Blood in stool and anemia....

[Jem1603]

Hi guys

So I went to my GP due to breathlessness after having covid. I asked for a blood test, as I am menopausal and wanted to ask about HRT.

I have health anxiety because I am a single parent, lately its been under control. Anyway long story short the blood test said I was anemic and the GP asked for stool test. So she rings a couple of hours ago (Friday evening!) and says I need a colonoscopy, leaving me all weekend to worry.

Background to this is I have arthritis and take codeine for the pain along with other meds. I'm generally very constipated and my diet has been pretty poor due to pain and meds. However, as anyone else had this experience of their GP sounding very negative and making them feel more anxious?

I don't know how to manage myself over the weekend, I trust I'm in good hands but my mind goes to very dark places and I don't know how to handle this.

[NoraB]

All I can say is that my husband went through all this with severe anaemia and was found to be very low in B12 (he had to have injections) and now he doesn't need to. He has piles which bleed too. He had bum-cam (fast-tracked) and was fine; they just saw his Farmer Giles..

I take codeine for pain and it constipates me so I have to make sure I counteract this by taking laxatives or magnesium (a natural laxative) or a kiwi a day seems to be doing the trick at the moment..

[Jem1603]

Thank you! much appreciated. At least one response! its the waiting and the anxiety and the mind playing with all different scenarious.

[NoraB]

Thank you! much appreciated. At least one response! its the waiting and the anxiety and the mind playing with all different scenarious.

In my own experience (and this forum is jam-packed with similar experiences) it's generally the case that we worry ourselves delirious and then those tests come back as all clear. The all clear is the most likely scenario but it's not the one HA wants us to consider..

Let us know how you go on..

[Jem1603]

Thank you so much. Yes, I've read the posts from other people...I know how sensitive we all are to health issues but I've been like this for 20yrs since my partner died and its just me and my son. Ironically, I went to get some HRT and ended up on this route, so its been a bit of a shock and I'm feeling very low. Although I now know what the extreme tiredness is caused by. I can't say I've been absorbing any decent nutrients for years.

[Jem1603]

All I can say is that my husband went through all this with severe anaemia and was found to be very low in B12 (he had to have injections)

Just going back to this - I think this would have showed up in the blood tests..?

[behappy]

You would be surprised, the blood tests only test for certain things and sometimes thats why you are required to repeat to test for other stuff. I have to have blood tests every 6 months because I have this thing called MGUS but when they first found out it was just a normal blood test and then I had to go to a specialist and they made me do another few more specific blood test.

I am sorry you going through this and of course your mind wonder (mine does ALL the time, I think most here does too) but most definitely try to calm down before the results because odds are on your side. Colonoscopies are not that bad to do and you will be surprised after you are all done and there was nothing out of the ordinary that you worried for nothing

[Jem1603]

Thank you, that's really kind of you. It's just that my GP sounded really negative and she really upset me. It's been a really difficult weekend to deal with this alone, I've been having panic attacks so I'm very grateful for you guys responding. I've had no appetite due to anxiety, felt more bloated and still taking codeine to deal with pain! No wonder so many people have HA.

[jojo2316]

Goodness what a long weekend you must be having. Sorry your gp hasn’t been more supportive. The waiting is the worst part but soon you will have answers and by far the most likely answer is something benign. My mum had something similar and she was found to have polyps. Hang in there and keep us posted…. X

[Jem1603]

Hi Jojo

I'm on my second long weekend now. Last week the consultant tried to ring me at work but never left a number to call back, so still havent booked in and don't think I've slept most of the week. My hand was visibly shaking at the hairdressers yesterday. Thanks for your reply, I hope your mum is doing well now.xx