Have been abusing OTC Nytol for the past 5 years on a regular basis. Sometimes I would abuse a full bottle a day. I have recently found clumps of blood in my stool as well as smears on the tissue paper every day or two on a regular basis. This has been going on for a year now. Clearly I need to see a doctor and have tests done.
1) What organ is it that is likely damaged by this abuse?
2) What tests will they run on me to find the source of this bleeding?
P.S. I have since completely stopped taking over-the-counter pills!
Thank you ever so much!
2007-09-13 03:23:00 · 7 answers · asked by Peter N 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
if the blood you see in your stools is bright red, you can relax, it is likely just internal hemmorhoids. Probably caused by stools that are too hard and large, indicating that you don't drink enough water, and you need at least 2 liters a day for optimum physical efficiency.
If the blood is black and tarry, that would indicate bleeding further up in the digestive tract, possibly an ulcer or diverticulitis, and then yes, you need to see a doctor.
As for your drug abuse, the organ most likely to be affected would be your liver, but that would not cause bleeding in the digestive tract. You should have liver function studies done however, for there are a lot of other things that can go wrong if the liver is damaged.
2007-09-13 03:30:51 · answer #1 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'd say it's like you have some stomach/GI tract damage! You may have a GI bleed or something a little less serious, a small tear or fissure in your intestines.
You need to see a doctor ASAP...blood in the stool can be a sign of somthing serious! They will do blood tests to see if you're anemic and to get an idea of how much blood you may have lost which may help them diagnose the source. They may do an abdominal CT scan and/or MRI. Another possibility would be a colonoscopy.
Don't put it off...see a doctor and make sure you are honest about your drug abuse history.
2007-09-13 10:33:37 · answer #2 · answered by NurseBunny 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nytol is a sleeping aid, also known as diphenhydramine. It is known to cause various side effects such as dizziness and stomach upset. But blood in the stool is not one of them. The blood in the stool could likely be from the stomach or intestines. If the color of the blood is bright red, it is likely to come from the large intestine. If the color is dark red or black, it may come from the stomach. It is best that you see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Best wishes.
2007-09-13 10:43:28 · answer #3 · answered by Tricia N 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, and foremost see your family doctor as soon as possible.
Overuse of Nytol or any other substance can have a
damaging effect on the liver, as most of what we take
in gets filter through there.
The blood could mean many things, including severe hemorrhoids to something more serious.
Please see your doctor, and let him/her know all your symptoms, in which they will probably run many tests to see if taking OTC has hurt you in any way.
My best to you.. please start taking care of your health.
2007-09-13 10:31:54 · answer #4 · answered by Barbara * 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well first of all , never, never abuse otc meds. it can be really dangerious. and i dont see how you could wait this long to be seen. but first. is the blood on the out side of your stools? could be hemmorids. the part of the organs that it would most be harmful to would probable be the liver and the colon. the tests the ywould take would probably be a colonoscopy,a sigmoscopy, a fecal examanation. dont be alfully scared. im sure its more than likely a harmless condition. but please go to the doctor and get a professional opinion. safer is better than being sorry. and please stay off the otc meds.
2007-09-13 10:48:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am not a physician, but I would suges you see a doctor and tell them you have been abusing otc for 5 yrs.
He will know the test that need to be done.
I pray you take this advise and god speed to you becoming healthy.
2007-09-13 10:41:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is probably just hemorrhoids....if your stool was black that would indicated internal bleeding....however, get to a doctor right away to be sure.
2007-09-13 11:17:15 · answer #7 · answered by t 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋