Okay, I have been diagnosed with internal (described by GP as "juicy") and external (but not real big or painfull) hemorrhoids. I have had 3 distinct bleeding episodes, where I have bright red blood on the stool and toilet paper. Each time, I have either had an episode of cramping Diarrhea, or constipation. The the blood shows up 2 days after these episodes. It has always followed this pattern. I started having these in April 07 and a couple of weeks later, and had one this weekend. My GP wants me to get a colonoscopy, just to be sure there is nothing else wrong. Had no problem with me waiting until July or Aug, but the cost, even with Insurance is roughly $1500. My question is, should I wait until Nov., when I can lower my deductble or go ahead and have it done now? I had gone 3 months with clear stools but had one of these Diarrhea episodes this past week and sure enough 2 days later, blood on the stool and toilet paper (none of the episodes has there been that much blood). I will check over the next few days, but it seems to be following the same patterns. It does scare me everytime it happens and sends my mind into "what ifs", but I don't want do this if not necessary. BTW I am 44 with absolutely no family history of colon cancer and not over weight, exercise daily and eat right. Also, I have come off long periods of antibiotics (45 days +) during the times this has occurred. My only downfall is I like a few beers, 3-4 times a week. Thanks for your input.

Davis

Just a little update, there was no blood this am, so it is following the typical patterns of before.
Thanks all.

You are close enough to 50 (when you need to get a colonoscopy anyway) that you should go ahead and get one now. Anytime there is blood, there is no reason to risk it. Just get the colonoscopy for peace of mind.

However, I think it would be okay to wait assuming you follow through soon even if the symptoms go away between now and then...because the symptoms probabaly will go away. Take miralax for a few nights. If you take it for a week and experience soft regular BM's, the blood will likely go away if it is a hemmorhoid. But even if that's what it is, sometimes they can lead to diverticulosis or worse, diverticulitis. Miralax is really gentle, really easy to take because it is tasteless and typically works really well. (It's 10$ or less at grocery or drug stores)

My grandmother had zero colon problems in her family. She had some symptoms but decided it would probably go away. By the time she got checked, she was in the late stages of colon cancer and left this world way too young. She was in her fifties. If you have anyone who loves you, just get the colonoscopy. I am only 28 and just had one. I promise it's not as bad as you would think. It is best to schedule it on a Monday so you can drink the prep on Sunday. I can give you all the details if you decide to schedule it. I couldn't get in for months, so schedule soon. Meanwhile, try to relax. Bowels can be so confusing and thus scary!!!

Okay, had blood in stool this am so I went to Dr. He said I definitely have hemorrhoids, checked for them, and sent me home with a 10 day supply of cream to apply. Said if it stopped bleeding that's the problem, but if not, I need to have the colonoscopy. Glad it's hemorrhoids, but I am still worried about the colonoscopy and what might else be found. Anyone else have these problems????
Thanks for listening.

Good for you! I'm glad you went. So a cream would heal the hemorrhoid and make it stop?? What if you still had hard or wide in diameter bowel movements?? Seems like you would instead need something to soften the stool. Did the doc say anything about that??

After my colonsocopy my bowel movements just started resembling what they were before, a little more each day. And finally, yesterday, my hemorrhoids were ruptured again. *sigh* So I have started drinking Miralax in prune juice each night. Hate to do that for too long though. I just don't know why I have this problem!! Arrgh.

I have the SAME thing. I logged on here because I am at my wits end. My bleeding has been so bad, huge clots come out. I am so frightened. I had a sigmoidoscopy and they said it was an internal hemorrhoid. I don't buy that. I will go to the bathroom just to pee and it runs out of my rectum. I can't even go to work some days. They gave me Anusol and it does NOTHING! I hate doctors. If I were you, get the colonoscopy. I think that is what they should have done on me and didn't. I also get the cramping. If you find out what it is, please let me know.

Dr. gave me a kit that contains 20 applicators with 3% Lidocaine (for pain) and Cortizone 2.5%. I am suppose to do this for 10 days, one in the am and one before bed. He told me it would take 4-5 days before the bleeding would stop. The bleeding was about the same today but I can still feel the prolapsed hemorrhoids when I sit and move around, so I guess that is to be expected. He did tell me that it was a 90% chance the bleeding was from the hemorrhoids and he used an anascope just to verifiy. I have used the cream and suppositories one other time and they did help and everything was fine, until this last bout of diahrrea and then the bleeding started again. By the way, this is not my normal GP, but one I used to see....and both Dr.s have said just about the same thing.
After doing several hours research on rectal and colon cancer, I can say that this type of bleeding does not follow any of the typical patterns and I have none of the other syptoms associated with a bleeding carcinoma. From what I have read (from 5-6 sites) bleeding from colorectal cancers is usually very weak and there is not much blood at all. Most of the time, you cannot even see the blood in the stool and it is called occult blood (sp?). For there to be bright red blood the tumor would either have to be in the rectum or in the sigmoid colon right near the rectum. And you, Ginmor, have been checked out in those areas.

Hope this helps.

Yes. I was checked out. I wonder why my doctor didn't prescribe the Lidocaine? I have to go get a blood test tomorrow to make sure I"m not losing too much blood and then I have to go to a surgeon that deals with hemorrhoids. But I heard that surgery is really painful. Do you know?

My sister had the surgery and said she was glad she did it (12 years later) but at the time it was painful post-op. But she has not had any reccuring issues with hemorrhoids since then and said I should do it if it comes to that.