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I Have Been Having Stomach Aches For About A Year,
Question: I have been having stomach aches for about a year, and live on Tums and OTC stomach medication. In the past month, my symptoms have escalated to feeling like I have to still have a bowel movement after I've just had one, constant ache in my lower GI region, periodic blood in my stool. I had stage 2 triple negative breast cancer 4 years ago, and wonder if this could be a reoccurance of cancer. I have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled next week. Yesterday I had an "attic" (first time)-after a bowel movement I had SEVERE stabbing pain in my lower abdomen-I couldn't even stand up.
Brief Answer:
Escalation of symptoms could be suggestive of any gross problem.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for asking query on "Ask a Doctor" service,
Have gone through your query in details my dear patient.
There are a few things to consider when a person says he has blood in the stool.
Generally, blood coming from higher levels (stomach and small bowel) converts into a dark coal black colour due to the changes the blood has in the bowel. It is the bleeding from lower parts (colon) that will show as bright red blood. Therefore your gastroenterologist have asked you for a colonoscopy and endoscopy.
A CBC would be a good test to be done if you suspect bleeding to see if you are developing anaemia as a complication of bleeding and need treatment for it or not.
Pain in lower abdomen,Incomplete feeling of evacuation and bleeding could be early sign of a benign polyp or hemorrhoid or cancerous condition of intestines.
Secondly as you already had a cancer previously these tests would help to find out any metastasis related to cancer of breast.
As per protocol,
After the age of 50, it is recommended that all people should have a colonoscopy every 5-10 years. Even if you have had this test in the last 5 years it might be recommended to repeat it as you are having this bleeding if the stool tests confirm you are really bleeding.
Your doctor have given you absolutely correct suggestion dear patient.
So to conclude:
1. As your symptoms have escalated you will definitely need a colonoscopy to find the cause of it.
2.If you have bright red blood while defecating (passing stools) this might also be due to haemorrhoids which are mostly due to constipation so in meantime please make sure you take extra fibre with diet and drink plenty of water. Pain and feeling of incomplete evacuation could be there in this case also.
3) If you had any massive rectal bleeding than it could be something more serious as explained earlier.
I hope this is helpful and answers your questions but please feel free to reply in case any more clarification is needed on this.
I wish you a great luck,
Don't panic and let's keep our fingers crossed till reports are there with us.
Take home message-
Correct suggestion from your doctor go for both tests ASAP.
Wish you mountains of luck and hope all reports turns out to be normal.
Follow up with reports,
Do rate the answer and suggestions to make it better are invited.
Kind regards,
Dr Kumar R.
Escalation of symptoms could be suggestive of any gross problem.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for asking query on "Ask a Doctor" service,
Have gone through your query in details my dear patient.
There are a few things to consider when a person says he has blood in the stool.
Generally, blood coming from higher levels (stomach and small bowel) converts into a dark coal black colour due to the changes the blood has in the bowel. It is the bleeding from lower parts (colon) that will show as bright red blood. Therefore your gastroenterologist have asked you for a colonoscopy and endoscopy.
A CBC would be a good test to be done if you suspect bleeding to see if you are developing anaemia as a complication of bleeding and need treatment for it or not.
Pain in lower abdomen,Incomplete feeling of evacuation and bleeding could be early sign of a benign polyp or hemorrhoid or cancerous condition of intestines.
Secondly as you already had a cancer previously these tests would help to find out any metastasis related to cancer of breast.
As per protocol,
After the age of 50, it is recommended that all people should have a colonoscopy every 5-10 years. Even if you have had this test in the last 5 years it might be recommended to repeat it as you are having this bleeding if the stool tests confirm you are really bleeding.
Your doctor have given you absolutely correct suggestion dear patient.
So to conclude:
1. As your symptoms have escalated you will definitely need a colonoscopy to find the cause of it.
2.If you have bright red blood while defecating (passing stools) this might also be due to haemorrhoids which are mostly due to constipation so in meantime please make sure you take extra fibre with diet and drink plenty of water. Pain and feeling of incomplete evacuation could be there in this case also.
3) If you had any massive rectal bleeding than it could be something more serious as explained earlier.
I hope this is helpful and answers your questions but please feel free to reply in case any more clarification is needed on this.
I wish you a great luck,
Don't panic and let's keep our fingers crossed till reports are there with us.
Take home message-
Correct suggestion from your doctor go for both tests ASAP.
Wish you mountains of luck and hope all reports turns out to be normal.
Follow up with reports,
Do rate the answer and suggestions to make it better are invited.
Kind regards,
Dr Kumar R.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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