Farting Blood Stained Mucus

Hi Mandy. Thank you for you comments.

Funny you should mention SIBO, as I had a couple of other people make the same suggestion to me. I did mention this to the doctor and his suggestion was to take the antibiotic Metronidazole, he said that hospitals don't think the hydrogen breath test used to diagnose SIBO is very accurate, so instead of doing the test, he prescribed me Metronidazole straight away. I took two of these before I started to feel quite unwell, and within about 2 hours of taking the second pill I was vomiting. Shortly after that I developed really bad diarrhoea, and physically felt awful, needless to say I couldn't continue with the antibiotics. It was only after speaking to my sister a few days later that she told me she had the same reaction to Metronidazole as I had, prescribed by her doctor for an absess.

Looking at the symptoms list for SIBO, which seems quite extensive, I actually only have three related symptoms, all over constant abdominal bloating, nausea and fatigue, and the one that affects me the most in a day is bloating. But the bloating is quite severe, I weigh just over 11 stones (70kgs) and I look pregnant most days, and that in itself causes many other problems and pains. I'm sure the intense bloating is causing the bloated parts to push against organs, nerves and other structures in my body and leading to whole host of problems, like random abdominal, chest and back pain, lightheadedness and feeling faint, shortness of breath, hot and cold flushes and raised heart rate to name some.

I've also been told that I could be suffering with chronic constipation. I found this odd as I do have bowel movements, maybe not every day, but most days, but they look quite hard when I do have one. However I spoke to someone who was having bowel movements most days and even with that she was diagnosed with chronic constipation, and she had a lot of the same symptoms I have. She said she had been tested for this, although I can't actually remember what test they did, but since being treated for it, had found a dramatic improvement of her symptoms. And I have to say, the only day in the last month I have felt as near to 100% as I can, was the day of my colonoscopy, after going through the bowel prep. Yes I was pretty drained but it was the only day I felt no bloating and associated symptoms.

Either way, it's pretty much all guesswork for me at the moment, and it's getting quite tiresome and frustrating. I'm going to chase up the results of my colonoscopy biopsies today, I live in hope that they may have the answers, but no doubt they'll come back clear like virtually all the tests I've had done.

Hey Mandi

Sounds like you are going through a pretty torrid time at the moment as well, so sorry to hear about your problems. That must have been quite worrying when the doctor arrived at your door, and on a saturday night as well, now that's service for you, and comforting for you to know that your doctor seems very committed to making sure necessary steps are taken to keep you as well as you can be. I do hope the treatment of antibiotics, followed by probiotics and prokinetics gets you back on track very soon.

I only had my stools tested for presence of blood and inflammatory bowel markers, the blood test came back negative, which was a relief, but the inflammatory marker result was positive, with a result of over 1400, which according to my doctor was one of the highest results he had come across. Hence the reason why a colonoscopy was arranged with biopsies taken. I'm trying to get the results of the biopsies as we speak, but it's proving to be hard work trying to get through to my doctor or the hospital, makes you wonder why they even bother with phones tbh!! I'll definitely mention getting a stool sample cultured just to see if and/or what else is going on there, my doctor will definitely do that for me, he's always willing to look into different info and ideas I mention to him, thanks for the heads up there!

Right, back to feeling like poop for me again today, pretty bad day actually, and I'm sure it's down to all the gas I'm producing that's making me bloat so much. Maybe we'll get there one day!

All the best and get well soon Mandi.

I questioned taking probiotics and prokinetics with my dietician, and she feels that until I've had all the possible, relevant tests and examinations done on my digestive system to rule out other possible causes for my symptoms, that introducing any supplements right now wouldn't be wise. Once we know that my digestive system is all in order, then we will look into supplements, etc. The only supplement I can take are vitamin D pills, this is because my vitamin D levels were very low, due to my inability to get out and about with my Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME. Your ideas are definitely worth noting for the future, thank you!

Hi

Sorry to hear of your problems, speaking from experience it can be a troublesome and worrying situation.

The only advice I can give you is the treatment I have had, and I would be inclined to ask for the following tests to be done. Firstly a full blood count should be done, including vitamin, mineral and electrolyte levels if possible. On top of that I would get stool samples tested for faecal calprotectin, faecal elastase and for blood in the stool. The faecal calprotectin will show up inflammation if there is any present and the faecal elastase will reveal if your pancreas is working ok. The stool blood test for you might be difficult if you are experiencing frequent bloody mucus, so you would need to take a sample when you are having a period where you are not producing blood, if this is possible. The faecal elastase test is very accurate, the faecal calprotectin however can produce false positive results, so it is important you don't take a sample if you are ill with stomach bug, food poisoning, flu, etc and if you have taken certain medication, NSAIDs, Ibuprofen to name a couple, as all these factors can give false positive results.

The results of these tests should give you an idea of the next course of action, but I wouldn't be surprised if a colonoscopy / endoscopy is on the cards, but I would be tempted to have an upper abdominal ultrasound too, just to check your liver, pancreas, gall bladder and spleen. I've had all the above done and apart from my faecal calprotectin result being very high, which could have been a false positive, no other issues were found (still awaiting results of colon biopsies taken during a colonoscopy a few weeks ago, although doctor said my colon looked very healthy). Now I'm due to have a small bowel MRI scan in the very near future as it's the only part of my digestive system that's not been looked at in any great detail.

Apart from this, I really don't know what to suggest, but if you believe food might be a cause for your problems (I note you are on the low FODMAP diet) as I'm inclined to think it is with me, have you thought of doing an elimination diet? I started on just rice for a couple of days, gluten free rice krispies for breakfast (no milk), plain white boiled rice for lunch and dinner and just drank water and within 2 days was feeling so much better, plus I can't remember when I last produced bloody mucus either, certainly hasn't been for at least a week, maybe even two, and when I did last produce some there was hardly anything there. I've been introducing a different food at a time, and I'm pretty sure I've discovered that potatoes are a problem food for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm still experiencing my usual symptoms, but they are mild and I can cope with them the majority of the time, but if I eat potatoes the following day I feel really, really ill, worryingly ill to be honest. Once I take them out of my diet I start to feel ok again. I'm still going through the elimination diet, it is very time consuming, with no other discoveries as yet.

I hope some of that info helps you decide which course of action you'd like to take. I wish you all the best for the future and please let us know how you get on.

Did they say anything about constipation?  If there was a scope up there and no polyps, tumours, ulcers or hemorrhoids found probably not to worry too much

Yes they did, I am having a consultation with the surgeon that did it because I am not completely convinced that it was solely constipation due to the episodes when it did happen. Urgency to go multiple times, my rectum would swell and hurt, difficulty passing gas, and barely having to push with sometimes just mucus coming out. I haven’t had much experience with severe constipation though, maybe that’s normal? Thanks for your comment, reading it actually eased my anxiety a bit.

So glad you have managed to find some reassurance in reading this thread, let's hope, as you said, one of us comes up with some answers in the near future.

My bloody mucus is at the moment being put down to a combination of constipation and hemorrhoids, which I do have as it was written on my colonoscopy results sheet in big bold letters. My colonoscopy biopsies were normal and there were no signs of inflammation, ruling out Ulcerative Colitis. I am due to have a small bowel MRI scan at the start of the new year, waiting lists for outpatient MRIs are quite long here in the UK. This will be to rule out or confirm a diagnosis of Crohns Disease, but personally I have this feeling that the scan is going to come back normal, like every other test I've had done, apart from the two faecal calprotectin tests done recently which were positive.

As far as the bloody mucus goes, I haven't actually had much of that going on lately, some very faint traces of blood now and again on the toilet paper after I've wiped clean a few times, but nothing of any great significance and likely to be hemorrhoids. But I'm still feeling quite ill most days, lots of bloating, burping and flatulence, feeling unsteady like I'm on a boat, bouts of nausea, random abdominal and chest pains. There's a big part of me hoping the MRI comes back normal, but also a part of me hoping there is something found so that there are answers to why I'm feeling so ill almost everyday. There's got to be a reason for the high faecal calprotectin results, just hope they can find it.

All the best for the future and if you get any answers please let us all know, it's very comforting to know we are not alone.

I'm the same mucus and can't pass gas. Stool comes out in little peices.

I too been told this is IBS. Very frustrating. I have alot of othet problems now because of the (consipation) despitr going every day soft stools its consipation. Have you tried lactulose? I have it around christmas time so I can enjoy it works great have about 6 table spoons a day with alot of water got to be careful not to have too much. Its recommended for children but I find it helps me great.

I was going at least once a day too and they thought constipation after having found nothing in my colon. I have follow up appointments next week to talk about what else it could be. How do they diagnose you with IBS? And I will have to try the Lactulose. 

Is the mucus an everyday occurrence for you? Mine was only happening about once a week.

Thanks for your reply

Mucus is everyday normally. Started off once a week 8 years ago, I have pelvic floor problems from having children and also solitary rectual ulcer syndrome. I think they just told me that for a excuse for the ulcers tbh.

With IBS just feel fobbed off. The doctor just asked me what was going on and said this is IBS C give me lactulose. When I first started having it nothing happend went back to doctors, he said its works well have more with lots of water. I have some in morning with a full cup of water. He actually told me I could have up to 8 spoons a day. Crazy

Speak to your doctors about it, If i ask any other doctors about it they just say they give that to children. I think it draws alot of water into my colon and really gets things moving faster when I have it I have what I call normal BMs again. I don't want to take it long term.

Theres also other tests you might want to consider like a colon transit study.

Oh, they have not mentioned anything like IBS. Just constipation. But mine went from about once a week to a week and a half. Now that I have been eating normally since the Colonoscopy I have not experienced the mucus again, so hopefully the Metradonizole solved the problem. Will know more once I have my follow ups. 

Thanks for your comments.

Hi paul how are you getting on?

No problem I hope you get some answers.

Hi Ruby. I'm doing ok I guess, could be a lot better of course, but could also be a lot worse so should be grateful to some extent. How are you getting on?

Sort of glad that the biopsies of my colonoscopy came back normal, so no signs of colitis which is good, but I was sort of hoping something might be discovered to give some answers at last. My last hope now is the small bowel MRI I'm due to have, no date for it yet but it will be at the start of the new year. Again, I hope it comes back clear, but then again I hope they find something. I've got this feeling that'll come back fine as well, leaving me more in the dark than I've ever been. I've not had any bloody mucus for quite some time now though, perhaps I'm having a bout of remission from whatever causes it. There is still some mucus present when I do pass a stool, but can't tell if it's to do with my digestive issues or whether it's normal production to aid in passing stools. My eyes have been feeling quite irritated lately though, whether that's to do with my problems or just from being quite run down is anyone's guess.

Not really much else to report I'm afraid. I hope you are coping well and your problems aren't getting on top of you too much.

Glad colonoscopy came back ok. I read on here most people end up diagnosed with crohn's by having a capsule endoscopy. So maybe worth asking about. I been told MRI scans are good to have.

I think the problem is we need answers thats why you kind of hope something comes back from tests because what is happening to us is not normal and impacts our life.

Being told you got IBS seems like a easy diagnosis for anyone with bowel problem's. I know someone who got told she had IBS she had a cyst on her ovaries.

I'm the same as usual. Get horrible pains even after having water some days. Got appointment friday to find out if I be having surgery. Probably be told no and get discharged. I told them I got worse they don't seem to care.