Really worried about a problem my son is having...

[Ladyofshalott]

Hey everyone. I am sorry this subject matter isnt the most pleasant...but my son is having a health problem that I am really concerned about and just wondered if anyone elses kid out there suffers with the same. For about 2 years now...off and on...when he has a bowel movement there is blood in the stool. It is bright red and only on the surface of the stool and in the toliet water a bit. He will have this off and on for weeks and then it will go away for like 3-4 months at a time. I did mention this to his dr. and he told me it was constipation, and recommended mineral oil. So I tried that and it seemed to help...but then later on he got the same thing again. So this has been going on, as I have stated for about 2 years. I just mentioned it again to the dr the other day when I had my son there for his yearly checkup. The dr said again that it was constipation...to avoid a lot of milk and to not be alarmed unless the blood was dark and the stools were black and tar-like. Well, I thought ok...he does drink a lot of milk...mostly in cereal....so I will cut that out of his diet for a while. But even with the milk cut out he still gets this blood. I dont know what to do....if I should just listen to the dr and not be concerned....OR...if I should insist that the dr run tests on him just to make sure it isnt anything more serious. Any help or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks for listening. :)

Dawn

[mom363546]

Inner hemmeroids can cause that.If he is slightly constipated that can cause the inner roids to bleed then when your bm gets normal they heal until the next episode. I'm no DR. but thats what it sounds like to me.

[rdawnh]

From my understanding if the blood is red then it is most likely caused by a cut or something. That is why the Dr is telling you he is constipated, the dry stool is causing a cut or something. Or as mom said maybe hemmroids. If the blood is black or the stool is black and tar like then that means the blood is coming from his colon or digestive track. I do suggest to ease your mind to get a second opinion. You have every right to do so and to do it without feeling bad in any way. If his dr gets mad becuase you do want a second opinion I suggest looking into a new doc. you want someone who has your childs concerns first not theri ego. A good dr will encourage you to ease your mind. So call your medical insurance and get the the instructions on how to get a second opinion. Good luck and i hope we are all just being over porotective.

[Cpogie]

Please get a second opinion asap, and that doctor did not do you any favor telling you that without checking it out, PLEASE get a second opinion! That is not normal.

[mom363546]

I had another thought. I remember knowing someone who had done this same sort of thing and his problem ended up to be peanuts. For some reason the peanuts were scratching I guess the colon or maybe they had inner hemmoriods?? I do agree with all the others get a second opinion and make a list of any questions you might have.Its hard to remember everything once you get to the appt.I'm a firm believer in the only stupid question is the one not asked!!

[moonbeams]

Absolutely get a second opinion!

I'd keep him off all dairy (not just milk) and any product that has casein in it, this is a milk protein.

I'd also look into giving him probiotics. Has he had many rounds of antibiotics in the past?

[grammery]

please get a second opinion, my niece and nephew both had polyps found in their colons and they turned out to be cancerous on my niece. PLS PLS GET A SECOND OPINION!!

[LisaRKR]

I too agree with the gals. PLEASE get a second opinion. It probably is an internal roid, but just to be safe, because you never know.

Also, please let us know the outcome! I think that we are all concerned. After all, it is kind of like a little family around here. :)

[drews-mom]

My 6-year-old is going in for a colonoscopy tomorrow - we're prepping today. He's had the same kind of bleeding Dawn described for more than 2 years. It's intermittent, bright red, no pain but alarming just the same. Blood work is normal, GI suspects internal roids or polyps. So we'll find out tomorrow. Anyone have any luck prepping a 5-6 year old for colonoscopy? When should the Fleets begin to work - he took 3 tsp at 9 and had one BM. I just slipped another tsp into his sprite in the hopes something starts happening. I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago so I know what he should be experiencing but he isn't. Thoughts? (I've got an AOL IM ID of givesource if you have any thoughts.)

[tpmh37]

That poor baby, I don't know if you can prepare him for that procedure. Bless his heart, he'll be in my prayers and thoughts tomorrow.

[drews-mom]

Thanks. He's struggling right now with not eating. He's had his fill of jello, lemon ice, sprite and chicken broth. I'm praying time flies by until bedtime. Breaks my heart to see him cry over it. Thank God DH is here. Little man knows how to tug his momma's heart strings!

[mom2fussbudgets]

Poor thing! My thoughts and prayers will be with him also. Let us know how everything goes.

[lizmolik]

I am so sorry! :( I hope things get better for him...I will keep him in my prayers! :)

[Zoneey]

I had mine a couple weeks ago and for all the prep I did not alot came out. I felt I did something wrong. MIne included 4 Ducolac and 64 oz of another prep with Gatorade. I think everyone is different. I know I was scared before I went in, but I can't imagine a child that young going for one. Prayers out to you.

[drews-mom]

Thanks for all the prayers. It's been prayer that has gotten me through till now and I KNOW everything will be OK. DS has taken a bath, evacuated about 8 times (hoping that is enough!) and is now with DH watching StarWars episode who knows what!!! He's being a trooper - we've told him about the IV tomorrow and I'm bribing him with a new Jack Sparrow sword from Pirates of the Caribbean ( he has like 6 already!) But he insists he'll be a little man for the new sword. That and a trip to McDonald's for hash browns as soon as we are done!! Amazing little creatures aren't they. I'll post again here tomorrow after the C-oscopy. This is my first post and I can't believe I've dealt with this for 2 years without talking to kindred spirits. Thank you all!!!

[giraf98]

I had that same problem in January and had to have a colonoscopy. The Dr. told me that everything looked fine and that he things it was just an internal hemmorhoid.

I hope everything turns out well for you son!

[drews-mom]

Well, we're back from the procedure and DS is back to normal after a bottle of OJ and a Happy Meal! He fought the gas mask before getting the IV (it would have been much worse without it!) Procedure took about 40 minutes and Doc says he removed a rather large polyp. Since DS has had occasional bleeding for 2 years, the size was not surprising. Had it gotten much bigger it would have required surgical extraction. Pathology report will come back Wednesday but doc says it looks like a normal juvenile polyp! Thank you Lord!!! And thank you everyone who was praying for us. keep us in your prayers until we hear back on Wednesday, but I know it will be just fine.

PS - DH just called on his way to work (he just left the house) - the whole ordeal drained him and he doesn't want to go too far from home. He's on his way home to be with his little man!

[Carly's Mommy]

Well, we're back from the procedure and DS is back to normal after a bottle of OJ and a Happy Meal! He fought the gas mask before getting the IV (it would have been much worse without it!) Procedure took about 40 minutes and Doc says he removed a rather large polyp. Since DS has had occasional bleeding for 2 years, the size was not surprising. Had it gotten much bigger it would have required surgical extraction. Pathology report will come back Wednesday but doc says it looks like a normal juvenile polyp! Thank you Lord!!! And thank you everyone who was praying for us. keep us in your prayers until we hear back on Wednesday, but I know it will be just fine.

PS - DH just called on his way to work (he just left the house) - the whole ordeal drained him and he doesn't want to go too far from home. He's on his way home to be with his little man!


I'm so happy that everything went so well for your son. Thank goodness they got the polyp before it required surgery. They really are resilient, aren't they? Sounds like you've got a wonderful and supportive hubby and your son has a great daddy too! I'll be thinking of you and your son. Let us know the results when you get them.

[Cpogie]

Thankyou for updating us, I am so glad everything went well for him and you! I hope he is feeling fine and back to his old self!

[lizmolik]

Ok silly question what does DS and DH mean? And I am really glad everything went well for him.

[Cpogie]

Ok silly question what does DS and DH mean? And I am really glad everything went well for him.

Dear Son and Dear Husband

[drews-mom]

Negative pathology report!!! Dr. called in just over 24 hrs to say it was a normal benign juvenile polyp. Unlike adult polyps it is very unlikely to reoccur. DS does NOT need another colonoscopy until his 50...unless he has more bleeding after this removal spot heals. DS is thrilled, DH said praise God and admitted he'd been worried about the results. I prayed for the best and got it! Thanks again all!

[mom2fussbudgets]

Negative pathology report!!! Dr. called in just over 24 hrs to say it was a normal benign juvenile polyp. Unlike adult polyps it is very unlikely to reoccur. DS does NOT need another colonoscopy until his 50...unless he has more bleeding after this removal spot heals. DS is thrilled, DH said praise God and admitted he'd been worried about the results. I prayed for the best and got it! Thanks again all!

That is wonderful! I'm so happy to hear that he's okay. :D I bet you and your family are so relieved!