Ski_G
12-09-2003, 12:51 PM
Please help!
I have IBS with constipation and was put on zelnorm after having a negative screening for ovarian cancer and bloodwork that came up perfect. I was never given a colonoscopy or endoscopy, was just put on zelnorm.
The zelnorm helped the constipation. But lately, about every few days or so I have EXTREME pain in the middle of my abdomen and then down my left side and then immediatley have a bowel movement that has bright red bloody mucous IN it. One time this was instantly (in the same session) followed by BRIGHT orange diarrhea (and I had not eaten anything orange in the past two weeks).
Can anyone shed some light on what this could be or what is wrong with me?? I have an appt. with my GI in two days, but he cannot see me any earlier. Should I go to the ER? my last bowel movement that was bloody like this was on Sunday...it's Tuesday morning right now, and I haven't seen any blood or anything weird since Sunday afternoon.
I have IBS with constipation and was put on zelnorm after having a negative screening for ovarian cancer and bloodwork that came up perfect. I was never given a colonoscopy or endoscopy, was just put on zelnorm.
The zelnorm helped the constipation. But lately, about every few days or so I have EXTREME pain in the middle of my abdomen and then down my left side and then immediatley have a bowel movement that has bright red bloody mucous IN it. One time this was instantly (in the same session) followed by BRIGHT orange diarrhea (and I had not eaten anything orange in the past two weeks).
Can anyone shed some light on what this could be or what is wrong with me?? I have an appt. with my GI in two days, but he cannot see me any earlier. Should I go to the ER? my last bowel movement that was bloody like this was on Sunday...it's Tuesday morning right now, and I haven't seen any blood or anything weird since Sunday afternoon.
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actudan
12-11-2003, 05:10 PM
First you can't say you have IBS without having the proper tests performed to rule out other diseases. I believe many doctors rush to the IBS diagnosis way too early. I agree that you have IBS like symptoms but IBS symptoms mimic all the other digestive disorders which is why you have you need the tests before you can give the diagnosis.
Was your pain relieved once you passed the stool? A common symptom amony IBS sufferers is to have bad cramps and then relief once the stool has passed. The blood could be due to a hard stool causing some small vessels to rupture or it could be hemmrhoids. Did you ever strain a lot when you had the constipation? Anyway, I don't want to make it sound like seeing blood is no big deal because it is something that needs to be checked out. Should you go to the ER? That's your call. Maybe someone else here could shed some light on when you should go to the ER after seeing blood in your stool? Remember it doesn't take much blood to look like a lot in the toilet bowl. Good luck!
Was your pain relieved once you passed the stool? A common symptom amony IBS sufferers is to have bad cramps and then relief once the stool has passed. The blood could be due to a hard stool causing some small vessels to rupture or it could be hemmrhoids. Did you ever strain a lot when you had the constipation? Anyway, I don't want to make it sound like seeing blood is no big deal because it is something that needs to be checked out. Should you go to the ER? That's your call. Maybe someone else here could shed some light on when you should go to the ER after seeing blood in your stool? Remember it doesn't take much blood to look like a lot in the toilet bowl. Good luck!
gillian30
12-12-2003, 04:35 PM
Was it bright red blood or dark like coffee grounds? That makes a big difference, because I also bleed bright red blood and was checked out the other day and told that it's most likely internal hemorroids or a fissue, both of which are benign. If it is dark blood, it could be an upper GI bleed and should be looked at more seriously. As long as you don't continue bleeding after the bowel movement and aren't writhing in pain, you should be fine until your appoinment. That advice came straight from my GI doc, when I asked him what I should I do a few days ago when I was bleeding. Good luck at your appointment.
twisten
12-12-2003, 11:47 PM
I was told since my early teens that I had IBS and I also had NO testing at all before this diagnosis. I'm 39 now and just about 2 years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and told I'd probably had it most of my life. One main thing with IBS is that there is NEVER blood present in your stools. I agree that unless you are writhing in pain or your condition changes drastically that you should be fine to wait until your appointment. Good luck and let us know what you find out.
gillian30
12-13-2003, 12:39 AM
Could you tell me what sacroiliitis is? I have an intestinal disease called Celiac Disease, and I also have terrible lower back pain and trouble walking which I was told is a problem in the sacroiliac joint. Is this the same thing you mentioned? I'm also not responding to treatment for Celiac, and I fear I may have Crohn's. I have a colonoscopy in January though I'm extremely nervous about that, partly because of the procedure itself and partly because I'm worried about being told I have Crohn's. Is pain in the si joint related to Crohn's?
twisten
12-13-2003, 02:14 PM
Hi Gillian, I hate to say this but yes problems with the sacroiliac joint are common with crohns. I also have this. It's like arthritis but no testing, such as x-rays, shows any inflammation. Just because you are having pain there don't automatically assume its crohn's. Sacroliliac problems are fairly common on there own also. As for the colonoscopy the worst part is the prep the day before. I've had 3, 2 with sedation and one with nothing. Of course if you can take the sedation grab it, it does make it more comfortable. Living with crohn's isn't the end of the world. I know when I was first diagnosed I was devastated, but now when I'm having a bad day, I just tell myself things could always be worse. Anyway hope this helps some and good luck.
gillian30
12-13-2003, 07:50 PM
Could you tell me a little bit about how you feel during a Crohn's "attack"? I'm wonderng if I match the profile of the disease. I'm really depressed that I might have Crohn's, I already have Celiac and that's enough! Is it true that Crohn's is manageable and you can live for years with it, or is it a dismal outlook? My colonoscopy is scheduled for Jan.12, and I'm as scared as can be! I don't know what kind of pain or how much pain to expect from the procedure...I wish I didn't have to undergo sedation but they insist on it (I have a fear of being "put under".) Do you take any injections or meds for the sacroiliac joint pain? Injections were suggested to me but I haven't set them up yet. At this point I can only walk or stand for 10 minutes at a time and then my back feels awful and I must sit and recharge for another 10 minutes at least. This is no way to live at only age 30, and I'm really hoping that some positive treatments ca be done. Thanks for the replies!
twisten
12-14-2003, 04:01 AM
For me a bad flare up of my crohn's gives me extremely horrible cramps, almost like labor pains. I rarely have any vomitting or the runs, usually my intestines just shut right down. My joints always bother me whether I'm in a flare or not but the doctors can't seem to decide if its from the crohns or chronic myofascial pain syndrome which I also have. My sacroiliac joint though is definitely from the crohns. I have a friend though with crohns and her flare ups are different from mine in that she always vomits and has the runs. If you only have it in your large intestine you can have surgery to have that removed. I'm not 100% sure but I think that is called an ileostomy. With most people crohns can be managed with medication and it is not fatal. When I'm having a hard time managing it I always say to myself that things could be a lot worse, I could have cancer. It helps me to cope with things better. In reply to your question on drugs for the sacroiliac problem, I'm already on pain killers because of the myofascial syndrome I have and will be for the rest of my life so they help with that. They think I may have osteoporosis now so no injections have been mentioned for me. I'm assuming because they are a steroid and steroids can make osteoporosis worse. What types of meds do they have you on for everything? I was also scared to have a colonoscopy but I can honestly say they weren't that bad at all. Well, I think I covered all of your questions. If not repost them ,or any new ones, and I'll be happy to try to answer them for you. Good luck and keep us posted on whats happening.
gillian30
12-14-2003, 03:54 PM
Thanks so much for all the info. The only meds I'm on right now are Bentyl for stomach spasms and Aciphex for inflammation. I was given Celebrex, but tend to be wary of such meds because I've heard such bad things about the side effects (seizures, etc.) I have oseopenia, very mild, and I really want those sacro. injections but am wondering how much worse one set of injections would make that. Thanks again for your responses and good luck to you, too!
twisten
12-14-2003, 09:16 PM
Glad I could help you Gillian. Make sure you keep me posted as to what you find out. I mainly post in the pain management board so if you can't find me here pop over there.