Old sufferer, but scared of new symptom

629 Views 18 Replies 7 Participants Last post by h8ibs, Dec 15, 2004

whodat

Discussion Starter · Nov 30, 2004

Hello.I am 31 years old and I was diagnosed with IBS and GERD on Sept. 10, 2001. I occasionally pop bentl and nexium and after about 2 years finally had this all under control. Or so I thought.About two weeks ago, I started to see mucus after straining. I figured it was OK, but then the mucus started to assume the color of the stool and was sometimes brownish red. I cannot tell if it is blood or not, since the stool is normal looking, but it's the mucus color on the stool that concerns me. I am really freaked out about this and scared I now have something worse than IBS.I have a good gastro, and have left a voice mail with the nurse about an hour ago. But I am in panic mode and scared to death right now of what happens next. I don't want a colonoscopy. I just want to be normal again. Have any of you had these symptoms... reddish-brown mucus on stool or by itself when you strain? I feel like I am the only one in the world with this oddity and suffering. I don't know what else I can do.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

G

· #2 · Nov 30, 2004

No no no you are not - I've had this darked almost freckled mucus for absolutely years and I'm still standing. Our GP's here are dead laid-back to the point of total disinterest about IBS - basically if it ain't cancer - leave alone so I have to muddle along by myself. I find, particularly when I'm constipated (alot of the time) that the stool comes out with some mucus behind which can be almost bright yellow but sometimes considerably darker. I'm not saying don't see a GP but please don't panic I'm sure its just one of the joys of IBS.All the bestSue, Manchester

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G

· #3 · Nov 30, 2004

No no no you are not - I've had this darked almost freckled mucus for absolutely years and I'm still standing. Our GP's here are dead laid-back to the point of total disinterest about IBS - basically if it ain't cancer - leave alone so I have to muddle along by myself. I find, particularly when I'm constipated (alot of the time) that the stool comes out with some mucus behind which can be almost bright yellow but sometimes considerably darker. I'm not saying don't see a GP but please don't panic I'm sure its just one of the joys of IBS.All the bestSue, Manchester

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NancyCat

· #4 · Nov 30, 2004

Yes its happened to me too. I can understand your worry. People with IBS have mucus that can be seen, more than "normal" people. I have no idea why. Your gastro can test you to see if its got blood in it, don't know if he/she will want to do any tests "just to be on the safe side". Try not to worry

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NancyCat

· #5 · Nov 30, 2004

Yes its happened to me too. I can understand your worry. People with IBS have mucus that can be seen, more than "normal" people. I have no idea why. Your gastro can test you to see if its got blood in it, don't know if he/she will want to do any tests "just to be on the safe side". Try not to worry

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whodat

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 30, 2004

Thank you both -- I really appreciate your insight and candor. Still waiting to hear back from my gastro's office. I suppose they'll want to see me soon, though I am not looking forward to it. I guess I just want to get it all over with, scared as I am.This IBS thing.... crazy. Just when you think you have it licked, it comes back with new symptoms. And for a worry wart personality type like me, it's torture mentally. This new thing worried me so much, I finally registered here instead of just lurking.Again, thank you both and to anyone who wants to offer more insight or advice. This place is a Godsend.

whodat

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 30, 2004

Thank you both -- I really appreciate your insight and candor. Still waiting to hear back from my gastro's office. I suppose they'll want to see me soon, though I am not looking forward to it. I guess I just want to get it all over with, scared as I am.This IBS thing.... crazy. Just when you think you have it licked, it comes back with new symptoms. And for a worry wart personality type like me, it's torture mentally. This new thing worried me so much, I finally registered here instead of just lurking.Again, thank you both and to anyone who wants to offer more insight or advice. This place is a Godsend.

NancyCat

· #8 · Nov 30, 2004

The bummer about IBS (among other things) is that it tends to wax and wane over time. Its sort of like a program that is always running on your pc,doesnt always cause problems but you CAN'T delete it

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NancyCat

· #9 · Nov 30, 2004

The bummer about IBS (among other things) is that it tends to wax and wane over time. Its sort of like a program that is always running on your pc,doesnt always cause problems but you CAN'T delete it

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carida

· #10 · Dec 1, 2004

*grin* that is so true NancyCat. I'm still getting to grips with my waxing and waning and trying to work out patterns! :-/

carida

· #11 · Dec 1, 2004

*grin* that is so true NancyCat. I'm still getting to grips with my waxing and waning and trying to work out patterns! :-/

sandee38

· #12 · Dec 2, 2004

It's good that you called your dr. It sounds like you may have an ulcer in your colon. I was diagnosed with colitis after have a bad bout with IBS. Now whenever I have a flare of IBS it causes the colitis to flare. For me the IBS is the biggest annoyance and hardest to get a grip on. Hang in there, this ever changing problem will keep you guessing every time you have a new flare....and for me what got rid of the IBS the last time usually doesn't work the next time. It's like the IBS knows and say's "I'm not going to fall for that again!" Which is why we're all on these boards sharing what works for each of us! Great source of ideas!

sandee38

· #13 · Dec 2, 2004

It's good that you called your dr. It sounds like you may have an ulcer in your colon. I was diagnosed with colitis after have a bad bout with IBS. Now whenever I have a flare of IBS it causes the colitis to flare. For me the IBS is the biggest annoyance and hardest to get a grip on. Hang in there, this ever changing problem will keep you guessing every time you have a new flare....and for me what got rid of the IBS the last time usually doesn't work the next time. It's like the IBS knows and say's "I'm not going to fall for that again!" Which is why we're all on these boards sharing what works for each of us! Great source of ideas!

LuckiStar2

· #14 · Dec 3, 2004

I pass mucus often too. It is usually after a spell of diarrhea, like me body still wants me to poop but there isn't anything else left to poop.

My doctor is aware of this so it is always good to let you doctor know. Especially if there has been a change in your stool.Good Luck,Carly

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LuckiStar2

· #15 · Dec 3, 2004

I pass mucus often too. It is usually after a spell of diarrhea, like me body still wants me to poop but there isn't anything else left to poop.

My doctor is aware of this so it is always good to let you doctor know. Especially if there has been a change in your stool.Good Luck,Carly

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Squat18

· #16 · Dec 14, 2004

I have that problem. I was diagnosed with IBS-D when I was 16 (23 now) and it kind of fizzled out for awhile, then I started seeing mucus and bright red blood about a year ago. I totally thought I had something worse than IBS and that I had been diagnosed incorrectly all along. Two doctors and lots of tests later, it turns out it's still just IBS (colonscopies aren't bad at all - I didn't remember a thing, they knock you out pretty good). My doc said the nerves in my colon were super-sensitive, more than most ibs sufferers. She said that I could have had a bad case of gastroenteritis in the past that changed the way the nerves worked, making the colon ultra-sensitive, which of course, makes it susceptible to bleeding for various reasons, such as hard stools.Out of curiousity, has anyone else heard of this?

Squat18

· #17 · Dec 14, 2004

I have that problem. I was diagnosed with IBS-D when I was 16 (23 now) and it kind of fizzled out for awhile, then I started seeing mucus and bright red blood about a year ago. I totally thought I had something worse than IBS and that I had been diagnosed incorrectly all along. Two doctors and lots of tests later, it turns out it's still just IBS (colonscopies aren't bad at all - I didn't remember a thing, they knock you out pretty good). My doc said the nerves in my colon were super-sensitive, more than most ibs sufferers. She said that I could have had a bad case of gastroenteritis in the past that changed the way the nerves worked, making the colon ultra-sensitive, which of course, makes it susceptible to bleeding for various reasons, such as hard stools.Out of curiousity, has anyone else heard of this?

h8ibs

· #18 · Dec 15, 2004

I had a similar problem. Not exactly the same, but I did see mucous and blood. Went to the doc. After the sameful "gloved finger" test, doc says it was internal hemmeroids from straining that were now bleeding. It was nothing to worry about.

h8ibs

· #19 · Dec 15, 2004

I had a similar problem. Not exactly the same, but I did see mucous and blood. Went to the doc. After the sameful "gloved finger" test, doc says it was internal hemmeroids from straining that were now bleeding. It was nothing to worry about.

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