Gross medical issues

[hobbsyoyo]

I'll spoiler my first post since it'll be the first thing anyone who accidentally opens this thread sees, but this is the place to discuss gross medical issues, so fair warning, it's gross.

Spoiler :

I've been having serious intestinal issues for months. I have to go #2 quite often, and can hardly get anything out (some days I have to go 4 or 5 times). I don't know if I'm constipated or what, but I have the urge to go and just can't seem to empty my bowels in one sitting. I haven't looked to see what form my stool takes because one time I actually looked down the toilet had a lot of blood in it and freaked me out.

It's extremely uncomfortable and I've tried taking fiber pills and that didn't help. I take Prilosec OTC (an antacid pill) everyday and I've read that it actually kills off many helpful bacteria in your gut when used for extended periods. I used to take a different RX antacid (Protonix) but it's $300/bottle when you don't have insurance, so I don't get it anymore (Protonix doesn't have the same side effects and my problem started after I got off it and started on Prilosec). Because of the bacterial kill-off effect, I've started taking a probiotic, but it doesn't really help either.

My diet is crap (though that is changing as of this week), with lots of high fat, high sugar food. I also binge drink on the weekends.

Do you guys think that with an improved diet and cutting the drinking that I will improve? I haven't gone to see a doctor yet because I don't have insurance. I do have access to a student health clinic, but I'm fairly certain they'll examine me and send me to a real doctor for further tests and this will cost me a lot of money.

Any advice? What are your gross medical issues? (You don't have to spoiler them)

 

[emzie]

Eat a ton of fibre. Take a stool softener.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Hmm what is a stool softener? I know the name is what it does, but how does it work, why will it help?
Thanks for the advice.

 

[classical_hero]

I would suggest you look at this website and click on GI effects. That is looking at you gut and intestinal area in great detail via some stool tests. http://www.metametrix.com/patients/how-to-get-started/find-a-doctor It could be a parasite or a bacterial infection causing your problems.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Thank you, but I can't afford a specialist.

 

[emzie]

Hmm what is a stool softener? I know the name is what it does, but how does it work, why will it help?
Thanks for the advice.

They make your poo absorb more water and fat and it becomes easier to move.

Oh, and eat less protein.

So go buy a box of miniwheats. Eat 2 bowls or so. Take a stool softener. Avoid eating a lot of meat and cheese.

If that doesn't help, then continue on to CH's steps.

Thank you, but I can't afford a specialist.

USA #1

 

[hobbsyoyo]

They make your poo absorb more water and fat and it becomes easier to move.

Oh, and eat less protein.

So go buy a box of miniwheats. Eat 2 bowls or so. Take a stool softener. Avoid eating a lot of meat and cheese.

If that doesn't help, then continue on to CH's steps.

OK cool. We stopped buying cheese so my lunch sandwhiches are only lean turkey and mustard. We're working on changing what we buy and eat to be healthier. Hopefully this helps.

USA #1

You don't have to remind me. I'm one of the very few young people who fell through the cracks of the Obamacare law. Everyone but me got to stay on their parents health insurance.

 

[TomYo689]

It is possible that this has nothing to do with fiber or bacteria. Just the way the muscles react down there

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Yeah, and I'm really afraid that if I go to the doctor I'll end up paying a lot for tests and stuff only to get inconclusive results. However, I don't think it's just the way my muscles act because it's a relatively recent (>1 year) problem.

Also, there is a spot on my left abdomen that has recently started aching. Usually it's a dull throbbing kind of ache but occasionally there is a spike of pain. It's not unbearable by any means, but it's there and persistant. When it first happened I thought it was a pulled muscle, but now I think it's my intestines.

 

[LamaGT]

On one of the Italian forums I go to there actually was a doctor from San Diego who gave medical advice while improving his Italian, it was about 3 years ago though. We need a doctor here
Anyway I'm pretty sure that blood in the feces is pretty damn serious, never had such issues though, sorry.

 

[filli_noctus]

Now I'm no doctor, but having undergone something similar I can tell you that that sounds exactly like IBS, most likely Crohns or ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately it's a bugger to diagnose (took nearly a year from symptoms starting to diagnosis for me), and will require handfuls of pills or surgery to control. It's also currently incurable. Knowing how terrible your healthcare system is I recommend you sort your insurance out sharpish.

 

[emzie]

If it doesn't resolve with diet and medication, you really do need to see a doctor. Crohn's is not fun, but is treatable. Untreated, it can lead to serious medical problems.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I can't sort out my insurance. My wife gets it through work, but they charge more than our rent a month to cover me. Next year, when Obamacare kicks in, I may get coverage.

 

[filli_noctus]

In contrast to what the first few posters have said I would recommend reducing fibre intake, at least for a short period. If it is an IBS condition then reducing the amount of fibre in your diet may ease the symptoms. Also, if the pains get worse nicotine can provide some relief but smoking can exacerbate the condition (I'm not sure if it's the nicotine or another tobacco chemical that exacerbates though).

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Until I quit a few weeks ago, I was a heavy (30 cigs a day) smoker and that didn't stop this.

 

[MobBoss]

Perhaps you need to do one of those clense things where you get this stuff that basically gives you the runs for a day and you get everything out of your bowel. Then change your diet to something a lot more healthy for you.

If you are having blood in your stool it could be a variety of things. Blood in stool is actually fairly common the older you are, and most likely the result of hemmroids.

If you go to the bathroom often, and feel like you have to push to take a crap, the blood is most likely from hemmroids. However, blood in stool is also a sign of colon cancer, so either way, you should get it checked out so that you know absolutely what it is from.

 

[filli_noctus]

Until I quit a few weeks ago, I was a heavy (30 cigs a day) smoker and that didn't stop this.

As far as I'm aware nicotine only affects the pain symptoms, if the pains only started after you quit it could be that the smoking was masking them.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

As far as I'm aware nicotine only affects the pain symptoms, if the pains only started after you quit it could be that the smoking was masking them.

That would make sense.

Perhaps you need to do one of those clense things where you get this stuff that basically gives you the runs for a day and you get everything out of your bowel. Then change your diet to something a lot more healthy for you.

If you are having blood in your stool it could be a variety of things. Blood in stool is actually fairly common the older you are, and most likely the result of hemmroids.

If you go to the bathroom often, and feel like you have to push to take a crap, the blood is most likely from hemmroids. However, blood in stool is also a sign of colon cancer, so either way, you should get it checked out so that you know absolutely what it is from.

I am 25 and I hope it's not hemmroids or cancer. I am going to the clinic now, I'll let you all know what they say.

 

[Borachio]

I'll spoiler my first post since it'll be the first thing anyone who accidentally opens this thread sees, but this is the place to discuss gross medical issues, so fair warning, it's gross.

Spoiler :

I've been having serious intestinal issues for months. I have to go #2 quite often, and can hardly get anything out (some days I have to go 4 or 5 times). I don't know if I'm constipated or what, but I have the urge to go and just can't seem to empty my bowels in one sitting. I haven't looked to see what form my stool takes because one time I actually looked down the toilet had a lot of blood in it and freaked me out.

It's extremely uncomfortable and I've tried taking fiber pills and that didn't help. I take Prilosec OTC (an antacid pill) everyday and I've read that it actually kills off many helpful bacteria in your gut when used for extended periods. I used to take a different RX antacid (Protonix) but it's $300/bottle when you don't have insurance, so I don't get it anymore (Protonix doesn't have the same side effects and my problem started after I got off it and started on Prilosec). Because of the bacterial kill-off effect, I've started taking a probiotic, but it doesn't really help either.

My diet is crap (though that is changing as of this week), with lots of high fat, high sugar food. I also binge drink on the weekends.

Do you guys think that with an improved diet and cutting the drinking that I will improve? I haven't gone to see a doctor yet because I don't have insurance. I do have access to a student health clinic, but I'm fairly certain they'll examine me and send me to a real doctor for further tests and this will cost me a lot of money.

Any advice? What are your gross medical issues? (You don't have to spoiler them)

Get yourself to a doctor, Mr Hobbs. It may be there's nothing particularly wrong, but blood in the stool is not a thing to take lightly, imo.

If it's clearly red blood then it's most likely hemorrhoids (perhaps!!! I ain't no medical person - where's holy king when you want him?), blackened stools have blood in them (I have heard) from further back in the colon.

Just stop eating crap food, anyway.

 

[Angst]

You don't have to remind me. I'm one of the very few young people who fell through the cracks of the Obamacare law. Everyone but me got to stay on their parents health insurance.

How? I'm curious.

Also, seriously that doesn't sound well, dude. In Denmark you'd get an exam snapquickly and everybody would still love you even though it sounds like much of this might be your fault, with those fatty foods and all. Solidarity all the way. Grossed-out hugs from the bifag Dane.