I think I have IBS. Very irregular movements... sometimes once a week or five times a day.

Last three movements (in one week) I have bright red blood on toilet paper. From what I've read, it's dark blood in stool to be concerned about. I have had to strain, so could it just be a fissure?

I'm starting to get a little worried.

What are other symptoms of something bad?

If you look for CD (CancerDad's) posts on here, youll notice that he is very adamant about testing. From what Ive read on this site, its just too much of a risk to assume that bright blood, dark blood or any blood is harmless. I get it occasionally too, and I am pretty sure Ive seen dark blood in my stools at some point and time.

The best thing you can do, and the only real way to obtain peace of mind is to get a Colonoscopy and beat it before it gets a chance!! Not to worry you, but Id rather worry you and get yourself checked out, than say youre fine and have you find out bad news later.

I had bright red blood and was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. That doesn't mean you have cancer, but the only way to be sure about the health of your colon is by having a colonoscopy. Don't just settle for a sigdimoscopy, which only scopes the very lowest part of the colon, and can be done in the office. Insisit on a colonoscopy.

Thanks PlyDrv4Me for quoting me!!! Thanks for not calling me fanatical!!! :D As you say, I am adamant when it comes to screaning and ignorance regarding colorectal cancer. I never want ANYONE else to go through what my family and I have. As you will also read from my posts, intermittent bright red bleeding CAN BE a sign of cancer, and therefore should NEVER BE IGNORED, or cast off as nothing. There is NO WAY TO CONFIRM whether the bleeding is coming from a hemmorhoid, or fissure for that matter, without taking a look. You could get a sigmoidoscopy, but why bother? If that comes back negative, you have to go for a colonoscopy anyway. Might as well get your whole colon checked out from the get go. :)

Best of Luck!!

:(

Not what I wanted to hear.

Good Morning Wimzie,

Maybe these are not the pleasant words you wanted to hear today, but hopefully in a few weeks after the colonoscopy is done, your doc's words advising you of his professional findings will give you peace of mind! Bye the way-- the test is EASY!

Hi
I just read your post Wimzie...i to have IBS sounds like the same as you...nothing for days...then bad and no notice...
Today is the beginning of a bad day....and i noticed a fair amount of red blood in my stool...in more than one spot...all over it..
and on the paper..
I have had it on the paper on and off for a long time...but not in my stool and not that much! Scared me!
I am not sure what to do..do i wait and see if it happens again ( i am sure i will be going again soon) or just call my doc??
The amount of red i saw has really scared me..

thanks,
Twiggy

Twiggy!!!!! (& Wimzie) Dont wait... look back at CD's message.. Get it checked out ... please!
It might be nothing (fingers crossed) but if it is something then better to get it at its early stage!! Please get the colonoscopy done! BOTH of you !!
And everyone here on the board is full of support and will help guide u thru all this.
I had bleeding, got it checked.. (earlier thank God) .. I had colon cancer, surgery and now in to my 3rd chemo treatment out of 26 but Im glad im here and not in Cancer Dads shoes.. Not that it was his fault but he has BIG problems because the doctors didnt do the required tests early enough.. Please just do it and get it over with !!!
Concerned
Maz

Don't wait. I had bleeding, in a similar pattern to yours. I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but, fortunately, mine was caught early. If I'd waited any longer, it would have been more advanced. Age doesn't matter. I was in my early 30s and a friend was only 23, when she was diagnosed. Please get checked out.

I for one WILL need support if I decide to tell my doctor about it... and get tested.

Thanks everyone!

:)

anyone that has bleeding from the behind or in their stools should go have it checked without delay, even if it is for peace of mind, my hubby was hoping that if he ignored it, it would go away, he couldn't ignore the blood pouring down his legs and settling on the bathroom floor, he has been told he has colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, don't delay, go check it today!!I wouldn't want anyone to go through what the people on this board have and are going thru, are journey is just starting,
bye for now and good luck all
Ozzie

"I had bleeding, got it checked.. (earlier thank God) .. I had colon cancer, surgery and now in to my 3rd chemo treatment out of 26 but Im glad im here and not in Cancer Dads shoes.. Not that it was his fault but he has BIG problems because the doctors didnt do the required tests early enough.."quoted by MazRose

Maz: :)

As you said, you had bleeding and had it checked out. I too had bleeding and had it checked out by a Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician. She said... "oh, you're so young, it's probably just hemmorhoids, or Advil, or stress," made me feel safe with it with her confidence, and I went on with life, with intermittent bleeding. This is when I was 28. I was then diagnosed when I finally went to a Specialist myself at 31 and was diagnosed with Stage 3C Rectal Cancer.

I am proud Maz to see you so inspired like me to pass the word that the ONLY acceptable thing to do with rectal bleeding is get it checked by a gastroenterology specialist. :angel: We have to spread the word. I can't tell you how many ignorant PHYSICIANS I have heard about since my diagnosis... people whose hands within we place our health!

You speak about me having BIG problems now. I'm glad they are not BIGGER! Depending on tumor pathology, had mine been worse, I would have had even bigger problems, I'D ALREADY BE DEAD.

I have a REALLY CLOSE friend who was originally diagnosed 3C. She was doing her residency in Pediatrics. She kept telling them and telling them at the hospital that she had something wrong with her colon. They kept looking elsewhere. NOBODY LISTENED. She finally convinced them, and had a colon resection. But ended up having elevated CEA's months later.

She is now fighting for her life... had her chest cut open, only to find although they found cancerous tissue, that wasn't what was driving up her CEA's. It was the "shadow" the PET scan found on her liver initially but doctors disregarded, and her ovaries. She is now doing chemo, AGAIN. Luckily it seems to be working to kill the cancer-- enough off the major artery in her liver that made it impossible to operate when found a couple months ago, AGAIN. Point is, She, a Pediatrician, KNEW and told them, and was disregarded. She too, is young.

I Can't say it enough... ANY RECTAL BLEEDING NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT VIA COLONOSCOPE. IT IS NO BIG DEAL. PLEASE if you have ANY symptoms, PLEASE go get it checked. And don't rely on the words of ANYONE but a Gastroenterologist Specialist after you have had your COLONOSCOPY!!

This message is not intended to freak anyone out. It's just a wake-up call!!
EXTREMELY CONCERNED,
CancerDad :angel:

Wimzie- If you had a fissure, you would be experiencing rectal pain as well. Change in bowel habits, Bright red bleeding, dark stools..... are all warning signs for cancer and you need to be very concerned about this. Don't just wait out your worry - see a doctor and get some answers. You need to have a colonoscopy to find the source of your bleeding.

Thanks Everyone.

I have to go for a 'female' app't in June... I'll tell him then. I will...

Thanks!!!!!!!

:)

A gynecologist can't help you much with this. He will only take a stool sample test and make sure you have blood in your stools, which you already are aware of. You should see a gastroenterologist. I've known people, where there gyno. didn't press for the colonsocopy, and they ended up having colon cancer afterall. It's best to just go straight to the appropriate specialist.

how ironic that i am begging for a colonoscopy and cant find a dr "available" and some people are too embarassed to talk about it... remember that dr's have seen and heard it all, after all that is what they get paid the big bucks for.... who cares what anyone thinks its your a!! and your life.. listen to what everyone here is saying, GET IT CHECKED! gynos dont even care about that part of your body, they focus on female organs...

Wimzie!! JUne ??? June is ages away!
Please make an appnt now and get it checked.. please.
Maz.