I went to the doctors a few days ago to see a Corectal Consultant as I have been passing (I think) mucus for a while now when I open my bowls and occasionally throughout the day… I had been especially concerned in the few days leading up to the appointment, having noticed the mucus being very white in colour and, sorry to be graphic, but very gooey/stringy. I think it has been like this for a while now but it’s suddenly come to my attention more recently – perhaps there’s just more of it so it’s become more noticeable to me. I've definitely had mucus for a few months but I don't think so much so like this.
After examining my back passage, the consultant said he doesn’t think I have anything to worry about, but I still feel a bit concerned because I’m not sure I stressed to him enough that I’m not actually sure whether it is mucus or not. I might not have been descriptive enough! If it is mucus then I’m not worried – I’m just concerned it may instead be thread worms, or even a tapeworm. I feel a bit uncomfortable going back to him since he dismissed me before so would hugely appreciate some guidance with determining what it may be.
I’ve been abroad the past couple of months in Asia so that may increase the likelihood of recently getting a tapeworm infection since I know they’re uncommon in the UK. However I’ve also struggled gaining weight after loosing weight a few years ago now, which I understand can be symptom of having a tapeworm. Perhaps I’m just being a massive hypochondriac but I know it would put my mind more at ease knowing what it is! Thank you.
I do have a photo as well which would probably help, but it's obviously not very nice so I'm not sure its appropriate to upload!
What you are descrbing sounds more like mucus to me. I think your doctor would have have told you if ihe thought you had anyrhing else. Since your doctor examined you, I don’t think he dismissed your concerns! He would have been able to tell the difference between a tapeworm and mucus.
However, since you are worried, you could always take a sample of the mucus to your doctor for testing or ask for an ova and parasite test. Weight loss can be caused by any number of things. However, worrying can cause weight loss. When I worry I can lose half a stone in a week which is a lot for me because I am very slim and boney. Did you tell your doctor you had been to Asia? If you told him this, I suspect he would have understood your worries about tapeworms.
Thinking you have not given your doctor enough information is a very common worry. Even when I was eventually diagnosed with IBS, I worried that I had forgotten to mention items n the long list of health anxieties I had. I thought about going back to my doctor for reassurance, but in the end I thought better of it and realised it was my anxiety taking over and decided to accept my diagnosis. After this my symptoms vastly improved.
Thank you so much for your response. I'm glad you think it probably is mucus, however my doctor wouldn't actually have seen any of it when they examined me, so although they may be able to tell the difference, he was just going off my description which I didn't go into much detail on at the time!
I will consider taking a sample in then, thank you. For now though, I think I'm going to try a thread worm medicine to see whether that has any effect. I'm sorry to hear you loose weight easily too. I don't think my low weight is related, as I know I wasn't eating enough at the beginning of university, so that's likely why I lost a fair amount. But as I have been finding it quite difficult to gain since even though I do eat quite a lot, I can't help but consider it potentially being a sign.
And yes I did tell him I'd just got back from Asia but he didn't really comment much on it. I can't remember exactly what he said when I suggested I may have a tapeworm but he definitely dismissed the suggestion and said that if I did have one I'd be experiencing diarrhoea. I did then mention that I think I do have a mild case of diarrhoea though, but he didn't really comment again. He suggested having a colonoscopy test or a flexible sigmoidoscopy to examine my bowl for my own piece of mind, but seemed quite sure he didn't think I needed one. And even so, I don't think one of these tests would help in identifying whether I have any worms at all - like you suggested an ova or parasite test would probably be best for this.
I know I'd just feel more comfortable though knowing for sure what the substance it is. But yes, I may well just be overthinking things! I'm very glad to hear your symptoms have vastly improved as well 