[Janice 54]

My daughter (age 33) has been having IBS like problems for a couple of years. At first they thought she had IBS because of too many antibiotics. We thought that was over. Now she is bleeding clots, has major diarrhea and is pretty much fed up. I was always been told you don't bleed with IBS. The colonoscopy showed nothing and the biopsies show nothing. The Dr. is using words like chrons, terminal illeitis, endometreosis and other words I can't spell. Do any of you have any thoughts about what her problem might be?Thanks for listening.Janice(I've had IBS since I was 9, 45 years)

 

[*Luna*]

Is she bleeding clots vaginally or rectally??Does her gynocologist think she has endometriosis? The only way to diagnose that for sure is with a laparoscopy. Sometimes it can be detected during a pelvic exam or ultrasound, but not necessarily. Endo can definitely cause bowel symptoms and if the endometrial lining is growing in the bowel, can cause some cyclic rectal bleeding.If your daughter is passing clots of blood rectally, that is definitely something she and her dr. need to find the root of. If this dr. is not helpful she should see another one.Passing blood clots during menstruation is par for the course for many of us, unfortunately. I cramp a lot worse when I'm passing clots.

 

[Janice 54]

Thank you so much Luna for responding. We are so frustrated. It's wonderful to know it's not cancer, but we are worried. Her bleeding is rectally and she is keeping track now and seems to think it is cyclic. The Dr. she is seeing is an internist. I'll suggest she see her gynocologist too.

 

[~JR~]

Hi:If her bleeding is rectal, and her colonoscopy did not show any signs of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), were there any hemorrhoids or fissures found on examination? If not, another possibility is endometriosis of the rectum/colon. If she is to undergo a laparoscopy to determine this, you will need to find a very skilled and experienced surgeon if there is bowel involvement. Many gynecologists are very leary about doing anything with the bowel because of the risk involved. If a gynecologist recommends laparoscopy, I would strongly suggest you go to one of the best endo. specialists for this.Good luck and I hope some answers are forthcoming. Is your daughter losing weight? How is her appetite? Has she had any blood tests to make sure she is not anemic? JR

 

[Auroraheart]

I can't add to what the others have; but I will keep your daughter in my thoughts. take care

 

[Janice 54]

JR & Auroraheart,Thanks for your input and kind thoughts. Sometimes I think we know more about what's going on in our bodies than the docs do.After her colonoscopy (no sign of anything wrong visually or from the biopsies taken), she got flebitis from the IV and has been fighting the pain for days. They put her on 2,000 mg of antibiotics a day. She is taking acidophilis with pectin and has been able to curb the D. She's been in and out of a leg cast since May because of an injury to her achiles tendon. This has not been her year.

 

[sunnybobo]

Janice 54 I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is suffering so much. Definitely get her to see a GYN. Maybe it's time for a different gastroenterologist? I'm sorry, I don't have any real information for you other than what's already been given. But I do hope your daughter finds the answers and treatment she needs soon.

 

[Janice 54]

Results are in for my daughter's colonoscopy. No chrons, ischemic colitis, etc. Since he couldn't find anything he told her he's just going to call it IBS. Interestingly, he agreed with me that you don't bleed with IBS. My daughter will be seeing her obgyn. Thank you everyone who answered my post. Janice

 

[~JR~]

Hi Janice:That is good news, but still of concern that she is having bleeding. Even if endo. had perforated the colon and was causing bleeding, the biopsies should have shown that. Did the doctor mention anything about hemorrhoids? I hope you don't experience the doctor shuffle that I have experienced. The gastroenterologist sends me to the gynecologist and the gynecologist sends me to the gastroenterologist, and this frustrating dance has continued for years. I do have endometriosis, but it has also been suspected there may be Crohn's. Anyway, don't be put off. Find the answer to this problem.Also, I had phlebitis from the IV from my last colonoscopy too. The pain does decrease in the first weeks, but for me it took almost two years to completely go away. I'm sorry that you are going through all of this. It is horrible. JR