Hello all! I’ve been lurking for a few days and figured I might as well join and ask the questions that I have.
First of all I have NOT been dx.
I have an abdominal ultrasound scheduled for this Friday and my upper and lower endoscopies scheduled in 3 weeks.
Current symptoms: I started noticing mucus about 6 months ago. The last month or so I’ve had intermittent blood on my t.p. that is gradually increasing. Within the last week I had bloody mucus. Blood work showed low hemoglobin, % saturation, low MCH, high RDW (sd), high RDW (cv), low ferritin.
I am also having heart palpitations and easily out of breath. FATIGUE.
Longer symptoms/issues: bile acid diarrhea for 10 years treated with prevalite daily. GERD for the last 3 years. I have actually had rectal bleeding on and off for years that I assumed was hemorrhoids.
I’ve had surgery to remove my thyroid 10 years ago after a large goiter grew. I also had surgery to remove my gallbladder a month later.
I have type 1 diabetes along with some other autoimmune disease/s which is currently being looked at as mixed connective tissue disease.
I had an upper and lower endoscopy 6 years ago after having unexplained weight loss that had no indication of anything.
I do have a brother with ulcerative colitis.
Here are my current questions:
1. Has anyone that has been diagnosed with CRC had bloody mucus as a symptom before diagnosis?
2. What can an abdominal ultrasound diagnose? Will they even see anything in my gi track, or will they only be able to look at other organs?
I’m not freaking out about the possibilities as this point, I just want answers so I can start doing whatever I can to feel better. My internist thinks I have Crohn’s. The GI dr didn’t speculate at all. I know I won’t have any real answers until the scoping is done, I just want to learn what I can in the meantime.
Thanks!