The Stool Test and Medicines

I knew that I was going to have to get a little detailed at some point because of my topic. This blog post is about what some people will receive at most digestive health specialists that you will have to do at home.   

I’m also going to give an example of what types of medicine that is out there.

For disorders below the diaphragm, Gastroenterologist has to deal with conditions that affect the intestines, the colon and other organs. There is a test given to you, so they can test your stool and see if you have blood in your sample.

Blood is very bad, by the way. It means that you could have a very serious case and you might have cancer.

The test that I got was ColoScreen, a test for fecal occult blood that is issued by the developers, Helena Laboratories. It’s a guaiac slide test to recognize fecal occult blood. It also is used to detect Colon cancer. 

 

This test is also short for FOBT. There are two other tests called FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) and iFOBT (Immunoassay Fecal-Occult Blood Test) that finds hidden blood in stools. If cancer is spotted, a Stool DNA test is need because Colon cancer cells can change DNA in genes and the test could find the change.

The specific reason that the test is need is to indicate if you have hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, fissures, colitis or colorectal cancer.

You still have to keep up with your physical examinations and testing.

Some of the instruction that is given in using the test is that you do not collect samples during menstrual periods. Also, don’t take it when you are having bleeding Hemorrhoids or you have a cut on the hands. The slides have to be protected from heat, sunlight, ultraviolet or fluorescent light (they give you the kits in a mailing envelop).  

Also, two days before doing the test you have to go a fixed diet:

• Meats: a small amount of well-cooked Chicken, Turkey and Tuna. Try to avoid eating red meat.
• Vegetables: a big amount of cooked and uncooked veggies like Lettuce, Corn, Spinach and Celery. The vegetables not eat is Horseradish, Cantaloupe, Raw Turnips, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Red Radishes and Parsnip.
• Fruits: have a lot of fruits like prunes, grapes, plums and apples.
• Cereal: You can only have bran or bran-containing cereals.

If you get the test, I would read all the instruction and how to handle the sample because it could help in the long run. It might seem like a lot of things to do, but I think it’s good to see where you stand.

I want finish this off by briefly talking about prescriptions. It will depend on what your condition is and what your doctor thinks you should take for treatment. They can’t cure what you have, but they try to make it better.

The medicine I take for Acid reflux is Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitors that breaks down acid produced in the stomach. It’s the medicine used for symptoms of GERD and other conditions dealing with acid.

I take Dicyclomine for my case of IBS and it helps to quiet muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal tract.