Symptoms

The summer of 2009 is probably a good starting point and my birthday Friday 5^th June. There is a group of us heading out for a drink starting off in Street Lane Leeds.

From what I can remember it was quite a warm evening and having not been at work that day (I try not to work on my birthday) out we went early doors. I remember going to the bathroom before leaving the house and the only reason I remember this, is due to a drunken conversation that I had later that evening with Gavin about seeing blood. 

So back to the bathroom, I have never been one to check my stool post delivery, however on occasion I do have a peep just to make sure all is well and on this day it was. On this occasion all was fine except I noticed some bright red blood on the toilet paper. This was a little unusual for me and normally the only other time I had seen this was when I had made frequent trips and my bottom was perhaps a little sore. But today my bowel movements were normal.

I was a little freaked but was not overly concerned and left the house to enjoy my night, Ager a few beers I remember discussing the issue with Gav, but we decided that as it was only a little it was either soreness or perhaps piles and probably a doctors visit. Neither of us were really alarmed and we continued to enjoy the night without mentioning the issue again.

A month has now passed on and there has been no repeat of the issue experienced in June, however I did start to experience change in bowel movements. I was a pretty regular person going once a day and on occasion twice. However I was starting to go maybe 6 to 7 times and always with a feeling that I had not quite emptied my bowels. Most of the extra trips resulted in a stool type that resembled rabbit droppings and although it was excessive to the norm, I just thought that it might be a combination of my diet, the weather and perhaps old age…..I know 41.

So one instance of blood on tissue and rabbit droppings equals a visit to the doctors. Now my medical history has been great up to now and apart from keyhole surgery on my knee and the odd bout of “Man Flu” which did not require hospitalisation, I don’t really do doctors.

It was early December 2009 when visited my doctor and to explain my symptom’s and following an examination, involving my doctor checking my back passage …I think you might have the full picture now…..all was quite in order.

We disused options and decided that we would wait for the results from a health check that I was going to be undertaking in February , before deciding on the next steps.

So February 2010 arrives and during my BUPA wellness check a blood test identified a particular low blood count and the doctor who examined me suggested based on my symptoms that I should visit a Colorectal Consultant, which I agreed to.

I met Mr Ambrose (Colorectal Consultant) a few weeks and after yet another examination…that’s 3 now for those counting, nothing obvious was discovered. However to be 100% certain I was booked in for the 4^th March 2010 for a colonoscopy.