I am a 25 year old male. Weight is usually between 135 and 140.
I'm 6' tall.
About 5 or 6 years ago I had noticed small amounts of red blood
and mucus in my stool with sharp pains that seemed to shoot up my
rectum. I went to the Doctor and ultimately had several stool samples
examined and a barium enema performed with no conclusive results. My
symptoms soon disappeared. Since then I have noticed small amounts of
mucus on a couple of occasions only lasting a day or two that I can
remember.
I have recently noticed mucus and moderate sense of urgency with increasing yet mild abdominal discomfort over the last week or so. Only 1 time did I have a very soft almost half whitish, fleshy, mucus bowel movement, the rest have been firm but about half covered with mucus in the mornings and less so in the later day or evening. I have not seen any blood. I have also had frequent heart palpitations, but I seem to have bouts of them periodically usually coinciding with getting a cold or other bug.
Since I currently have no medical insurance, I just want to know if this is something I really need to see a Doctor about immediately and if not, at what point should I seek help? I would really appreciate any advice you can offer me. and thank you many in advance.
P.S I read something about a link between quitting smoking and Crohns disease. I did just quit prior to my experience 5-6 years ago. I have not smoked since.
REPLY:
Smoking is associated with inflammatory bowel diseases and the mechanism of this relationship is under investigation. Smoking probably contributes to a worsening clinical course in patients with Crohns disease, especially in women with this disease. All women with Crohns disease who smoke should stop smoking.
In ulcerative colitis the effect of smoking is different. Some feel that smoking may offer a protective influence on the disease process and it was in this group of patients, I believe, who had stopped smoking and then noticed a worsening of their condition that this relationship was first reported. The overwhelming harmful effects of smoking in general, however, hardly argue for starting or continuing a smoking habit in order to "help" or "treat" one's ulcerative colitis.
Your symptoms of urgency, mucus, cramping, and one episode of visible blood could be due to a form of colitis possibly limited to the rectal area (proctitis). This is treatable and responds well to medication. A simple exam of the lining of the rectum with a biopsy if necessary will give you the answer and suggest the appropriate treatment. Obviously you will have to decide if your condition and symptoms warrant seeking medical advice at this time. You may want to speak with your doctor or see if any of your local hospitals or medical schools can help you with the financial aspects of this referral. Some hospitals have special programs where they will see patients with limited financial resources completely free of charge; doctors who see these patients will charge little or nothing as well.
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Bruce Sckolnick, M.D.
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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