Hi,
For the past 3-4 months now ive had recurring blood in my stool as well as small amounts of mucous with every single bowel movement. Im only 21 years old and have no family history of bowel cancer but im terrified that this is what it could be. All the symptoms im having match exactly to that. The blood is quite dark on the outside of the stool but very bright red when im wiping which is confusing. I was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago as the bleeding was quite significant amount wise, and have an outpatient colonoscopy scheduled for a few weeks time which im also feeling nervous about. I also have really foul smelling gas too with the occasional dull abdominal ache on my left hand side. I dont have the best diet in the world and certainly could be drinking more water. Im hoping someone has had similar symptoms to myself and tell me what it ended up being for them. I was recently diagnosed with PoTs where my heart races when standing up and excercising.
Any help would be greatly appreciated 
Thanks,
Ben
Hi Ben,
Definitely start drinking more water it does help, diet is something else you need to look at. The way I look it is if it helps my bowel then its a good thing.
With me I have IBS and my stolls are all over the place and my wind smeels awful to. See what comes from your colonscopy.
Are you constipated? Taking codeine based pain killers or other meds? I have always had a slow bowel and barely went twice a week my whole life till my mid 30s when suddenly I started getting trapped wind all the time.. I had a poor diet and I drank tea with sugar as my only source of fluids.
I've had all the symptoms you have and worse..I dropped to the floor several times and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance at one point.. My life had turned into a living hell.
I had blood, mucus consistently and even black stools... I had two colonoscopies and all they found was some inflamation in my small intestines and a polyp in the last 5 inches of my large intestines which was where the blood was coming from because the hard stools from being constipated was irritating it. They removed it and tested it and it was nothing. They suspected Crohn's but after my 2nd cononoscopy they said it wasn't.
I had trapped wind constantly and it pressed up against my chest causing problems breathing and making me feel dizzy and faint and making my heart race and they even fitted me with a heart monitor because they thought there was something wrong with it (Which there wasn't)..
I also lost 2 stone.. From 10st down to 8st and I lost my appetite because I would just start choking on trapped wind when I ate.
After going for tests for a year and a half I got a sore jaw so I went to the dentist and I said I think my wisdom tooth is impacted.. So upon looking in my mouth the dentist said.. I'm not going to be able to do anything about this until you get this serious gum disease under control.. What??? I had no idea.. I had bleeding gums when I brushed but thought nothing of it really when really for years this was just growing worse and I was swallowing the bad bacteria from my mouth and it was spreading through my digestive system causing inflamation and other issues.
Long story short.. I started to eat healthy foods all the time and I took probiotics and digestive enzymes and slowly things got better till I was no longer sick and bloated 24/7. It took months but bit my bit my stomach and then small instestines and large started to recover.
Do you have healthy looking teeth and gums? I would see a dentist and see what they say as they can see all kinds of intestinal issues from the state of your teeth and gums.
Hope what I wrote was of some help to you..
A tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil 1st thing is great for lubricating the bowels and stopping any irritation.. It's worth a try while you wait for your appointments..
The colonoscopy isn't too bad.. You even get a cup of tea and a few biscuits afterwards :p If you don't want to be put to sleep for it then say so and you will get gas and air to suck but at least you're awake and can watch what is happening on the monitor.. There is some pain but it's not bad with the gas.
I have all this and for me it was perfectly fine. The bright red is a good sign. You have have a pile and when they bleed it can look like a lot even though it may not be that much. Cut your finger and drip it into the bowl and watch it spead it is a similar effect.