The Colon Club

Sorry in advance if the details of this post are kinda graphic. I'm sure everyone is used to it by now.

I was prescribed opiates for approximately 7 years from 2007-2014. The opiates caused chronic constipation which has extended into the three years since I've been off these drugs. As of late the constipation isn't as pronounced as it was previously but bowel discomfort and fairly intense flatulence have started. All these symptoms are relatively manageable and tolerable if i'm very careful of my diet(lots of veggies, foods that are easy for me to digest etc). On occasion when the constipation does flare up I'll have blood on the toilet paper but never in the stool. The blood usually appears after I've had several small and incomplete bowel movement in one day. This leads me to believe the blood is from excessive wiping rather than internal bleeding. I've recently gone to see a doctor about these symptoms. He says because of the blood a colonoscopy is required. The doctor spent little time asking me about diet, overall health, probiotic intake or any other possible natural, noninvasive remedies for my issues. I'm 30 in otherwise good health. I'll admit, i'm a naturally skeptical and cynical person but I'm concerned that this is an overkill and a moneymaking scheme to some degree. It just seems a bit drastic given my young age and the fact that the symptoms are manageable if i'm careful with my diet. Should I follow the doctors advise or is this an overkill? Any advise/knowledge would be appreciated. Thanks.

Chances are, given your history, the bleeding is not due to a tumor, but there are many of us who wish we were not so quick to dismiss our rectal bleeding as something trivial or benign. If you were my family member, i would want you to have the colonoscopy.

I agree with what Hawkowl said. If you have a doctor willing to approve a colonoscopy, then I think you should go for it. If nothing else, it will set your mind at ease after you know what is really going on.

ocstacy wrote:... I had to argue with 3 Dr. to get my colonoscopy approved so that my insurance could pay...

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Colonoscopy Prep Solutions
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I agree best to have a colonoscopy to find out the reason for the bleeding.*hugs*

I am grateful to my Dr for advising me to get a colonoscopy. I had bleeding hemorrhoids, PCP saw them and confirmed it. Every test that should have been a warning flag for colon cancer came back negative or normal. When all was said and done, my PCP figured those bleeding hemorrhoids would be my excuse for getting my baseline colonoscopy early in life.

My signature line tells the rest of story. Truth be know, anytime there is rectal bleeding, a colonoscopy should be done (regardless of age) for a true diagnoses, anything else is just a speculation.


Lee

I agree best to have a colonoscopy to find out the reason for the bleeding.*hugs*

It was the best thing that I could ever do for myself and give me "Peace of Mind". Mom got DX last May with rectal cancer. It was a huge surprise to everyone nobody on her side of family had CA. I had to fight for a colonoscopy between my general and 2nd opinion. When I told her that I had blood in my bm the 2nd time I saw her and my mom's DX, she finally referred me to the GI. I think it's cause I went in for a 2nd opinion.. but it was really the 2nd Dr who gave me permission to see the GI, not my general. I ended up having a benign polyp but I will never forget back in 2014 when I was attending college full time and working two jobs, I was under a ton of stress. I was working 10 hour shifts as a newborn specialist a few times a week and teaching preschool, and attending 5 classes. I have no idea how I survived BUTT I did. i had the worst hemmoroids to where I had to carry a doughnut with me to school to sit on. I ended up getting a fungal infection, it was horrible! I didn't have medical insurance and it got so bad that I had to treat myself to OTC meds. Then, I had what I thought was a thrombosis but I thought my hemmy was going to burst open.. my pain level was so bad I had take narcotics. ER dr. stuck his finger up my you know what and I cried so hard. I seriously thought at that point I had some kind of problem like CA. I was very nervous to get a colonoscopy BUTT glad I got it done with and over. I just have enternal/external hemmy's which I can now control with stool softeners, tucks pads, and my proctozone cream. I can't live without those products after having a 9 pd 4 oz baby. I am thankful for this board.