Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

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JReittera
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Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:10 pm

Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby JReittera » Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:48 pm

Hello everyone,

I wanted to get some advice on some of my worries I have had recently. I am 25 years old. I started having blood in my stool a few months ago, along with having confused bowls (kept either being constipated or having very loose stools) even with decent fiber intake. The bleeding Typicly lasted a month then stops for a month, then starts again in a bit of a loop. I got checked up by my GI doctor.

He was very dismissive and made numerous "why is a young guy here" jokes, and assumed it was hemorrhoids. I had to pester him to get further testing to verify, and after a bit of arguing he agreed to give me a short scope but not a full scope.

The short scope did find some Hemorrhoids, along with minor inflamation and somewhat excessive mucus. The biopsy for the inflamation came back negative for pathology and the mucus was dismissed as a side effect of the prep.

I was wondering if I should get a second opinion or am I just being paranoid? I know its very unlikely I have cancer, but I just had a close friend get cancer and he is only a few years older than me, so I'm a little bit on edge about it. I have been noticing my stool is a little flat which doesn't help, it went from about 1.5" round to 1"x2" flat pretty consistently.

I'm just worried Hemorrhoids might be helping to hide something worse. I could just be paranoid due to my friends diagnosis though... Thanks for reading my book!

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PGLGreg
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby PGLGreg » Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:38 pm

If I were you, I'd still be nervous. After seeing blood in my stool, I went to my doctor, who looked inside my anus and diagnosed hemorrhoids. But he also mentioned the possibility of a colonoscopy. I decided to get one, but it took several months to schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Four months later, I did have a colonoscopy. I had hemorrhoids, but I also had rectal cancer. I had the standard therapy for this, and I was completely cured of the cancer (but I still have hemorrhoids). If I had made a different decision, I'd probably be dead now.
Greg
stage 2a rectal cancer 11/05 at age 63
LAR 12/05 with adjuvant radiation+5FU,leucovorin 1-2/06
NED for 12 years, cured

erins
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Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 12:41 pm

Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby erins » Mon Jun 18, 2018 10:10 pm

Seconding what PGLGreg said. I’m 38, and about five years ago, I had some bleeding, had a short scope like you described, which found hemorrhoids. Then two months ago I had bleeding with cramping. The blood this time was quite different, and I went to an urgent care clinic who encouraged me to get a colonoscopy.

Turned out it was colon cancer, though early enough it hadn’t spread. I’m about a month post-surgery, and am very lucky my doctors didn’t just use hemorrhoids as a diagnosis. One thing i did, which helped my GI was to take pictures. Yes, it’s a bit gross, and you dont want them showing up on your Instagram, but it was helpful.

I don’t want to scare you into thinking it’s cancer—I have a friend who had similar symptoms and finally got treatment for ulcerative colitis after a colonoscopy. She’s so much healthier now that she knows what’s going on and how to deal with it. She wouldn’t have known that without the colonoscopy. The point is that you shouldn’t have to deal with these bouts of constipation and diarrhea—a colonoscopy can help you find out what’s going on, and tell you if there are things you can do to get things under your control, not your bowels control.

If you’re not getting what you need from your GI, go to your GP or an urgent care doctor for a referral to someone else.
38 yr old female
Rectal bleeding for 1 month—>
5/4/18 colonoscopy found mass in sigmoid colon
5/21/18 LAR
stage 2a, 0/17 lymph, clean margins
T3N0M0 G1
LVI neg, PNI neg, MSS
9/21/18 CEA 0.8
11/16/18 CEA 0.8 & CT clear
12/7/18 iron infusion
2/1/18 iron improved, CEA stable.

SteveNZ
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby SteveNZ » Mon Jun 18, 2018 10:33 pm

Hi J Reittera,
I am no Dr and can only share my understanding.
You were tested well with the 'short scope' (I assume you mean a sigmoidoscopy) which covers the part of the bowel where the symptoms described by yourself would have an issue. It included a biopsy which would have shown if anything was amiss. Plus I assume standard blood tests were taken to check for cancer signals within such a test.

But I agree with the other folk who are more your age and have been there.
For myself I knew the bleeding I had was just too different from haemorrhoids (which I did have) plus other symptoms meant something was up. Sure enough a colonoscopy found a colo-rectal cancer which from what I understand would also have been identified with a short scope procedure. When I first started being concerned my Dr advised me of the type of blood to watch out for and that helped.
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

JReittera
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby JReittera » Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:14 am

SteveNZ:

You are correct, my doctors called the sigmoidoscopy a "short scope". I didn't get a blood test however, I did not know that was typically included.

Do you have any insight on the differences in the bleeding? Mine was a few red streaks mixed in the stool and no drops in the water, with some blood on the toliet paper. It did not happen every movenent during "outbreaks".

Javeno
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby Javeno » Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:57 am

Your story mirrors mine in a lot of ways.

TL;DR get a colonoscopy, INSIST on one.

At 28 I started having blood in stool. Last for 2 years, intermittent, one month on and one month off. Doctors wrote it off as hemorrhoids, 2 doctors said they felt and saw them (I now don’t believe I ever had any). Fast forward to November last year, bleeding is slightly worse, I get fed up and go to my doctor again, he again says hemorrhoids, I say that’s not good enough and I want a better check. I’m referred to a GI and had a colonoscopy. 2 polyps removed, 1 of which was bleeding and was highly precancerous. If I had waited, it could have been devastating. Just had my follow up last Monday and found out no precancerous cells spread to my colon wall, but an additional benign polyp was removed.

Go get checked.

DarknessEmbraced
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:12 am

I'm sorry you're going through this!*hugs* I would get a colonoscopy to be certain. Don't let them tell you you're too young!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

benben
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby benben » Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:34 pm

If you received a sigmoidoscopy and it came back fine you are most likely in the clear.
However if you only received an ANOSCOPY. I would not be satisfied. I had first bleeding around age of 29.
I received an Anoscopy, and was informed my bleeding was most likely result of a minor roid flare or small fissure.
As they could see both with anoscopy. So seemed to think between that and age a full scope was not warranted.
I sure wish I pushed for full scope now. Probably was merely a polyp at that point or at the most very early stage cancer.
Its rare for blood to be seen if you have issues up from the sigmoid colon.
----------------------
3/29/17 diagnosed CRC - 44 y/o Male
4/17/17 ULAR - Straight anastomosis - no ostomy.
Path: low grade T3n1m0 - moderate diff.
KRAS - NO, MLH1/PMS2/MSH6/MSH2 - Normal.
5/3 med port install
5/22 folfox - first treatment.
3rd treat, delayed - low ANC - reduced to 90% OXI
zarxio all treats
Treat 7 - 75% OXI
Treats 8-12 - NO OXI, Luke & 5FU
10/20/17 CT- NED
3/18 Scope - Clean
11/8 PORT OUT!
7/22 CT - NED (5 years!)

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CRguy
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Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby CRguy » Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:07 pm

JReittera wrote:He was very dismissive and made numerous "why is a young guy here" jokes, and assumed it was hemorrhoids.
Get a new doctor

JMO

Best wishes
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

erins
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 12:41 pm

Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby erins » Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:35 pm

JReittera wrote:SteveNZ:

You are correct, my doctors called the sigmoidoscopy a "short scope". I didn't get a blood test however, I did not know that was typically included.

Do you have any insight on the differences in the bleeding? Mine was a few red streaks mixed in the stool and no drops in the water, with some blood on the toliet paper. It did not happen every movenent during "outbreaks".


A sigmoidoscopy is a fairly good test (more than I had for my original hemorrhoids), so you're already waaaay ahead of where I was.

For me the hemorrhoid blood was very bright red--like if I had a bad paper cut or cut myself shaving my legs (for guys I suppose it'd be like shaving whiskers). It was essentially liquid, almost like red food dye. When it was in the bowl it colored the water, rather than the stool, and looked like watercolor paint on the toilet paper.

My more recent bleeding was thicker, more mucos-y and the color of sun dried tomatoes. It wasn't liquidy, so it colored the stool, not the water (the water remained clear and colorless). There was some on the toilet paper, but not much. Like I said, taking a picture really helped my GI, since everyone's perception of color is different. Now, my friend had almost exactly the same symptoms as I did--but she didn't have cancer, or even polyps, so don't freak out :) Still, she needed a colonoscopy for a proper diagnosis & treatment.

Honestly, in your case I'd get another GI and press on about a full colonoscopy more for relief/diagnosis of your other symptoms, rather than out of fear of cancer. Digestive issues very much affect quality of life, and you should have a doctor who will work with you so you can get relief. That may mean diet changes, etc, but you're doing right getting checked out--the least you should have is a doctor who respects you enough to take you seriously.
38 yr old female
Rectal bleeding for 1 month—>
5/4/18 colonoscopy found mass in sigmoid colon
5/21/18 LAR
stage 2a, 0/17 lymph, clean margins
T3N0M0 G1
LVI neg, PNI neg, MSS
9/21/18 CEA 0.8
11/16/18 CEA 0.8 & CT clear
12/7/18 iron infusion
2/1/18 iron improved, CEA stable.

SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby SteveNZ » Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:54 pm

erins wrote:................. My more recent bleeding was thicker, more mucos-y and the color of sun dried tomatoes. It wasn't liquidy, so it colored the stool, not the water (the water remained clear and colorless). There was some on the toilet paper, but not much. Like I said, taking a picture really helped my GI, since everyone's perception of color is different. Now, my friend had almost exactly the same symptoms as I did--but she didn't have cancer, or even polyps, so don't freak out :) Still, she needed a colonoscopy for a proper diagnosis & treatment.


That is very similar to myself.
My stool though, tended to have the blood as streaks (very similar effect to twisted candy cane) and it was also that 'sun dried tomatoes' or as my GP called it old blood (been sitting around inside a bit). Plus a fair bit of mucus with it. Leaving a dull red not bright blood red in the bowl.
It was quite obvious it was not a haemorrhoid. A haemorrhoid actually gave way one time, together with this odd stool so I could tell it was two different issues. And it never stopped happening just got a bit less or a bit more almost randomly.

Please remember that this is only one symptom and I am no Dr. That plus my blood test were the two factors that had my GP organising the colonoscopy.
And to be honest my first GP kept pushing it aside and did not pick it up. It just so happened he was on holiday so I saw this other chap at the same clinic after more pain and he was pretty fast at sorting it out.

J Reittera ..... For peace of mind I think you should get things checked. Your mental health of knowing what is up is pretty important to your well being.

All the best
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

MachineGunKelly
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:08 pm

Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby MachineGunKelly » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:36 pm

I've had hemorrhoids for the past 2-3 months, and occasionally see the blood on my stool. I can feel the hemorrhoids and can even induce a bit of bleeding.

I have my scope next week, and have been assured by several people that I have nothing to worry about. I definitely understand the worry - but it sounds like you and I are in the same boat.

JReittera
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:10 pm

Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby JReittera » Wed Jun 27, 2018 9:53 pm

Well I went to anouther GI doctor as most of you suggested. I had a much better experience, no young guy jokes, didnt cut me off mid sentence, and more understanding. I have a full scope scheduled in two weeks, I'm 99% sure I am fine but its better to know than wonder.

Doesn't help mr bleeding just came back. It always loves to show up before doctors visits to make me extra on edge. I will post the results as I appreciated that when others did it when I was lurking.

MachineGunKelly
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:08 pm

Re: Still worried after finding Hemorrhoids

Postby MachineGunKelly » Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:53 am

Just some encouragement - I had my scope yesterday and it was negative for the bad stuff. I've had good blood work, CT w/ IV contract and an abdominal ultrasound - all of which previously were showing good. I also had diagnosed hemorrhoids and a fissure - keep your head up, like many others have said - until you're diagnosed, you do not have the big casino.


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