Rectal bleeding(Maybe a tear or hemorrhoid)

[Green Tea]

I'm hoping that my GI will order more testing. Maybe he will want to do a colonoscopy. None of my doctors are examining me in person. I don't have the report from my colonoscopy. All I know is that my GI said it was normal. He said that everything around the anastomosis site was fine. In the past I had it strength. My colonoscopy showed no evidence of my cancer coming back. That's what my GI told me. I have quite often dealt with hemorrhoids or tears. With the tears I will have some blood on the paper when I wipe and it burns a little. I've never had some blood floating in the water nor more blood on the paper I had put in the toilet bowl. I have an anal skin tag which I think causes issues too.

I think your spell-checker probably inserted the wrong word above. Shouldn't it be "stretched" ?

What did the GI have to say today?

[DarknessEmbraced]

Yes, for some reason it entered strength. I did mean stretch. It was an awful experience because it was done via sigmoidoscopy without sedation. My GI's office hasn't called. His receptionist usually will call to give me a date and time that he will call me. He usually doesn't take me seriously saying it's just IBS so I don't expect to hear back from him anytime soon. Due to the doctor shortage there are only about two(maybe three) GI's all of whom work in the same office.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I had an ischemic colitis attack on Friday. It was without bleeding. Usually after an Ischemic attack I have cramping, , bloating, and gas for only a few days. This time it has lingered. I went back to eating twice with a liquid lunch. Today even the Boost plus calories is bothering me. I get nauseous more often too. I need to have the calories from the solid food but I'm thinking maybe I should go to liquids for the rest of the night and maybe for the next day or so. I have to fast for 12 hours for blood tests on the 27th so I will need to try to have solid food afterward on that day. I'm finding this frustrating. I need to gain weight but I can't deal with this awful cramping and bloating! I try to take buscopan sparingly so they will last longer before I go to buy them over the counter again.(insurance doesn't cover them).

[DarknessEmbraced]

I had fasted for 12 hours before my blood tests yesterday. The blood tests check my thyroid, electrolytes, blood counts, iron, liver and kidneys. My doctor didn't put stat on the blood tests and it takes 7 to 10 days for results. I hope the results will be sooner because I would like to know something before Christmas.

[beach sunrise]

Thinking about you! Let us know.

[Green Tea]

... My GI's office hasn't called. His receptionist usually will call to give me a date and time that he will call me. He usually doesn't take me seriously saying it's just IBS so I don't expect to hear back from him anytime soon. Due to the doctor shortage there are only about two(maybe three) GI's all of whom work in the same office.

So, has your gastroenterologist called back yet? If not, you might need to deal with your issues yourself by using self-care tips taken from a competent source.

Here's a WebMD article with some self-care tips for anal fissure treatment:

Anal Fissure Treatment
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/anal-fissure-treatment

How are your blood test results going to help with your rectal bleeding issues? What kind of results are you hoping for before Christmas?

[DarknessEmbraced]

Thank you beach sunrise! I will update when I know more. No, my GI hasn't called and I doubt he will call anytime soon because he believes everything is just IBS. I had an ischemic colitis attack with some bleeding in March and went to the ER. My GI didn't call until October. Thank you for the information Green Tea but I can't take fiber supplements such as metamucil because they cause horrible cramping and gas. There are many fiber rich foods I have to avoid because they cause severe diarrhea and severe cramping. I haven't had more blood in the water again. It's only happened twice. I didn't only call my GI about the bleeding. It was also to talk to him about the weight loss, feeling full quickly, more cramping, pain and bloating for quite a while. The blood tests have nothing to do with the rectal bleeding. They are to try to figure out the cause of my weight loss. I already know that I have calcium deposits embedded in my kidneys which can cause pain and impact renal function. I'm hoping to at least get a cause of my weight loss and a plan to do something about it. If it's due to hyperthyroidism then I can develop a plan with my endocrinologist. I was referred to an urologist(still waiting to hear anything about that) who could address my nephrocalcinosis and any other kidney related issues. Liver problem would be addressed by my GI. I know that a CT showed I have a mildly fatty liver. I also really need my endocrinologist to get back to me regarding my hyperparathyroidism. High calcium causes all sorts of issues. Constipation being one of them.

[shaina]

Sending you emotional hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery. May you have a good prognosis and quick healing!

[DarknessEmbraced]

Thank you shaina! I really appreciate the support.

[DarknessEmbraced]

My GI still hasn't called me. I will probably have to wait several months to hear back from him. I still haven't heard from my family doctor regarding my blood test results. I called her office after hours only to hear a message saying that her office won't reopen until Tuesday. If the blood tests are normal I won't hear from her at all. She just has her receptionist place the results in my file. They still use paper files. I wish they had online portals for test results. If the results are normal then I'm unsure what other testing my family doctor would order.

[Lee]

(((DE)))

I hope you hear something soon. I am sorry you have to go through all of this hassle.

Thinking of you,

Lee

[roadrunner]

It appears that your doctors now have access to your blood test results, but you don’t. That suggests that nothing of significance showed up. But of course, this assumes your doctors are responsible, and your tone (e.g., “I probably won’t hear for several months”) suggests that you are not confident that they are, or at the least are very frustrated with them. Perhaps you could call the GI practice (which presumably answers the phone) and basically beg them to send you the results at least. That wouldn’t, of course, resolve your desire to be seen, but it may give you some peace of mind and potentially important information that could influence next steps (see below).

Beyond that, the apparent lack of responsiveness may suggest it’s time to breakup with these doctors. IMHO, it’s just not acceptable to get this kind of delay and non-responsiveness when you’re a cancer patient or survivor, even if it’s been a few years. And especially with these symptoms, which may well not be a worst case scenario, but are worth noting in a cancer survivor. Sadly, doctors often write off patients (and women more than men) as anxious malingerers. I’m male and pretty engaged with my care decisions, and whenever I get even so much as a whiff of that I’m out the door.

But of course, this is just my opinion and view on how I would address this. I’m not a patient person, and less so when it comes to this kind of thing.

[Lee]

I

Beyond that, the apparent lack of responsiveness may suggest it’s time to breakup with these doctors. IMHO, it’s just not acceptable to get this kind of delay and non-responsiveness when you’re a cancer patient or survivor, even if it’s been a few years. A

Don't know if you understand, DE lives in Canada. Depending upon where you live, that is not always an option, getting new doctors. I'm sure she will respond. Butt for many people, this is standards care.

Thinking of you DE,

Lee

[roadrunner]

I did not know that, and I have zero knowledge of the Canadian health care system. Thanks for the correction.

[DarknessEmbraced]

Yes, unfortunately due to the shortage here I can't change doctors. I was on a waiting list for two years to get my family doctor. There are only two GIs here. My endocrinologist isn't local. He's 30 minutes away. The only doctor who would mail me test results was my former endocrinologist who died. I usually get them to tell me the numbers and write them down. My family doctor's receptionist is not allowed to give results over the phone but I can get them when I talk to her. Everything here in New Brunswick, Canada is a huge hassle. No worries roadrunner, you didn't know.