So I have been bleeding on and off and passing mucus with my stool for 5/6 Years I'm 24 years of age and have did 6 stool tests in the last 3 months.
3 weeks ago I did a stool test where the inflammation level was 77.5 so doctor who thought it was ibs was not worried as I didn't have a high enough inflammation level for it to be anything serious but me being me wanted a colonoscopy just to be sure there is nothing sinister going on. So he persuaded me to do one more stool test this time my inflammation level went up to 255am now Booked in to the gaestroentrolgy department at the hospital I think for a colonoscopy!
Now ow I have only had bright blood in stools never dark or congested blood and often pass mucus in/on the stool too,I have no real abdominal pain in the tummy but I do pass wind quite regularly so the main worry is what diseases/conditions will a colonoscopy look for?.. Obviously Colon Cancer but what else....when the doctor told me the results over the phone she mentioned see if the inflammation it due to gastroenteritis or piles..but what else any help would be great!
You are so young to be suffering and worrying. I had a colonoscopy in March, not as unpleasant a procedure as i thought but do make sure you request sedation, very important. Bright red blood means that it is only coming from the end of the bowel where it has not had time to be digested or change colour. This is usually piles, would be rare for it to be anal cancer or rectal cancer at your age. Dark red blood comes from higher up and could be an ulcer, polyps or rarely a tumour. More likely to be inflammation of some kind, like colitis or chrohns should be ruled out. I had both piles and two polyps which were dealt with immediately during the colonoscopy. You are quite right to seek further tests and good of you to persevere. Even if you only gain peace of mind it will be worth putting yourself through this. I found the worse part was drinking all the stuff to empty my bowel the day before, the drinks tasted horrid. Hope all goes well for you.
when you do the Colonoscopy how long does it generally take to get back your results and do they only take a biopsy if they find something sinister?
i do believe I have piles to as when I sit down to poo or if I squat then something pops downs but when I'm done pops write back up,I have had a lot of string mucus also over the last 3 days.
My colonoscopy took 50 minutes and the consultant performing the procedure talked to me throughout explaining everything he could see as it happened. I was sedated but actually found it fascinating watching my insides on the screen, i am a former nurse. There was a nurse with me all the time who was so lovely. They took 2 polyps away as they found them, they thread a wire up through the colonoscopy tube to strangle it as it were and then laser it off and send it away for analysis. You see a little puff of smake as it burns off. I could not feel anything. Anything supicious they take a biopsy which takes a week to come back. If it is cancer they ring you immediately with an appointment.Not sure of they treat piles immediately as they usually do this under general anaesthetic.
Good luck, i am sure you will be fine. They gave me a cuppa and sandwiches after mine.