questions - Bowel Disorders Message Board

ckd · 01-01-2004, 04:25 PM

Wow, seeing lots of people with same issues. Have an appt with GI doctor in Feb about bloody stools. I have hemorrhoids-internal and have never had bleeding until last month or so, it does clear up with aggressive fiber, baths and over the counter. Of course when I read about blood in stools and cancer I freaked out. I have typical hemorrhoid symptoms, throbbing pain/itchiness occasionally and the bleeding-I have been making myself sick to my stomach (literally) thinking about the worse case scenario. I had an FOBT, which came out positive. Which the first sample I took when I had visible bleeding so that is why the GI referral.

Can hemorrhoids bleed almost daily? I will have some right away in the am (stool is sometimes harder then) and maybe not the rest of the day. This has been going on for 3 weeks now.

Has anyone had similiar experience that turned out positive

The more I read the more I panic, almost to the point of a full blown panic attack, not sure how I can wait until Feb-my husband thinks if it was something serious they would see me right away, that is what the GI office said to, but I can't stop obsessing about this!

If you read this far, thanks!

ckd

butterflytrans · 01-01-2004, 06:54 PM

Yes...hemorrhoids can bleed every day, and the fact that that is your presentation makes it more likely that it's hemorrhoids and not cancer. Also, if the blood is on top of the stool or on the paper when you wipe, it's more likely to be hemorrhoids. Colon cancer does cause rectal bleeding, but not like hemorrhoids can.

With colon cancer, you actually bleed a lot more, but it's microscopic blood and it's mixed in with the stool (a lot of the time you can't even see the blood)...also, one usually has obstructive symptoms as well. There are also constitutional symptoms like fevers, chills, sweats and weight loss.

Have you been scoped?

ckd · 01-01-2004, 07:09 PM

Thanks for your input, I have an appt in Feb-an initial visit and they will decide from there. I asked the nurse if they thought it was serious would I be in sooner and she said yes. Hopefully will get answers then.

butterflytrans · 01-01-2004, 09:10 PM

Oh..I didn't read that you are being seen in February. It may be hard to get an appointment with a specialist, but the thing is, if the doctor suspected it was more serious, s/he would've gotten the appointment for you much sooner!

twisten · 01-01-2004, 10:32 PM

I agree with the other posters that if your doc thought it was cancer you would be getting into a specialist sooner. I know its hard to do but you should try to relax and not worry so because anxiety can make things so much worse.