How are younger people getting colonoscopies so easily?
I’m 37F and have had bloody mucus in my stools for 3 months now. Not on the toilet paper but on my actual stools. My PCP did a work up that showed slightly borderline fecal calprotectin and positive FIT. The bleeding is pretty scant and I don‘t have anemia or anything. I also have a lot of lower abdominal cramping and terrible constipation, though that has been lifelong. I was referred to GI and seen by a PA. He basically immediately said it was internal hemorrhoids (without any examination) and that no further follow up was needed. I’m shocked by all the people on here in their 20s or 30s who present to the doctor with rectal bleeding and get colonoscopies. I told the PA I’ve had hemorrhoids before and that this bleeding is different but that didn’t seem to persuade him much. When I told him about my cramping, he said it was probably uterine cramping and to follow up with my OBGYN. He was incredibly dismissive and condescending… I mean, I’ve had a uterus for 37 years and know the difference between uterine cramping and GI cramping. Anyway, did anyone else have trouble having their rectal bleeding taken seriously?