort, etc are usually the most prevalent indications of colon cancer, and can be quickly identified using a colonoscopy. But please be aware that there are many other causes for those symptoms aside from cancer, so do not allow fear to sneak in...
A diagnosis of cancer is not the end of the world. If a tumor is identified early, a resolve has a better chance. That's the reason you'll read the suggestion to get a colonoscopy ASAP if a problem exists that can not be explained easily.
I was lulled into complacency by a gastroenterologist that I trusted for years. She was like a close friend and had in-depth medical information that always made sense. She explained repeatedly (each 3 month visit) why the discharge from my "rectal stump" was normal and I was not in need for a colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy. A year later and with a urinary blockage, the ER found that a tumor in the rectal stump had grown into my bladder. What would have been a simple operation to remove a small tumor became what may be the need for a "total pelvic exentoration" and probably the end of my life.
Early diagnosis can save your life. Do not fear cancer, and do not fear tests that can determine if there's reason to be concerned. The tests can save you. Insist on tests and if your physician denies you, find another physician.
Do not be as complacent as I was. Even good physicians make mistakes and errors in judgment. They can kill you easier than cure you. Try to keep that in mind.
Best wishes for best health,
John
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Update: Colonscopy scheduled for Friday
I went to a specialist today and was lucky they had an opening for the colonoscopy this Friday. The specialist was really nice and asked a lot of questions (family history, stress, eating habits, bowel movements, etc). I think it is best to get it done now. Also my deductible is met so less out of pocket.
Thank you for all the responses and support. I really appeciate it. I will let you know how things go.
Take care.
Miche.
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Colonoscopy finished
Had colonoscopy today. Prep is definitely not fun. Colonoscopy was normal. Had a couple of hemmorroids. He said I wasn't getting enough fiber in my diet and that could have caused some blood. I have a follow up appt next week. Thank u all for the advice and prayers. I really appreciate it. My prayers are with u as well.
Miche
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Happy it's a better-casemiche01 said:Colonoscopy finished
Had colonoscopy today. Prep is definitely not fun. Colonoscopy was normal. Had a couple of hemmorroids. He said I wasn't getting enough fiber in my diet and that could have caused some blood. I have a follow up appt next week. Thank u all for the advice and prayers. I really appreciate it. My prayers are with u as well.
Miche
Happy it's a better-case-scenario for you. Eat lots of fruit over the holidays, and feel good about the road you didn't have to take..............................Dave
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