Bloody stools.. Do I worry?

[DSRIGGS]

So very true. When this first happened back about 10 years ago, I freaked...my doc actually told me to go to the ER, since they have more diagnostic tools (scopes/imaging) readily available to determine if it was a big problem.. They were such jerks about it.. They did a quick exam, said -well no hemorrhoids... And your bloodwork indicates your not bleeding out. So follow up with your PCP. We are just here to stop the bleeding, not diagnose it.

Since that experience, I have had little to no faith in the local ER for anything beyond an obviously broken bone.

Don't forget the stinky urine/feminine odor as a side effect of ketosis (for me anyway)... When the doc looks at you like "are you SURE you don't have a dirty partner". Ugh... Gotta love the embarrassment our bodies put is through. .

When I was on a liquid diet last year and asked the doc if that was normal... He actually made me get tested for STDs .. And then was like..oh yeah, it could just be the ketosis. Ugggghhhhh

Yeah the bull shit at an ER when they basically say, "well you aren't going to die in the next hour so you should really have somebody look at that" it absofuckinglutely infuriating. I have been there with rectal bleeding. One guy wanted to admit me and have scope done next morning....then my asshat surgeon said no need so send him home. Only took 3 weeks to get the scope. Chest pain, been there done that. Son had whole left side go numb, nope you brain scan looks fine so get out of here and see somebody about that. Irritating as hell.

I get they are there primarily to handle full blown emergencies but they can also treat serious matters that might not be life and death at the moment, when they are already doing testing and checking anyway. It is one of the reasons our system is so ineffective. Maximize the productivity of the visit as it costs more money to bring somebody back and repeat things.

 

[Razbry]

Hemorrhoids are part of my life, to the point where my PCP stopped doing occult blood testing. Now I just get a colonoscopy every couple of years!

 

[Pattycake813]

Just to update with some fabulous TMI...saw the surgeon on Monday and it didn't go so great. No external hemorrhoids, and no internal ones that he could tell, but the exam was so painful, and extreme spasming ended up causing it to be incomplete. As of now he suspects a deep fissire... It was like my body tried to chop his finger off with involuntary spasm after spasm.

So a colonoscopy for me on Thursday... He is doing it under General Anesthesia to reduce spasming and make it successful. Glad I have the out of pocket max in.. Insurance LOVES me this year.

 

[DSRIGGS]

Just to update with some fabulous TMI...saw the surgeon on Monday and it didn't go so great. No external hemorrhoids, and no internal ones that he could tell, but the exam was so painful, and extreme spasming ended up causing it to be incomplete. As of now he suspects a deep fissire... It was like my body tried to chop his finger off with involuntary spasm after spasm.

So a colonoscopy for me on Thursday... He is doing it under General Anesthesia to reduce spasming and make it successful. Glad I have the out of pocket max in.. Insurance LOVES me this year.

Sorry Patty but I am glad Marshall is taking care of it. It he going to repair it while in there? I had a chronic fissure for 6-9 months (I can't remember) and Dr K says that under anesthesia is the only way to do the exam. He suspected I might have a fistula but it just ended up being a fissure and he cauterized it while I was getting my revision. I woke up with a paper plug in my ass that he told me I could pull out or poop out. It honestly wasn't as bad as you would imagine but no way in hell I could have pooped that out. When a piece was sticking out I went ahead and pulled it out. Holy hell it was like a damn bratwurst size! I WAS VIOLATED!!!!!!!!

Seriously, the relief was immediate because it was quite painful. I haven't had a problem since and I don't remember much pain at all after the surgery. The same can't be said for lateral sphincterotomy. @DianaCox can tell you about that.

Hopefully he takes care of you on Thursday and I am glad he is getting your in right away. As I mentioned, I have mixed emotions with him. He repaired a hernia and took good care of me when I went back in at 3 weeks post DS with what he thought was a possible leak but instead was a kidney stone (none sense, fingers crossed). He also did a potentially life saving surgery on my oldest son.

Best wishes and I know how painful that exam was. I was going to a colorectal specialist and though i was getting better until he ass raped me when I went in for a follow up....hurt like a mother for a long time

 

[hilary1617]

TMI alert, but @Pattycake813 , I'm worried things are about to get real in the pain camp.

I have been suffering on and off (more off lately) from an anal fissure since before Christmas. (http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/brutal-constipation-please-help.3885/page-4#post-59631)

So after wishing it away and using every potion on the shelf at the pharmacy, I had a colonoscopy to see what was going on.

I ended up being in even worse pain - so bad that I literally couldn't sit down for days. The prep had already exacerbated the fissure and then the irritation of the colonoscopy tubing directly rubbing up against the fissure took it to a whole other level of absolute agony.

Two days after colonoscopy, when I had two norco in me, the cream, and a bag of ice cubes up against my tailfeathers, while crouched in fetal position, I used my spare hand to call the gastro to do something else - anything - inject some numbing agent locally, a spinal, remove my colon. It had to end.

Gastro called in a prescription to a compounding pharmacy for 2% nifedipine/lidocaine suppositories. These were game changers. I was able to return to work the following day and was "all clear" within probably a week or so. Now I just have some days once every few weeks where a bit of pain creeps in and I see blood and I use the suppository and things get back on track.

As PSA, I urge you to try to get some nifed before your colonoscopy. Heck, get on it before prep.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Pattycake813]

Sorry Patty but I am glad Marshall is taking care of it. It he going to repair it while in there? I had a chronic fissure for 6-9 months (I can't remember) and Dr K says that under anesthesia is the only way to do the exam. He suspected I might have a fistula but it just ended up being a fissure and he cauterized it while I was getting my revision. I woke up with a paper plug in my ass that he told me I could pull out or poop out. It honestly wasn't as bad as you would imagine but no way in hell I could have pooped that out. When a piece was sticking out I went ahead and pulled it out. Holy hell it was like a damn bratwurst size! I WAS VIOLATED!!!!!!!!

Seriously, the relief was immediate because it was quite painful. I haven't had a problem since and I don't remember much pain at all after the surgery. The same can't be said for lateral sphincterotomy. @DianaCox can tell you about that.

Hopefully he takes care of you on Thursday and I am glad he is getting your in right away. As I mentioned, I have mixed emotions with him. He repaired a hernia and took good care of me when I went back in at 3 weeks post DS with what he thought was a possible leak but instead was a kidney stone (none sense, fingers crossed). He also did a potentially life saving surgery on my oldest son.

Best wishes and I know how painful that exam was. I was going to a colorectal specialist and though i was getting better until he ass raped me when I went in for a follow up....hurt like a mother for a long time

Bonnelo is actually the surgeon in the group who is taking care of the back side.. Marshal said he was better in that region (or maybe Marshall was just not up for getting poo on his finger). Not sure what hisbplan is while he is in there.. He told me if it is something g simple he will take care of it right then, but I didn't have him define what is simple.

it was a crazy appointment .. I screamed when he tried to do the exam... I have had that exam done more times than I can count and never has if hurt at all.. Let alone making me scream. What is crazy is I have no pain when I poop. I get stabbing pains while just sitting minding my business, but nothing at all while the area is in action.

Whatever it is, I hope it is better when I wake up Thursday.

 

[DianaCox]

Nifedipine is a heart medication. It can be given orally or topically. It prevents the spasms from the sphincter muscle. The lidocaine helps with the pain - but remember that both of them can be absorbed through the mucous membranes and affect (slow) your heart rate.

I had to go under general anesthesia to have the exam when I had a fissure for THREE YEARS - I was told if he found a fissure, he would do the sphincterotomy, which is what I woke up with - along with a bonus of removal of external and internal hemorrhoids. Be prepared to have mega-pain meds for a few days afterwards - and then POOF - the pain is gone.

 

[Pattycake813]

TMI alert, but @Pattycake813 , I'm worried things are about to get real in the pain camp.

I have been suffering on and off (more off lately) from an anal fissure since before Christmas. (http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/brutal-constipation-please-help.3885/page-4#post-59631)

So after wishing it away and using every potion on the shelf at the pharmacy, I had a colonoscopy to see what was going on.

I and ended up being in even worse pain - so bad that I literally couldn't sit down for days. The prep had already exacerbated the fissure and then the irritation of the colonoscopy tubing directly rubbing up against the fissure took it to a whole other level of absolule agony.

Two days after colonoscopy, when I had two norco in me, the cream, and a bag of ice cubes up against my tailfeathers, while crouched in fetal position, I used my spare hand to call the gastro to do something else - anything - inject some numbing agent locally, a spinal, remove my colon. It had to end.

Gastro called in a prescription to a compounding pharmacy for 2% nifedipine/lidocaine suppositories. These were game changers. I was able to return to work the following day and was "all clear" within probably a week or so. Now I just have some days once every few weeks where a bit of pain creeps in and I see blood and I use the suppository and things get back on track.

As PSA, I urge you to try to get some nifed before your colonoscopy. Heck, get on it before prep.

I hope you feel better soon!

Ooo.. That just brought my fears back to the surface. I've never had pain with a colonoscopy... But then rectal exms have never been an issue in the past either.

Will def be asking about nifedipine/lidocaine suppositories when I call tomorrow.

Thanks for the heads up @hilary1617 I'm hoping my experience is nothing like yours.. I suppose even if it is bad, it will give me. Comfort to know it could be worse

 

[Pattycake813]

Nifedipine is a heart medication. It can be given orally or topically. It prevents the spasms from the sphincter muscle. The lidocaine helps with the pain - but remember that both of them can be absorbed through the mucous membranes and affect (slow) your heart rate.

I had to go under general anesthesia to have the exam when I had a fissure for THREE YEARS - I was told if he found a fissure, he would do the sphincterotomy, which is what I woke up with - along with a bonus of removal of external and internal hemorrhoids. Be prepared to have mega-pain meds for a few days afterwards - and then POOF - the pain is gone.

Poof pain gone sounds absolutely amazing.. Even if it does meana few days of heavily drugged up.

 

[DSRIGGS]

I had pain after my colonoscope so got meds similar to what Hilary had and honestly helped a little but not a lot .....but after Dr k cauterized the fissure the pain was gone. Now I was recovering from revision and hernia repair as well so I was on dilaudid in the hospital. Hopefully bonello will take care of it while in there thursday

 

[revisionDS]

I would think with bright red blood that a fissure or hemorrhoid is probable. Any pain?

FYI - I had a chronic fissure for at least 6 months but I never really had any blood.

A quick CBC to make sure your Hemoglobin isn't tanking would be a good idea. That would help to likely rule out any internal bleeding

holy hell, I have had 2 fissures and after the first one, I decided not to suffer as long....yes I had a lot of bleeding, like you could not see any water in the toilet bowl....people think they are bleeding buckets and it turns out to be a few tbsps. at a time..... and OMG the pain from a fissure...I almost went to the lunny bin. And who wants to go to the dr for that at the beginning anyway....I mean its going to go away on its own right....ummm no...mine didn't till I used the RX Rectiv and it took almost 3 weeks....the second time around I didn't wait....and it has been years since I have had another one

 

[DSRIGGS]

I used a compound of diltiazem and bethanechol. It helped a little but not that much. Hot showers letting water run over the ole pucker helped more than anything. Surgery with cauterization was the only thing that gave real relief.

 

[Pattycake813]

Just an update... No hemorrhoids.. But a deep fissure he suspects has been recuerinf over the years.

Woke up with a sphincterotomy and a butt plug... Oh and as you all warned- PAIN. We shall see how the healing goes.. Hopefully as well as the DS

 

[DSRIGGS]

Just an update... No hemorrhoids.. But a deep fissure he suspects has been recuerinf over the years.

Woke up with a sphincterotomy and a butt plug... Oh and as you all warned- PAIN. We shall see how the healing goes.. Hopefully as well as the DS

Sorry to hear they had to do the spincterotomy but glad they treated you. Hang in there and hopefully you heal quickly and the pain disappears soon.

 

[hilary1617]

@Pattycake, so sorry you are in pain, but glad you got the sphincterotomy so that this thing doesn't come back. Now onto "poof pain gone".