djwilkerson
05-04-2005, 03:15 PM
Hi - My aunt had colon cancer two years ago and had a colon resection done. Since that time once a month she experiences pain like childbirth during bowel movements. This past month, the pain was so bad she thought she was going to pass out. I took her to her Dr. and he said yes, she had blood, and come back in two weeks. She was passing nothing but blood for almost 12 hours - large dark 1/2 dollar size. I contacted her surgeon and he thought she should have another colonoscopy. I called her Dr. for a referral and he said that she had a colonoscopy in November and that everything was fine. I explained about the blood and extreme pain, but he seems to think since the November colonoscopy was fine, that there is no problem. I don't know what to do or what could be causing this pain? She is better today (almost a week later). Could it be a blockage or adhesion? Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
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goody2shuz
05-04-2005, 03:33 PM
How are your aunt's bowel movements??? Does she go daily and are they loose or constipated??? Does she take a fiber supplement??? To be honest.....blood in the stool is not normal...is it bright red???? Perhaps the strain has caused aggravation to a hemorrhoid. Since any intestinal surgery could have adhesions and strictures (narrowing) form that is a possibility. If your aunt is unable to have a bowel movement, this could be dangerous and cause the bowels to perforate. I would definitely encourage her to continue to express her concerns to her doctor & if he ignores her have her seen by a gastroenterologist who will help get some answers to what is causing her such discomfort. Good luck.....Goody :wave:
djwilkerson
05-04-2005, 03:46 PM
She finally had a very small bowel movement today (it was not loose). After her surgery, the Dr. said it was extremely important to keep her bowels moving, so she takes fiber supplements and stool softners. The blood was not bright red - it was dark. I wonder if a diverticulosis ruptured - although it sounds like that is a rare occurance. The bleeding has stopped now and there was not blood today.
goody2shuz
05-04-2005, 04:11 PM
Dark blood, almost black, means that the bleeding is not fresh & higher up in the intestinal tract. She should be drinking lots of fluid (water) with the fiber & stool softners......that is important or it could become too bulky and difficult to pass. It is possibe to have bleeding with divierticulitis as well as with polyps and the such. If she is no longer bleeding I would advise her to continue keeping things moving with a high fiber diet, lots of water, and exercise. Any further cramping/bleeding I would have checked out by a gastroenterlologist Good luck...Goody
djwilkerson
05-04-2005, 04:19 PM
Thank you.
smithn
05-04-2005, 08:16 PM
When stools are black, that does NOT mean there isn't active bleeding! It only is an indication that the bleeding is due to a source higher up into the colon. You are great for taking such good care of your aunt. Your aunt needs to see her surgeon! She should not need a referral to him since he has taken care of her in the past. Half-dollar sized clots/bleeding (especially for a patient who has had colon cancer in the past) is significant and can be worrisome for recurrent cancer or a type of bowel perforation. Please call her surgeon and make an appt. for her to be seen SOON. Go with her if you can.
smithn
05-04-2005, 08:17 PM
When stools are black, that does NOT mean there isn't active bleeding! It only is an indication that the bleeding is due to a source higher up into the colon. You are great for taking such good care of your aunt. Your aunt needs to see her surgeon! She should not need a referral to him since he has taken care of her in the past. Half-dollar sized clots/bleeding (especially for a patient who has had colon cancer in the past) is significant and can be worrisome for recurrent cancer or a type of bowel perforation. Please call her surgeon and make an appt. for her to be seen SOON. Go with her if you can. She also should be tested for Anemia.
djwilkerson
05-05-2005, 09:24 AM
Thank you - I did finally get her Dr to refer her to a GI Doctor who has treated her before. I am worried about cancer because she has lost weight recently and had loss of appetite. I realize her Dr thinks everything is fine becuase her last colonoscopy in November was fine, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a problem. Thank you for your response.