It happened last month when I wiped and some spots on my underwear. lasted 2 days. This month same thing. I also seem to get the chills. I am scared. I am 65 yrs old.
Send, when I was in my 40s and mentioned to my mom that I was having irregular vaginal spotting, she asked how I knew it was vaginal and not urethral. I said " I used a tampon to check, mom". My mother thought that tampons were un-something. Really not sure what. I had been told never to use them.
Barb, Well, toxic shock was a worry, not sure about now.
"Toxic shock syndrome is a sudden, potentially fatal condition. It's caused by the release of toxins from an overgrowth of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, which is found in many women's bodies. Toxic shock syndrome affects menstruating women, especially those who use super-absorbent tampons" (from the internet).
Send, I was born in 1953. Toxic shock wasnt around until I was out of college. It was just a very "dont talk about female things" world that I grew up in. And not in a good way.
I was born in 1949. Yes, it was a private thing. It shocked me when my daughter came home and a girl in school hollered at a boy "leave me alone, I am on the rag".
Still reluctant to talk about 'female' things, but here we all are. And I had worked for a gynecologist! Maybe it was a good thing the OP brought this topic up. I hope by now she is feeling more supported, a bit more understood. We are here for her.
Barb, When I mentioned 'toxic shock'. I was referring to your comment about your condition at age 40, and your being told to never use tampons, as one reason why. I was worried about tampons, but still used them, way back then.
If you are seeing BRB (bright red blood) on the toilet tissue, you need evaluation for gastrointestinal tract bleeding. That means you need to see a gastroenterologist who will likely order a colonoscopy. The good news is the bowel prep is a lot easier now than in the past. And at age 65, you are covered by Medicare, including colonoscopies.
A colonoscopy is an exam of the bowel using a tiny camera on a tube. Any abnormalities like anal fissures, polyps, internal hemorrhoids, diverticular pouches, inflammatory bowel disorders can be found and often treated on the spot. It's an outpatient procedure and you will be in and out within a matter of hours. Most BRB on toilet tissue is due to bleeding internal hemorrhoids, anal fissures or polyps, none of which is "cancer."
If you are uncertain where the BRB is coming from, your PCP will want to do a urinalysis and cytology (to check for urinary tract infection or other issues.) If positive testing, you may be referred to a urologist for further evaluation. If the bleeding is thought to be coming from the vaginal tract, a gynecologic exam should be done to check for polyps, fissures, infections.
You may need all 3 evaluations, but base on my experience reviewing medical charts for over 40 years, BRB is most often from a source lower in the large bowel and is not a life threatening issue. But you won't know until you get an evaluation.
Bizarre time that I grew up in.
Well, toxic shock was a worry, not sure about now.
"Toxic shock syndrome is a sudden, potentially fatal condition. It's caused by the release of toxins from an overgrowth of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, which is found in many women's bodies. Toxic shock syndrome affects menstruating women, especially those who use super-absorbent tampons"
(from the internet).
And I had worked for a gynecologist!
Maybe it was a good thing the OP brought this topic up.
I hope by now she is feeling more supported, a bit more understood. We are here for her.
Barb,
When I mentioned 'toxic shock'. I was referring to your comment about your condition at age 40, and your being told to never use tampons, as one reason why. I was worried about tampons, but still used them, way back then.
imo.
Leaving this thread up to the real experts now. Having a very busy day ahead with appointments.
If you are seeing BRB (bright red blood) on the toilet tissue, you need evaluation for gastrointestinal tract bleeding. That means you need to see a gastroenterologist who will likely order a colonoscopy. The good news is the bowel prep is a lot easier now than in the past. And at age 65, you are covered by Medicare, including colonoscopies.
A colonoscopy is an exam of the bowel using a tiny camera on a tube. Any abnormalities like anal fissures, polyps, internal hemorrhoids, diverticular pouches, inflammatory bowel disorders can be found and often treated on the spot. It's an outpatient procedure and you will be in and out within a matter of hours. Most BRB on toilet tissue is due to bleeding internal hemorrhoids, anal fissures or polyps, none of which is "cancer."
If you are uncertain where the BRB is coming from, your PCP will want to do a urinalysis and cytology (to check for urinary tract infection or other issues.) If positive testing, you may be referred to a urologist for further evaluation. If the bleeding is thought to be coming from the vaginal tract, a gynecologic exam should be done to check for polyps, fissures, infections.
You may need all 3 evaluations, but base on my experience reviewing medical charts for over 40 years, BRB is most often from a source lower in the large bowel and is not a life threatening issue. But you won't know until you get an evaluation.