More Information Than You Require
February 7, 2011 12:52 PM Subscribe
Being a compassionate, generous man, I will keep my pooping-related medical question off of the main page.
A week ago, I began defecating blood. At first, I felt intense nausea during a bowel movement. That passed, but starting a little while later, every 20 minutes or so I would feel diarrhea-like distress in my stomach, but instead pass a small amount of bright red blood - maybe a thimble full? Because the blood was red, I figured it was safe to assume that I'd just ripped a fissure during that first movement, and it would heal on its own. On the second day the frequency and amount of blood began to slowly decrease.
Since then, I've felt, well, like my tank is full, but only had a few, extremely small bowel movements. When I have been able to pass anything, the stool has been soft (I've been taking psyllium husks), normally colored, but very thin and kind of oddly shaped, like it was squeezed out of one of those play-dough tubes. There is no more blood. There is no pain, just that gastrointestinal pressure and discomfort, like having an upset stomach even though nothing's happening. I feel a mild, itchy throbbing from well-above my anus that gets stronger when I lie down. I'm a little gassy. None of this has changed or improved in the last week. Aren't you glad you got to learn all this about me?
I don't have hemorrhoids. There's no obvious cut or fissure around my anus. As I said, I'm not in pain. I would prefer not to bankrupt myself going to the hospital only to be told that I had a little cut inside my bum a week ago that caused a little spasm and now I'm just constipated. But it's not getting better and I'm starting to worry just a little. I promise I will remember that you are not my doctor.
A week ago, I began defecating blood. At first, I felt intense nausea during a bowel movement. That passed, but starting a little while later, every 20 minutes or so I would feel diarrhea-like distress in my stomach, but instead pass a small amount of bright red blood - maybe a thimble full? Because the blood was red, I figured it was safe to assume that I'd just ripped a fissure during that first movement, and it would heal on its own. On the second day the frequency and amount of blood began to slowly decrease.
Since then, I've felt, well, like my tank is full, but only had a few, extremely small bowel movements. When I have been able to pass anything, the stool has been soft (I've been taking psyllium husks), normally colored, but very thin and kind of oddly shaped, like it was squeezed out of one of those play-dough tubes. There is no more blood. There is no pain, just that gastrointestinal pressure and discomfort, like having an upset stomach even though nothing's happening. I feel a mild, itchy throbbing from well-above my anus that gets stronger when I lie down. I'm a little gassy. None of this has changed or improved in the last week. Aren't you glad you got to learn all this about me?
I don't have hemorrhoids. There's no obvious cut or fissure around my anus. As I said, I'm not in pain. I would prefer not to bankrupt myself going to the hospital only to be told that I had a little cut inside my bum a week ago that caused a little spasm and now I'm just constipated. But it's not getting better and I'm starting to worry just a little. I promise I will remember that you are not my doctor.
Doctor. Just go to the doctor. Pooping blood is bad news.
posted by number9dream at 1:00 PM on February 7, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by number9dream at 1:00 PM on February 7, 2011 [3 favorites]
My dad had very similar symptoms (nausea, difficult bowel movements) for a few months before he went to the doctor. Eventually he was diagnosed with colon cancer. While I hope your symptoms aren't indicating the same thing, my message to you is that just because it's happening to your butt, doesn't mean it's not serious. Get to the doctor as quickly as you can! If it turns out to be something serious (like colon cancer), the sooner you know the better.
posted by El_Marto at 1:01 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by El_Marto at 1:01 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Pehaps you have Ulcerative Colitis, whatever you have - it's not getting better. Go see a real doctor (skip the primary care, he's just going to send you to an internal doc.)
posted by Brent Parker at 1:02 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by Brent Parker at 1:02 PM on February 7, 2011
You don't need to go to the hospital but you do need to see a doctor soon -- you are experiencing the proverbial "changes in bowel habits lasting more than one or two weeks" that signals that this may be something requiring treatment. It doesn't sound like a fissure or hemorrhoids to me, either, and the symptoms suggest something other than just constipation.
If you can go directly to a gastroenterologist, do that. If not, see your primary care physician and ask for a referral. (It's possible that an urgent care doctor might be able to give you a referral as well, though don't quote me on that.)
posted by scody at 1:04 PM on February 7, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you can go directly to a gastroenterologist, do that. If not, see your primary care physician and ask for a referral. (It's possible that an urgent care doctor might be able to give you a referral as well, though don't quote me on that.)
posted by scody at 1:04 PM on February 7, 2011 [3 favorites]
Blood in the stool is a symptom of colon cancer, particularly in adult men. It can also be plenty of other things, including just a small fissure like you thought (although you shouldn't be getting those either if you're otherwise healthy). But it still needs to be checked out, particularly given your ongoing symptoms, and screening for colon cancer should be part of that checkup (even if it's just asking questions to rule it out). You don't need an emergency visit but you do need to see a GP, and it is important.
posted by shelleycat at 1:07 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by shelleycat at 1:07 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nthing that you really must go to the doctor because this is the kind of thing that can be a symptom of colon cancer. Not saying it is colon cancer, but I think it's well worth it to get it checked out. If you don't have health insurance, call the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 for info on possible screening options (usually these are for people over a certain age, but you don't give that info in your post).
posted by elpea at 1:20 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by elpea at 1:20 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would strongly endorse keeping a food diary. Everything you eat and drink, just jot it down on a notepad or something and the time you had it, and then document the time of each and every trip to the bathroom, even if it's an unsuccessful trip, write it all down for at least the next two weeks. This is the first thing a GI doctor is going to tell you to do, along with asking you questions you won't remember the answer to (what time did you eat Last Thursday morning and how many hours after that did you pass the blood, etc.) The details really help them map out a picture, and help you assess if you're looking at Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a new allergic reaction, too much fiber, too little etc.
It may be nothing frightening, definitely don't walk away from this post thinking it's colon cancer, but I really really hope you don't dawdle on seeing a professional. I avoided treating my U.C. symptoms for years because they would keep going away whenever I was *just* about to call the doctor (how convenient!) and then my body got so sick they couldn't fix it. If the symptoms clear up, that's great, and you've only lost a 20 dollar copay to talk to someone and learn about what to do next time. If the symptoms don't clear up, well then you definitely can't solve it on your own, and the 20 dollar copay is the least of your concerns.
pooping blood is bad. It happens to everyone once in a while, but no, it is never a good sign, and frankly, we could all stand to know more about how our bodies work. Blood and pains are your body asking for help with something. LISTEN. call a GI!
good luck!
posted by billypilgrim at 1:20 PM on February 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
It may be nothing frightening, definitely don't walk away from this post thinking it's colon cancer, but I really really hope you don't dawdle on seeing a professional. I avoided treating my U.C. symptoms for years because they would keep going away whenever I was *just* about to call the doctor (how convenient!) and then my body got so sick they couldn't fix it. If the symptoms clear up, that's great, and you've only lost a 20 dollar copay to talk to someone and learn about what to do next time. If the symptoms don't clear up, well then you definitely can't solve it on your own, and the 20 dollar copay is the least of your concerns.
pooping blood is bad. It happens to everyone once in a while, but no, it is never a good sign, and frankly, we could all stand to know more about how our bodies work. Blood and pains are your body asking for help with something. LISTEN. call a GI!
good luck!
posted by billypilgrim at 1:20 PM on February 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, it's worth noting that while the older crowd may be looking at colon cancer, it's in fact the younger people (early-mid twenties) who should be looking at IBD, UC, and Crohns, as they all most frequently develop in the very late ending stage of adolescence. That's not to say you can't develop them later on, I'm just saying (since you've posted anonymously) that if you are young and thinking "Well it's totally not Colon Cancer so I'm probably fine" then please rethink nonchalance, because that won't cure your bottom either :)
posted by billypilgrim at 1:25 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by billypilgrim at 1:25 PM on February 7, 2011
if you are young and thinking "Well it's totally not Colon Cancer so I'm probably fine"
While it's true colon cancer is more common in the over-50 population, it's (unfortunately) not at all unheard of in people in their 40s, 30, and even their 20s. I was diagnosed with colon cancer at 40, and I have been surprised by the number of fellow CC patients I've met who are younger than I am. This is not to scare the OP, but more as an FYI for anyone under the age of 50 who may be reading this who might be having symptoms but resists seeing a doctor because they think that it "can't possibly" be colon cancer.
That said, Billy Pilgrim's point about UC, etc. is right -- they can develop at anytime, but the peak ages to develop them tend to be late adolescence-20s and 50s-70s.
posted by scody at 1:34 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
While it's true colon cancer is more common in the over-50 population, it's (unfortunately) not at all unheard of in people in their 40s, 30, and even their 20s. I was diagnosed with colon cancer at 40, and I have been surprised by the number of fellow CC patients I've met who are younger than I am. This is not to scare the OP, but more as an FYI for anyone under the age of 50 who may be reading this who might be having symptoms but resists seeing a doctor because they think that it "can't possibly" be colon cancer.
That said, Billy Pilgrim's point about UC, etc. is right -- they can develop at anytime, but the peak ages to develop them tend to be late adolescence-20s and 50s-70s.
posted by scody at 1:34 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just adding a voice to the chorus of "get thee to a doctor."
posted by ocherdraco at 1:43 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by ocherdraco at 1:43 PM on February 7, 2011
A very good family friend was recently diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. He's only 25. His symptoms were vague and due to his youth his initial doctors' visits were focused on other, more likely causes. Which is another way of saying you can't really tell what's going on yourself. Please, go see a doctor.
Our friend is responding very well to treatment so far. Thankfully, he very fit and also very strong emotionally. But I can't help but think how much better his situation would be if someone had properly diagnosed his cancer six months earlier.
posted by mosk at 2:09 PM on February 7, 2011
Our friend is responding very well to treatment so far. Thankfully, he very fit and also very strong emotionally. But I can't help but think how much better his situation would be if someone had properly diagnosed his cancer six months earlier.
posted by mosk at 2:09 PM on February 7, 2011
I would have taken the same approach you have so far, but now I would pull together a food diary and make a doctor's appointment - and make sure you tell them how long it's been going on and the relevant symptoms so they don't make you wait forever for an appointment.
I wouldn't necessarily leap to worst case scenarios, but you know that you have some odd symptoms and if they haven't improved in a week then it's time to get it checked out, if only to get it improved.
posted by mrs. taters at 2:09 PM on February 7, 2011
I wouldn't necessarily leap to worst case scenarios, but you know that you have some odd symptoms and if they haven't improved in a week then it's time to get it checked out, if only to get it improved.
posted by mrs. taters at 2:09 PM on February 7, 2011
My mom had colon cancer, and as several people have noted, blood in stool is a sign. Doctor.
posted by fixedgear at 2:29 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by fixedgear at 2:29 PM on February 7, 2011
Even if it isn't colon cancer, the other possible causes (UC, IBD, Crohn's) are serious, chronic conditions that require medical attention. See a doctor pronto.
posted by tommasz at 2:45 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by tommasz at 2:45 PM on February 7, 2011
Another thing to look at with this symptomology is diverticulitis, particularly with the "I've been eating normally but not pooping despite taking fiber supplements, and when I do poop it's long narrow strands" business.
Yes, you need to see a doctor. Whatever's going on is something that should be looked at.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:54 PM on February 7, 2011
Yes, you need to see a doctor. Whatever's going on is something that should be looked at.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:54 PM on February 7, 2011
This really does sound like diverticulitis, which can be "bad" if untreated. Early treatment is pretty simple though. So, yes, it's doctor time.
posted by SLC Mom at 4:30 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by SLC Mom at 4:30 PM on February 7, 2011
I have had a similar experience.
[On the diverticulitis course: yep, dangerous if serious. Not likely what you suffer from, there is usually pain associated with it. I know.]
My experience that mirrored yours ended in internal hemorrhoids. No pain, lots of blood at first, small amounts later.
The condition is very treatable, they laser them away! Uncomfortable for a half day or so, more than one treatment, all gone.
The bottom line here is: get to the doctor (actually, gastrointestinal doc).
posted by Drasher at 5:55 PM on February 7, 2011
[On the diverticulitis course: yep, dangerous if serious. Not likely what you suffer from, there is usually pain associated with it. I know.]
My experience that mirrored yours ended in internal hemorrhoids. No pain, lots of blood at first, small amounts later.
The condition is very treatable, they laser them away! Uncomfortable for a half day or so, more than one treatment, all gone.
The bottom line here is: get to the doctor (actually, gastrointestinal doc).
posted by Drasher at 5:55 PM on February 7, 2011
On the diverticulitis course: yep, dangerous if serious. Not likely what you suffer from, there is usually pain associated with it. I know.
My father's diverticulitis experience was extremely similar to what the OP described; pain is certainly a very common symptom, but the OP shouldn't rule it out just because he hasn't experienced much pain.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:02 PM on February 7, 2011
My father's diverticulitis experience was extremely similar to what the OP described; pain is certainly a very common symptom, but the OP shouldn't rule it out just because he hasn't experienced much pain.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:02 PM on February 7, 2011
Like others have said, see a GI guy.
IBD, diverticulitis, Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitus, fissures, internal 'roids - any of these (and more!) could cause your symptoms. Get it diagnosed.
Psyllium is reported as being similarly effective as 5-ASA for keeping Crohn's in remission, but it's also noted for making it worse if taken in too great a quantity.
And to save you the trouble, here's a link to a question I asked about making colonoscopy prep tolerable. You are likely to get one. The prep is awful, but the narcotics almost balance it out.
posted by plinth at 8:37 PM on February 7, 2011
IBD, diverticulitis, Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitus, fissures, internal 'roids - any of these (and more!) could cause your symptoms. Get it diagnosed.
Psyllium is reported as being similarly effective as 5-ASA for keeping Crohn's in remission, but it's also noted for making it worse if taken in too great a quantity.
And to save you the trouble, here's a link to a question I asked about making colonoscopy prep tolerable. You are likely to get one. The prep is awful, but the narcotics almost balance it out.
posted by plinth at 8:37 PM on February 7, 2011
Go to the fucking doctor already.
Sorry, but really - bleeding from the arse is a go to the fucking doctor situation. Okay? Good.
Now, here's a possibility: diverticular bleeding. I mention this because I have had it and I was pretty disappointed to find out that a family problem (diverticulae) struck me before I was even fifty. To somewhat contradict what others have said, while diverticulitIS is usually associated with pain, the bleeding is not, necessarily. On both occasions when i had it I didn't feel a thing. I just thought "My, that felt a bit wet" and then I looked down at a red bowl. Disturbing.
However, it could be lots of other things too, some of which are more serious. Go to the doctor. NOW.
posted by Decani at 4:17 AM on February 8, 2011
Sorry, but really - bleeding from the arse is a go to the fucking doctor situation. Okay? Good.
Now, here's a possibility: diverticular bleeding. I mention this because I have had it and I was pretty disappointed to find out that a family problem (diverticulae) struck me before I was even fifty. To somewhat contradict what others have said, while diverticulitIS is usually associated with pain, the bleeding is not, necessarily. On both occasions when i had it I didn't feel a thing. I just thought "My, that felt a bit wet" and then I looked down at a red bowl. Disturbing.
However, it could be lots of other things too, some of which are more serious. Go to the doctor. NOW.
posted by Decani at 4:17 AM on February 8, 2011
Oh - and brace yourself for a colonoscopy, by the way. Don't worry, they're undignified but not so bad. :-)
posted by Decani at 4:19 AM on February 8, 2011
posted by Decani at 4:19 AM on February 8, 2011
My doctor told me just a few months ago that change in stool shape is one of the signs she REALLY wants to know about, as it often means there's a polyp or tumor in there narrowing the passage.
Nthing the GO TO A DOCTOR NOW rec.
posted by telophase at 8:12 PM on February 8, 2011
Nthing the GO TO A DOCTOR NOW rec.
posted by telophase at 8:12 PM on February 8, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:00 PM on February 7, 2011