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Crohn's, IBS, Cancer? What is it?

Hey guys. Not sure why I didn’t think to do this sooner so I could get some feedback and support from people who may be going through something similar as I have for a while. This journey of mine dealing with all of these bumps in the road has been going on since, maybe 2011-2012? And still going. I am a 26 year old male. Kind of active with the exercising and eating alright. I first noticed my symptoms of being constipated and my lower stomache just aching with pain when I was 22/23 years of age. Sorry if I get a little too graphic. I do apologize. When I would use the restroom, I would have to push hard, my stools would not budge and blood would come out and lots of it. I would be in the bathroom for almost 20-25 minutes when I have those flare ups. The blood would either be bright red or a little rose red either dripping down or on my stool. I had two colonoscopies done. One in 2013 and the other this year about two months ago actually. I’ve done blood tests, stool tests, etc. All came back normal. I was put on Canasa for a while but was taken off per doctors orders. But apparently what’s weird is, after my second colonoscopy, I’ve noticed I’ve been bleeding a lot more lately. Like every other day. I have not contacted my physician yet which I should but I can’t be affording bills after bills, especially when they’re saying I’m okay. I had a gastroenterologist speaking about what it could be or grow into. Saying Crohn's, IBS, Cancer which got me worried but never diagnosed me appropriately. If I could get some responses from y’all, if I may ask, what are your symptoms like? And could you compare ? Most times when blood comes out of my stools, it’s really painful, and I can’t sit down and I get bloated. I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. Not sure if that may be the cause since I don’t normally get them when I’m using the bathroom. Thanks guys for listening. This is just shortage of what I go through every day with these challenges. I hope to have people in this world to know and understand what I feel and go through so I’m not alone in this. Sometimes I get really scares and cry with the amount of blood that I lose day by day and what If it gets infected in there because I’m assuming there must be a cut/open wound that just won’t heal. Oh and I have no hemorrhoids. Thanks guys for reading.
 
Hi. Everyone's symptoms are different. With the amount of blood that you are seeing, I would go to a doctor and get a definite diagnosis. When I first was diagnosed with Crohn's, a couple of years later, I started seeing blood and worried it might be cancer but it turned out to be an abscess. Let us know how you are.
 

Bufford

Well-known member
It might be worth getting a second opinion from another doctor. When you go to the bathroom try not to push too much, it might cause a tear that could lead to a fistula.
 
Thanks guys. Yes maybe I do need a second doctors opinion. But I’m not sure where to look. I mean I do but I guess it’s just frustrating that I have to find another physician to diagnose me when my primary doctor should of done so already. What are guys symptoms like?
 
Blood is always frightening, even if the cause turns out not to be serious. That said, if you don’t have hemorrhoids your doctors really do need to find out what is making you bleed. Your blood tests came back fine which means you aren’t losing enough blood to make you anemic, at least right now. Did a GI do your scopes? GPs are great but at this point you really need a specialist to figure out the pain and blood. Do you take a stool softener like Miralax? It sometimes takes quite some time to diagnose digestive issues so be persistent and try not to worry.
 
Blood is always frightening, even if the cause turns out not to be serious. That said, if you don’t have hemorrhoids your doctors really do need to find out what is making you bleed. Your blood tests came back fine which means you aren’t losing enough blood to make you anemic, at least right now. Did a GI do your scopes? GPs are great but at this point you really need a specialist to figure out the pain and blood. Do you take a stool softener like Miralax? It sometimes takes quite some time to diagnose digestive issues so be persistent and try not to worry.
I agree. You need a specialist.
 
It's odd that your GI didn't give a proper diagnosis, or at least order more tests, after the colonoscopy. Usually they do biopsies along with the colonoscopy if there is any suspicion of cancer, for example. I agree that you should try and get a second opinion (though it doesn't sound like you've even received any diagnosis yet, just a list of theoretical possibilities). Try not to worry massively about cancer, I think that red blood is more likely to be from a less serious cause, but you do need to get it checked out properly.
 
It's odd that your GI didn't give a proper diagnosis, or at least order more tests, after the colonoscopy. Usually they do biopsies along with the colonoscopy if there is any suspicion of cancer, for example. I agree that you should try and get a second opinion (though it doesn't sound like you've even received any diagnosis yet, just a list of theoretical possibilities). Try not to worry massively about cancer, I think that red blood is more likely to be from a less serious cause, but you do need to get it checked out properly.
Agreed
 
Hey, no diagnosis for me yet but I have similar symptoms to you myself. I lose blood every time I go to the toilet, and sometimes have to go just to pass blood. Also embarrassingly a few times I think I'm passing wind and blood has come out. I had pretty much convinced myself I must have bowel cancer, when I've mentioned my concerns the doctors don't think this is likely due to my age (28), and that my family doesn't have any bowel cancer history.
Like you my bleeding has also worsened after examinations, I know I have inflammation so I wonder if this kind of procedure aggravates it.
Hope that's useful, let us know how you get on with a second opinion :)
 
My younger brother (24) seems to have the same symptoms as you. The doctors are thinking it is Crohn's since I have Crohn's also. I've never had a bleeding issue though.

They sent him for a colonoscopy but he is always so constipated, they couldn't complete it, even after the day of fasting and horrible drinks. They even did a 2-day fast for the next one and still had couldn't complete it. The next step for him is to swallow a pill with a camera in it but right now there are insurance issues and they are at a standstill.

I hope you keep us updated, I would like to know since my brother's diagnosis is at a standstill and he does not seem to be pushing for his own results.
 
Hey guys I haven’t been on here for a while. So I went to see my gastroenterologist a month ago and I did another blood test but never got back my results. He mentioned that it could be fissures or internal hemorrhoids but he never checked orally. I still bleed, sometimes little, sometimes a lot when I use the restroom. I also suffer from panic disorder and anxiety which does not help. I’m about to turn 27 in almost 2 months and it still scares me. Especially when my anxiety flares up as well even when I’m writing this I’m having a mild anxiety attack where my left arm is getting numb. It’s probably how I’m typing. Anywho, still hanging in there and trying to find answers. Please let me know how you guys are doing. Also, are you guys on any medications? My doctor told me to do some over the counter still softener so I bought miralax. I don’t know if I spelled it correctly and I’m too lazy to check lol. So far it hasn’t been working so I’m not sure what to do next. Hopefully you guys read this and respond. It has been couple months now.
 
Oh I’m so sorry to hear that...how are you doing ? I don’t mean to be blunt nor do you have to tell me...genuinely I do care.
 
I know how you feel in a sense of emotion. I lost a lot of immediate family members myself and I still think about them almost every day. Next week I’ll be flying out to attend my uncles funeral. I hope and pray you will be okay. Death of a family member is not easy. However I always try to think of the joyous parts of a persons life. Also, how are you doing with your symptoms ?
 
I know how you feel in a sense of emotion. I lost a lot of immediate family members myself and I still think about them almost every day. Next week I’ll be flying out to attend my uncles funeral. I hope and pray you will be okay. Death of a family member is not easy. However I always try to think of the joyous parts of a persons life. Also, how are you doing with your symptoms ?
I think I particularly notice pain in my hands and legs to a mild degree but I wonder if there is some inflammation in my body.
 
I think I particularly notice pain in my hands and legs to a mild degree but I wonder if there is some inflammation in my body.
I get this too. Especially after my bowl movement and down there hurts really bad. I start get shocks of pain on my left left and my hands get numb and I started feeling bloated. I’m still waiting on the results of my blood test I got almost two months ago.
 
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