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Constipation, bleeding, mucus, 21 years old-help!

Posted , 4 users are following.

npthomas1
npthomas1

Hi everyone, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for from this forum apart from some help and i guess someone to listen. In February last year I began experiencing some strange symptoms very unlike myself, every 3 weeks or so I would begin vomiting profusely, extreme nausea, extreme fatigue, with bouts of diaorrea. I began bleeding everytime I was going to the toilet, with bits of mucus (which I now know is the bowel lining?) coming out with some movements. This lasted until about June, when one such episode ended up with me in A&E. I was referred to a doctor who simply diagnosed me with IBS. Unsatisfied with this diagnosis, I changed doctors. Since around June last year I have now been heavily constipated , usually not going for around 4-5 days at a time. I eat plenty of fibre, a good healthy balanced diet, and fail to see where the problem is lying. I still bleed from the rectum and there is still mucus present, so my doctor prescribed me with suppositories to heal the anal fissure she believe I have, and Laxido and Dulcolax to help me go to the toilet. I have been referred for a colonoscpy but i am not sure as to when this will be happening, no referral has come through the post as of yet. I am a 21 year old female, in my last year of university amongst other things struggling to finish my course and deal with all this distress at the same time. I have a direct family history of bowel cancer. Please can someone with the same problems/any insight help me as to what may be causing all of these things!!

Thanks so much for reading

N x

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • npthomas1
    npthomas1

    Posted

    Forgot to add, I have been diagnosed as anaemic recently (iron count at 8), and also with a problem with one of my proteins Albumin.
  • trex
    trex

    Posted

    Does your doctor know about your direct family history of bowel cancer ? when did your doctor refer you for colonoscopy ? should get it soon or pressure them because the colonoscopy would be your best diagnosis since the doctor will be able to directly visualise what is happening inside.

  • caro13
    caro13

    Posted

    Request an urgent test for Coeliac disease - this is supposed to be given prior to any diagnosis of IBS! Quote NICE Guidelines on this to GP if necessary. Your symptoms do strongly suggest the possibility of having the condition.

    There is a blood test for it and that may be followed up with an endoscopy biopsy (via the mouth - only takes a minute). Anaemia at that level should be indicating this condition to your GP. If refuses to give you one ask for an urgent Referral to a Gastroenterologist - who will know all about the condition - GPs often don't!. Do not take any supplements until you have had the tests...even if offered them! (See Coeliac website).

    Meantime read up on Coeliac Org UK website for full details of symptoms and diagnosis. Exclude nothing from your diet until after you have been tested for Coeliac disease or you may get a false negative result....hence it can take years to be diagnosed by which time you become badly nourished and more and more unwell. Follow the guidelines on Coeliac Org UK and ask questions via their Talk To Us link on their website. Persist with this ....keep going back!

    (A TV GP said last year that they had been told not to refer on or carry out tests on patients until they had visited the Surgery at least 7 or 8 times in one year for the same problem! NB!!!)

  • npthomas1
    npthomas1

    Posted

    Does Coeliac have a blood test? I'm fairly sure I've had quite a lot of blood tests that rule out inflammation. I have to note iv had to change doctors 3 times due to location so iv only been with my current doctor since September.
  • caro13
    caro13

    Posted

    It is a very specific blood test and it looks for antibodies in your blood to gluten. If you have the Coeliac condition your small intestine becomes flat and smooth - the little hairs which are usually there to absorb vitamins and minerals pull back into the lining so you do not get the nutrition you need...hence become anaemic and tired...lack other vitamins and calcium etc....it is a downward spiral! So I would suggest you go back and ask specifically for the tests for coeliac disease....I doubt you have had them before because it is a quite specific test and they would have told you the result. It is an autoimmune condition and you may also get pains in your muscles, bones and joints, have mouth ulcers etc....lots of things appear in different people. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis as you need help with managing the condition initially.

    Normal iron levels for a female are between 11 and 14....anything below 10 should be checked out ...it is common in the Coeliac condition to be anaemic. That is how I came to be diagnosed in the end...by which time I was down to 6 - which is blood transfusion level! Believe me, I felt grim by then! Do get checked out as soon as you can. GPs are supposed to check for Coeliac condition first with your symptoms so not an unreasonable request. If it is refused ask to see a Gastroenterologist....persist...nothing is more important that good health! Get someone to go with you. And do read up on Coeliac Org UK website.

  • caro13
    caro13

    Posted

    If Coeliac disease remains undiagnosed for many years it increases the risk of Bowel Cancer.....once diagnosed officially it reduces to normal risk levels after 5 years.....so bear this in mind...for yourself and your family too. The condition does run in families.
  • npthomas1
    npthomas1

    Posted

    Thankyou carol. I was unaware there was specific testing for coeliac, so if my colonoscopy returns nothing I shall ask for the coeliac test. I was told the normal

    Level was 15-300 for iron count. Mine came back from the doctors as 8.

  • caro13
    caro13

    Posted

    Colonoscopy is checking your lower bowel - from the other end - for other things. Good to have that done, but will not diagnose Coeliac disease - it is a blood test first and then an endoscopy via the top end just to confirm. Good Luck!
  • rose_smart57598
    rose_smart57598 npthomas1

    Posted

    Hi it reminds me of before I was diagnosed (ive got a broken key board) and some people had constipation and I had dioarea any way look up chorns its hard if your got a busy life but you just will have to rest because you can make yourself sicker and it takes time to learn to anyway a tick I always used one glass of red wine for constipation and eating kent pumkin boiled or roasted for dioarea don't forget to take your medication if you are given any by for know

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