Sigmoidoscapy

[nailit]

A few months ago had to have a sigmoidoscopy and had polyps removed and diagnosed with 'piles'.

But this hasn't cured my frequent (and often urgent) need for a toilet...several times a day...or the amount of blood that im loosing each time.

Im just left with a diagnosis of piles but no information on how to deal with the frequent need to pass waste or why I am bleeding so heavily everytime that I go to the loo.

Only just made it home tonight after visiting my family and toilet was full of blood.

[237SJ]

Have you been checked out for Crohn's disease?

[nailit]

//Have you been checked out for Crohn's disease? //
No I havnt.
GP said at the time that all rectal bleeding is now referred to the colon clinic and its up to them what further medical proceders to take.
Just had a letter telling me that no further action required basically.
Still not happy about profuse bleeding from the behind of the fact that I need to be in reach of a toilet at short notice.

[237SJ]

You don't have urgency with piles in my experience.

[Buenchico]

Doctors tend to work on the assumption that their actions have cured a problem unless they're told otherwise. So, if your problem hasn't got any better, you need to HASSLE your doctor!

However, given the existing diagnosis of piles (irrespective of whether it's actually correct or not), the first thing a doctor is likely to ask you is "Have you tried squirting some Anusol up there?". So, if you've not already tried that simple cure, that should probably be your first step.

Note: The foregoing is written partly from experience. I was having some anal bleeding which, as I've got incurable prostate cancer, I thought might indicate that the cancer had spread. When I mentioned it to my consultant though, he just sighed and said "Get yourself some Anusol!" It seems to be working for me. (I only need to use it occasionally now, as most of the time I'm free from bleeding).

At about six quid for a small tube, Anusol can seem expensive when you first buy it but, fortunately, it turns out that 'a little goes a long way' with the stuff.

[nailit]

Ive had a few near misses....
I dont put it down to piles either,
but my GP doesnt seem to interested now that the colon clinic have ruled out colon cancer.

[nailit]

//So, if your problem hasn't got any better, you need to HASSLE your doctor!//
Thanks Chris. Will be on the phone Monday.
Hope ur doing OK.

[andres]

These symptoms sound like Diverticulosis. My OH had this several years ago. Frequent visits to the toilet, bloody stools ,sometimes abdominal pain. Certain foods had to be avoided. We couldn't go anywhere because he kept needing the toilet. I won't go into any more details . Might not be this but no harm in getting checked out .

[nailit]

thanks andres.
Which foods had to be avoided?
Dairy? Meat? etc

[jennyjoan]

Do get everything checked out but Andres I have diverticulitis - after a colonoscopy check but I'm touching wood here - I only bled once in the last 15 years.

[Tilly2]

If you've not got colon cancer, deal with the piles. Anusol, Germaloids, Sudocrem etc. You need some soothing, emollient cream.

The sudden urges for the loo seem to be another matter.

[237SJ]

Diverticular disease tends to give you pain. I wouldn't look into foods to avoid etc without a proper diagnosis.

[237SJ]

I had a routine sigmoidoscopy and a 5mm polyp was found and removed. I would never have known it was there - no symptoms whatsover. i wonder if you have piles which causes the bleeding but there is something else going on as well.

[jno]

just to add I found squirting Anusol awkward and messy and was told to use the suppositories instead: much easier.

As others have said, this isn't necessarily connected with needing to go all the time - that sounds as if it should be investigated separately.

[nailit]

//The sudden urges for the loo seem to be another matter.//
Certainley is at the time Tills.....
(my surgery was recently in The Sentinel....for not following up on patient care, you may have read about it)

[nailit]

Thank you 237 & jno

[nailit]

Im more concerned about the amount of blood that im loosing.
It isnt just a few blobs here and there. Its a toilet full everytime.
I often feel fatigued and wonder if its because of the amount of iron in my blood that Im loosing.
Could be talking carp but not a medic.

[237SJ]

I`d ask for a second opinion if I was you. I saw a colorectal surgeon and he was brilliant (he was called Mr Fawcett which made me laugh)

[andres]

He had to avoid-- red meat, tomatoes, nuts, grapes, fruit with pips would lodge in the pockets that the disease was forming in his intestines and cause pain
Unfortunately it went on to become Diverticulitis ,inflammation of his intestines. He had ''Meckel's Divertculitis'' (a sac of poisons growing on his intestines and had to have it cut out . Not many people get Meckels so don't worry about that. As I said 'I don't want to worry you because it might be something entirely different.

[nailit]

(he was called Mr Fawcett which made me laugh)
No doubt he was always on tap??
(I'll get me coat)
Im genuinely worried.
about sh******g myself in public

[jennyjoan]

many times I have soiled myself Nailit but with one thing or another managed to save myself etc always tried to be near a toilet or duplicates of underwear etc.