I really could use some help...

[d cool]

A little background info...

I'm a male and I'm 24. I don't really know where to post this so if this is the wrong area, I do apologize. I desperately could use some help right now, though.

A few years ago, my stomach was in horrible pain. I was drinking and smoking a lot at the time and long story short, what we believed to be an ulcer turned out to be acid. My doctor gave me nexium and things eventually cleared up.

Now, a few weeks ago, my stomach started feeling bad. I felt similar to the way I did before I had the acid problem before. I went to the bathroom and there was a lot of red blood in my stool. I did some research and believed it to be nothing more than a tear. After that initial time, there was no more blood in my stool.

My stomach really felt horrible yesterday so I took maximum strength Zantac 150 (the generic kind) and felt a lot better. I went to sleep.

Halfway through sleep, I woke up with a slight pain in my right side. It felt like I might've pulled a muscle. I went back to sleep.

When I woke up, my side was worse and has been gradually getting painful throughout the day. I went to the bathroom and again my stool was covered in blood. Not to be lewd, but I released a lot more stool in comparison to usual.

I don't believe this to be appendix related because it doesn't hurt when I push the side. It just feels strained and slightly painful internally.

Can anybody figure out what this is? Is it imperative that I see a doctor? I don't have insurance where I am right now but in two weeks, I will be insured once again. Should I wait it out?

Anything you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Blob H]

ryeguy95,

As a general rule, any unexplaned onset of rectal bleeding, is not something to put off for 24 hours. Internal bleeding can progress quickly, and become life threatening.

Of course, there is a good chance your bleeding could be the result of a less threatening cause...which you and I wish for.

But, what if the more life threatening scenario is the case, wouldnt you want the reasurrance of a doctor who specializes in such things?

Of course, it's your call, and I hope other posters share some helpful advise for you to consider. I certainly understand the insurance hurdle, but if you are that close to obtaining coverage, could you fit one trip to the ER in beforehand, just to be sure you are not in danger? Best of wishes to you...

 

[[ * - * ]]

Writeleft is right, unexplained rectal bleeding can cause a life threatening loss of blood in quite a short time. You may simply have a badly inflamed gut, or bleeding polyp, but there is no way of knowing this from the outside. Is there a walk-in pay-cash type of clinic you can go to? I agree that this must be checked out sooner rather than later. Sera.