Advise Needed: Bleeding on Toilet

Independance

Just looking for a a bit of advise.

My 63yr old Dad tells me last night he's been bleeding while/after he poo's on toilet. He then tells me it's been happening for about a year now on & off, went away for a few weeks/mths but is now back recently. He says he's not in pain but finds it hard at times to pass a poo.

My Dad is a real Irish man, passing it off "I'm grand", but I'm quite mad he's left it this long to tell me, I'm concerned as I've just burried my mother-in-law 8wks ago who passed away from cancer which started in colon, my mind is starting to race now.
Anyway my dad has a gp on paper, but hasn't seen him in years (dosen't do check-ups). I'm going to go with him today/tomorrow when I get the gp's times, but I'm not sure what to get the doc to check him for? Piles, polops, prostrate, cancer etc.

• Should I insist he gives him a letter for the hosptial to get a colonoscopy?
• He's no health Ins, how long would he have to wait on public list?
• Can doc give him a letter for private hopo like Hermitage Medical Clinic, Lucan, we live in D.22 & how much would private cost?

Many Thanks In Advance!

tbh

Mod Note: Remember, Please do not speculate on possible causes of this, or ask for further advice re: symptoms etc. This thread is being left here so that people can answer the specific questions only.

Condo131

Hi Independence,
Hopefully, by now, your Dad will have seen his G.P. about this. I know what you mean by "a real Irish man" - most men are dragged, screaming, to their doctor, by their wives/girlfriends/partners.

Bleeding in that region *always* needs to be checked out - it is *not* normal. As the moderator, tbh, suggests, it could be any of a number of things, some relatively minor and some *VERY* serious. Only his G.P. will be able to assess the condition, following examination. Whatever the cause, not going to see about it will do nothing to improve it and peace of mind is wonderful. Many people are reluctant to see to things like this for fear that they'll be told something that they'd rather not hear, but all the medical people are going to do is to put a name on it.

If he hasn't already seen the G.P. by now, please drag him down there asap!!!

The_Conductor

To be honest- a GP will *need* to refer your father for evaluation- very few GPs are specialised sufficiently to deal with cases like this. Most of the major hospitals have good Gastro-Intestinal teams who deal with cases like this regularly (and if they diagnose something outside their area of speciality- they can refer you onwards to another team in the same hospital).

Public or Private? Its a bit of a debate.......
I live in Lucan and would out of preference use St. Vincents Private and St. Vincents Public- over and above the Hermitage- their GI teams in both the Public and Private hospitals are great, I'd have no hesitation in recommending either. The big difference between public and private, seems to be the length of time to get the initial consultation. Investigations appear to proceed at the same pace once you've gotten past the initial goal posts.......

Janedoe10

You should get him checked straight away . It may be nothing but it's no point us speculating it needs to be checked by professionals .
Your dad sounds like all our dads . Irish men " don't want to worry you " Shure it will be grand . U know what I mean .

My dad after his lung collapsed was asked by the surgeon how he was feeling . I"'m grand . You'd swear he was in the hospital for a retreat .

The_Conductor

I'd echo JanDoe's comments- men in general are loathe to take any care of their health, and will only get to a hospital as a last resort. If your father has not made an appointment at this stage- sit down with him, tell him you are concerned for him, and get the phone numbers to physically ring with him, make it as easy as possible for him to make the call, and as hard as possible to get out of it........ He needs to get this checked out.