I hate going to the GP with a list but...
Discussion
For a number of years now I've had a bit of bleeding after going to the loo (I have it constantly tbh); I also get acid reflux for which I take a prescribed drug.
Not to be too graphic about it but I rarely have firm stools and it's been like that for months.
I also keep falling asleep during the day (I fight to stay awake).
I also get palpitations and dizziness; got checked out for these and despite saying that they are irregular and infrequent, I was checked on an ECG for circa 2 to 3 minutes and they concluded all OK although it wasn't occurring at that moment in time.
I don't know if any of these things are connected and when trying to get help I've only really encountered people who are wanting to rush me out the door again and are quite dismissive. I don't go to the GP very often as it is.
Would you be concerned with any of the above or just put it down to a busy lifestyle and being 44 and fairly normal?
These of course aren't the sort of thing you discuss with friends and family
I'm slim fit and healthy in all other respects.
Not to be too graphic about it but I rarely have firm stools and it's been like that for months.
I also keep falling asleep during the day (I fight to stay awake).
I also get palpitations and dizziness; got checked out for these and despite saying that they are irregular and infrequent, I was checked on an ECG for circa 2 to 3 minutes and they concluded all OK although it wasn't occurring at that moment in time.
I don't know if any of these things are connected and when trying to get help I've only really encountered people who are wanting to rush me out the door again and are quite dismissive. I don't go to the GP very often as it is.
Would you be concerned with any of the above or just put it down to a busy lifestyle and being 44 and fairly normal?
These of course aren't the sort of thing you discuss with friends and family
I'm slim fit and healthy in all other respects.
Edited by Kentish on Friday 12th July 14:04
Might be worth mentioning them, quite a few of them could be related to anxiety and/or stress (if you feel like that?)
Better to be on the safe side
Except the bottom bleeding - if it's light spotting most likely to be a small haemorrhoid or fissure (little split), if your bowels are loose then maybe more like to be a small haemorrhoid. If it's heavy get it check asap! worth getting checked and firm diagnosis regardless though.
Better to be on the safe side
Except the bottom bleeding - if it's light spotting most likely to be a small haemorrhoid or fissure (little split), if your bowels are loose then maybe more like to be a small haemorrhoid. If it's heavy get it check asap! worth getting checked and firm diagnosis regardless though.
Edited by DSharp on Friday 12th July 14:52
Ring up and ask for a double appointment - or if not possible, make a second appointment soon after. You don't have to fit everything into a single short appointment, nobody expects you to. They'll thank you for giving them time to look after you properly. Prioritise the bleeding though as that's probably the thing that wants investigating quickish, everything on your list wants sorting but I think that's the thing to suss out first.
ok- this is pretty personal stuff........and let's just say I know a man who has the same bleeding since early 20s......and is now 38.
His theory is, as he hasn't died yet, it's probably ok.
Sometimes in the past it was very heavy, and seems rather dependant on amount of alcohol consumed.
He once had a medical with Bupa, mentioned it and described the symptoms. The doctor didn't even want to check, and basically said eat more fibre, drink less alcohol.
that was around 8 years ago............
So probably terrible advice........but don't necessarily panic on the bleeding thing.
Note to self, must go get checked out!
His theory is, as he hasn't died yet, it's probably ok.
Sometimes in the past it was very heavy, and seems rather dependant on amount of alcohol consumed.
He once had a medical with Bupa, mentioned it and described the symptoms. The doctor didn't even want to check, and basically said eat more fibre, drink less alcohol.
that was around 8 years ago............
So probably terrible advice........but don't necessarily panic on the bleeding thing.
Note to self, must go get checked out!
Palpitations/dizziness and tiredness could be put down to anaemia which could easily be due to your history of blood loss PR. The acid reflux could also be related - if it is gastritis then a bit of bleeding could also be occuring there.
I would discuss these things with your GP. Some GP's do get frustrated with patients who 'save up' their symptoms but it is worth mentioning these together and see if your GP makes a link. Consider discussing a Full blood count and thyroid function tests.
Also - is the blood fresh on the paper or mixed in with your stool? Is there any mucous present? This could indicate inflammatory bowel disease.
See your GP, go from there.
Great topic for a monday breakfast time!
I would discuss these things with your GP. Some GP's do get frustrated with patients who 'save up' their symptoms but it is worth mentioning these together and see if your GP makes a link. Consider discussing a Full blood count and thyroid function tests.
Also - is the blood fresh on the paper or mixed in with your stool? Is there any mucous present? This could indicate inflammatory bowel disease.
See your GP, go from there.
Great topic for a monday breakfast time!
I don't want to concern or scare you and of course I am neither a doctor nor do I know anything about you; but I had similar symptoms for a few years (that eventually got worse) and was fobbed off by my GP with the haemorrhoids diagnosis as had had a fissure before (nb a fissure hurts, a lot!!). A few years on and this January gone I was diagnosed with colon cancer, and a 5cm tumour that had probably been growing for about 5 years.
As it is I have been lucky and it was a convenient position for removal, but now have to spend the rest of my life being checked and worrying if/when the cancer will recur!
I always had bright red blood (only a bit - though it became more regular) which was supposed to be more akin to piles etc but it bloody wasn't!
Go to your doctor and insist on a colonoscopy. My consultant said any bleeding and a change of bowel habits should be checked. If you are older than 40 it may be worth having an upper body scan including a virtual colonoscopy though yup would need to pay for this (cost me £750 at a company called Lifespan - no connections and usual disclaimer).
Good luck and I hope its nothing but better to find that out sooner rather than later.
As it is I have been lucky and it was a convenient position for removal, but now have to spend the rest of my life being checked and worrying if/when the cancer will recur!
I always had bright red blood (only a bit - though it became more regular) which was supposed to be more akin to piles etc but it bloody wasn't!
Go to your doctor and insist on a colonoscopy. My consultant said any bleeding and a change of bowel habits should be checked. If you are older than 40 it may be worth having an upper body scan including a virtual colonoscopy though yup would need to pay for this (cost me £750 at a company called Lifespan - no connections and usual disclaimer).
Good luck and I hope its nothing but better to find that out sooner rather than later.
Edited by Boshly on Monday 15th July 07:04
RacerMDR said:
ok- this is pretty personal stuff........and let's just say I know a man who has the same bleeding since early 20s......and is now 38.
His theory is, as he hasn't died yet, it's probably ok.
Sometimes in the past it was very heavy, and seems rather dependant on amount of alcohol consumed.
He once had a medical with Bupa, mentioned it and described the symptoms. The doctor didn't even want to check, and basically said eat more fibre, drink less alcohol.
that was around 8 years ago............
So probably terrible advice........but don't necessarily panic on the bleeding thing.
Note to self, must go get checked out!
Jesus! Get your "friend" to go to the GP, people die from cancer, they don't die of embarrassment. (It is probably nothing, mind His theory is, as he hasn't died yet, it's probably ok.
Sometimes in the past it was very heavy, and seems rather dependant on amount of alcohol consumed.
He once had a medical with Bupa, mentioned it and described the symptoms. The doctor didn't even want to check, and basically said eat more fibre, drink less alcohol.
that was around 8 years ago............
So probably terrible advice........but don't necessarily panic on the bleeding thing.
Note to self, must go get checked out!
)Same for the OP, book an appointment, tell the receptionist you've got a few things going on and ask for a double appointment if they do them. If they don't then apologise to the GP and expect them to run over. Whatever else you do don't book an emergency appointment.
Up until last year I'd been getting some blood when wiping for a long time (maybe a few years!) and eventually decided to tell my doctor.
It was a little embarrassing but nothing he hadn't heard before many times, so it soon wasn't very embarrassing at all and a relief to finally have it checked.
It turned out to be a few internal piles which were removed with a fairly simple (though a little uncomfortable) procedure.
I've also suffered with intermittent dizziness and palpitations.
These have greatly reduced since I changed my dietary habits by cutting down on sugar, saturated fat and alcohol (though I do still drink too much) and losing about 20% of my body weight.
I also find it much easier to stay awake at my desk during the day now too!
It was a little embarrassing but nothing he hadn't heard before many times, so it soon wasn't very embarrassing at all and a relief to finally have it checked.
It turned out to be a few internal piles which were removed with a fairly simple (though a little uncomfortable) procedure.
I've also suffered with intermittent dizziness and palpitations.
These have greatly reduced since I changed my dietary habits by cutting down on sugar, saturated fat and alcohol (though I do still drink too much) and losing about 20% of my body weight.
I also find it much easier to stay awake at my desk during the day now too!
As someone who suffers from acid reflux and takes medication from it, i'd hazard a guess that the tiredness during the day is the early warning sign that another bout is on the way. I get it myself, and I wonder for a moment why I'm feeling tired - then remember I havent taken my tablet. An hour later and i'm fine.
HughS47 said:
Palpitations/dizziness and tiredness could be put down to anaemia which could easily be due to your history of blood loss PR.
yes, i had quite bad anaemia for quite some time that i didnt realise about, a normal persons iron/haemoglobin levels should be about 14, and mine was 7 and i was getting really light headed and dizzy and tired v quickly, like even walking about the supermarket, i wouldnt even get about a third of the way through my shop when i would get lightheaded almost fainting kind of feeling.i started taking iron suppliments and after about 2-3 weeks it all but went away, and now after taking them for some time my levels are back to normal.
i would say it what i quoted might very well be anaemia as i was getting the exact same symptoms from being anaemic and it went away after taking iron supp's for a while.
RacerMDR said:
Kentish said:
Thanks all for the advice & I appreciate the lack of the usual PH flippancy
I've an appointment book for the end of the month where I'll make sure each problem is followed up.
Fair play - I suspect I'll get my friend to do the same :-)I've an appointment book for the end of the month where I'll make sure each problem is followed up.
Er, I mean make sure he does
I've had the bleeding for quite a few years and it is more frequent now, every visit for the past couple of years.
Apart from the tiredness, I feel perfectly fine but it's worth getting it checked properly.
I'm sure it'll be nothing sinister.
HughS47 said:
Palpitations/dizziness and tiredness could be put down to anaemia which could easily be due to your history of blood loss PR. The acid reflux could also be related - if it is gastritis then a bit of bleeding could also be occuring there.
I would discuss these things with your GP. Some GP's do get frustrated with patients who 'save up' their symptoms but it is worth mentioning these together and see if your GP makes a link. Consider discussing a Full blood count and thyroid function tests.
Also - is the blood fresh on the paper or mixed in with your stool? Is there any mucous present? This could indicate inflammatory bowel disease.
See your GP, go from there.
Great topic for a monday breakfast time!
You're asking the same stupid question the GP's ask with regards to blood in the stool. As someone who has the same symptoms as the OP it drives me nuts to tell the GP I have loose stools only for them to ask if there's blood in them. They're loose. There's nothing to examine. It's a sloppy mess! Makes answering the question rather difficult.I would discuss these things with your GP. Some GP's do get frustrated with patients who 'save up' their symptoms but it is worth mentioning these together and see if your GP makes a link. Consider discussing a Full blood count and thyroid function tests.
Also - is the blood fresh on the paper or mixed in with your stool? Is there any mucous present? This could indicate inflammatory bowel disease.
See your GP, go from there.
Great topic for a monday breakfast time!
Oakey said:
HughS47 said:
Palpitations/dizziness and tiredness could be put down to anaemia which could easily be due to your history of blood loss PR. The acid reflux could also be related - if it is gastritis then a bit of bleeding could also be occuring there.
I would discuss these things with your GP. Some GP's do get frustrated with patients who 'save up' their symptoms but it is worth mentioning these together and see if your GP makes a link. Consider discussing a Full blood count and thyroid function tests.
Also - is the blood fresh on the paper or mixed in with your stool? Is there any mucous present? This could indicate inflammatory bowel disease.
See your GP, go from there.
Great topic for a monday breakfast time!
You're asking the same stupid question the GP's ask with regards to blood in the stool. As someone who has the same symptoms as the OP it drives me nuts to tell the GP I have loose stools only for them to ask if there's blood in them. They're loose. There's nothing to examine. It's a sloppy mess! Makes answering the question rather difficult.I would discuss these things with your GP. Some GP's do get frustrated with patients who 'save up' their symptoms but it is worth mentioning these together and see if your GP makes a link. Consider discussing a Full blood count and thyroid function tests.
Also - is the blood fresh on the paper or mixed in with your stool? Is there any mucous present? This could indicate inflammatory bowel disease.
See your GP, go from there.
Great topic for a monday breakfast time!
Yes it does make the water red, but only a little and wasn't very obvious. My bleeding was slight, with some mucus latterly, seen both on wiping and in the bowl but not always obvious. I also suffer from IBS and permanently had loose stools. I did have two heavy bleeds a couple of weeks before my diagnosis. My tumour was 5cm big and estimated to have been there five Years!
Interestingly now it has been removed, along with a fair chunk of colon, they are generally firmer, unless I've gone on the lactose or Spices!
Better checked than Not!
Interestingly now it has been removed, along with a fair chunk of colon, they are generally firmer, unless I've gone on the lactose or Spices!
Better checked than Not!
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