toomanyquestons
05-24-2006, 04:18 AM
hi everyone, this is my first time posting here so be nice please :rolleyes: . be warned tough the following is pretty gross! over the past year i have noticed blood in my stools, its not all the time, usually once a month and the other week there was just a really excessive amount of blood so now im doing some research to try and find out what it is. my uncla had crohns disease and my grandfather has colon cancer and my cousin and mum are aneamic (all on mothers side), so as you might see, it doesnt look to optimistic!
so basically i was hoping if someone could tell me at what stage should i see a dr as i am quite reluctant to and what their symptoms involved if they have/had anything like this.
some other symptoms i have noticed are:
sore eyes
tiredness
strong abdominal cramping
a fluttering in the lower right side of my chest
headaches
i have also had tonsillitis 2 times in the past 3 months
i am not diagnosed with ANY medical conditions except for hsc stress! lol
any help would be greatly appreciated, thanx in advance
so basically i was hoping if someone could tell me at what stage should i see a dr as i am quite reluctant to and what their symptoms involved if they have/had anything like this.
some other symptoms i have noticed are:
sore eyes
tiredness
strong abdominal cramping
a fluttering in the lower right side of my chest
headaches
i have also had tonsillitis 2 times in the past 3 months
i am not diagnosed with ANY medical conditions except for hsc stress! lol
any help would be greatly appreciated, thanx in advance
Sponsor
nikki2006
05-24-2006, 06:41 AM
Woah, first thing i want to comment on is your question "at what stage should u see a doctor".. Now would be a good time. blood in the stool can be from something as minor as hemmoriods to something as serious as cancer. you should ALWAYS get checked if you are experiance this!
because you mention crohns disease and colon cancer as condtions that run in your family, i thought id point out, that in both cases, the eariler its detected, the more chance you have at sorting it out before it gets worse..sounds obvious, but why wait if there is any potential for things to get more complicated!
I had surgery for crohns disease about 6 years ago, and a few of my symptoms are the same as what you are experiancing, the tiredness, the sore eyes and the abdominal pain.. i have had no experiance with colon cancer so i cant comment on that but i really think you need to make an appointment with the doc and find out whats going on, it really is your best move. it could be nothing or it could be something. find out. :)
because you mention crohns disease and colon cancer as condtions that run in your family, i thought id point out, that in both cases, the eariler its detected, the more chance you have at sorting it out before it gets worse..sounds obvious, but why wait if there is any potential for things to get more complicated!
I had surgery for crohns disease about 6 years ago, and a few of my symptoms are the same as what you are experiancing, the tiredness, the sore eyes and the abdominal pain.. i have had no experiance with colon cancer so i cant comment on that but i really think you need to make an appointment with the doc and find out whats going on, it really is your best move. it could be nothing or it could be something. find out. :)
toomanyquestons
05-24-2006, 07:46 AM
thanks for the reply. i know i should see a dr and this will probly sound very immature, but i just feel uncomfortable discussing it. and i have been to the dr's 3 times within the past 3 months which is a record for me atm, and for some reason i just think its seen as a cry for attention. maybe just me watching house to much of "dr. house" though?
just a few more questions: how do they diagnose it? and are there any other symptoms that are common to it?
just a few more questions: how do they diagnose it? and are there any other symptoms that are common to it?
Gigi D
05-24-2006, 10:36 AM
Like you, I abhor going to the doctor. Prior to this year, I hadn't been to a doctor (other than eye doctor and dentist) in about 10 years. But since January, I've now been to the doctor at least twice a month. I already have 4 appointments scheduled for June.
It's not fun, but it's bearable. You won't be showing or telling the doctor anything he/she hasn't come across before. Just think of each doctor's visit as one brief moment out of one day of your life-that's what I do, and it helps me.
I have some of the same symptoms you do-abdominal pain, blood in stool, fatigue, headaches. Even after all my doctor's visits, I still don't have a diagnosis. Unfortunately, I think a lot of possible diseases share a lot of the same symptoms, like Chron's and colon cancer.
I have a colonoscopy scheduled in June, as well as other tests, and I think it sounds like you need to get yourself scheduled for one as well. As other posters on this board have told me, rectal bleeding is never normal and should be checked out.
Good luck, and make that appointment!
It's not fun, but it's bearable. You won't be showing or telling the doctor anything he/she hasn't come across before. Just think of each doctor's visit as one brief moment out of one day of your life-that's what I do, and it helps me.
I have some of the same symptoms you do-abdominal pain, blood in stool, fatigue, headaches. Even after all my doctor's visits, I still don't have a diagnosis. Unfortunately, I think a lot of possible diseases share a lot of the same symptoms, like Chron's and colon cancer.
I have a colonoscopy scheduled in June, as well as other tests, and I think it sounds like you need to get yourself scheduled for one as well. As other posters on this board have told me, rectal bleeding is never normal and should be checked out.
Good luck, and make that appointment!
mjk18
05-24-2006, 02:52 PM
I do not have experience with crohns disease though a very good friend of my wife's just diagnosed with it. It can be diagnosed with a colonoscopy if it is in the large intestines I believe (I think it can also be in the small intestines but I do not know how they diagnose it there)
Bottom line is please take control of your health and go to the dr. explain ALL your symptoms and concerns. The dr. has heard it all and they get paid to listen to embarrasing/uncomfortable things (and trust me there is always someone else that has symptoms more embarrasing), if they didn't they'd be out of a job.
Depending on your age I urge you to get a colonoscopy regardless of symptoms considering your grandfather has colon cancer, it is the number one preventable cancer if detected early (they can also take polyps out at the same during the colonoscopy that could turn into cancer years down the road, they took 3 out during mine).
I had mine done about a month ago as my father died from colon cancer in his 50's, chances are that is not your problem but it was very easy and the peace of mind is nice to have.
Blood in the stool is not normal and is likely something minor but take control of your health and get on the road to recovery and feeling better.
Bottom line is please take control of your health and go to the dr. explain ALL your symptoms and concerns. The dr. has heard it all and they get paid to listen to embarrasing/uncomfortable things (and trust me there is always someone else that has symptoms more embarrasing), if they didn't they'd be out of a job.
Depending on your age I urge you to get a colonoscopy regardless of symptoms considering your grandfather has colon cancer, it is the number one preventable cancer if detected early (they can also take polyps out at the same during the colonoscopy that could turn into cancer years down the road, they took 3 out during mine).
I had mine done about a month ago as my father died from colon cancer in his 50's, chances are that is not your problem but it was very easy and the peace of mind is nice to have.
Blood in the stool is not normal and is likely something minor but take control of your health and get on the road to recovery and feeling better.
toomanyquestons
05-24-2006, 06:14 PM
thanks for all the replies, i guess the that im just going to have to bite the bullet on this one because i guess it is easier to treat when detected early. i will let u know if or when i get a diagnosis what it is!
Kathy287
05-25-2006, 10:40 PM
Go to the doctors ASAP. My 16 year old daughter was just diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Her symptoms were fatigue, pain/cramping in the stomach all the time, and her eyes, well the pupils become dilated and wouldn't go back to normal. She had this for a year and a half before she was diagnosed. She had normal bowels, and no blood, so they kept thinking it wasn't Crohn's, but her Sed rate in her blood tests were always pretty high. She has just started medication, and so far she doesn't see much difference. It is so important to get to the doctors!!! My daughter's doc kept telling her it was IBS and putting her on meds that made her worse, well we didn't listen to him, and kept pushing, and finally got the right diagnosis. It took many visits, and many tests, the last was a colonoscopy(which looked normal) but when they checked out the biopsies they found the problem. See the doctor, and then keep at it until you feel better. I wish you the best of luck!!!
Kathy
PS If your doctor is making you feel like you are "crying for help", find another doctor. Ask your friends, ask you co-workers who they see. Also, if your insurance allows you to go directly to specialists without a referral, you need to see a GI doctor, that way you are going right to the guy who knows what he is talking about, and skipping the middle man.
Kathy
PS If your doctor is making you feel like you are "crying for help", find another doctor. Ask your friends, ask you co-workers who they see. Also, if your insurance allows you to go directly to specialists without a referral, you need to see a GI doctor, that way you are going right to the guy who knows what he is talking about, and skipping the middle man.
toomanyquestons
05-29-2006, 04:24 AM
kathy, sorry to hear about your daughter, hope the treatments will help her. i am booking an appointment this week! i promise myself lol. kathy, how exactly did they diagnose it in the end? osunds like a lot of testing needs doing from what i hear
nikki2006
05-29-2006, 05:17 AM
toomanyquestions.. have you been to the dr yet? please let us know how it goes when you do!
Kathy, Im glad your daughter has finally been diagnosed, it took them along time to diagnose me too, i got the whole eat more vegtables" speech time and time again, it was rediculas.. My eyes dialated as well, funny now when i look back but my mum thought i was on drugs!! lol I hope she and you toomany, are feelin better soon! take care :)
Kathy, Im glad your daughter has finally been diagnosed, it took them along time to diagnose me too, i got the whole eat more vegtables" speech time and time again, it was rediculas.. My eyes dialated as well, funny now when i look back but my mum thought i was on drugs!! lol I hope she and you toomany, are feelin better soon! take care :)
toomanyquestons
05-30-2006, 05:28 AM
no im going tomorrow afternoon! (promises myself) after looking at human organs all day at the university of nsw and seeing some of these things first hand im definately going! lol so yes im nervously waiting for tomorrow or thursday and will let u know what they say if i feel right about doing so, thanks all for your support, its really comforting and nice too know im not the only one in these sort of situations
toomanyquestons
05-31-2006, 12:35 AM
i was goood! i went to the dr's! and now i have a referral to a specialist, she couldnt really tell me much though coz she didnt have the right equipment, so more anxious waiting for me!
toomanyquestons
06-01-2006, 03:36 AM
me again! im about to schedule an appointment with the specialist and i was just wondering what they are likely to do? will i be in for the full colonoscopy and stuff like that or is that more of a mjor procedure? enlighten me please :rolleyes:
oh my gosh no one tolde me about the $$$ of specialists lol being sick sucks
oh my gosh no one tolde me about the $$$ of specialists lol being sick sucks
Enchante
06-03-2006, 01:08 AM
I went through much the same thing you are going through a few years ago. I fretted and fretted over a decsion I should not have had to. Finally I went for a colostomy and the gastro doctor found 4 or 5 polyps...no cancer. I was relieved to get this information because my grandmother died of stomach cancer a horriable way to die. Since then I have had 7 surgeries and vowed not to have another one but alas, I think one is in my near future. My surgeries did not involved colon or stomach for which I was glad...Now as for you...PLEASE go for the tests your doctor wants to do and get it over with. As for baring your soul among other things, to your doctor...We all lose our dignity thats for sure but a doctor has seen it all and will continue to see it all as long as he is in practice and as long as people get sick! It is always better to face a problem and possibly have a good conclusion reached than it is to worry and always think it might be this or that. Believe me I know! I wish you well and that you will come out of this in good health.