Blood??

Subject:  28 year old male, 5

[Kevin Pho, MD]

At your age, hemorrhoids is the most common cause of rectal bleeding.  However, now that you are having some changes in bowel movements (i.e. watery diarrhea), I agree with an endoscopy.  Either a colonoscopy or a flexible sigmoidoscopy would suffice.  

Other causes would include inflammatory bowel disease or other causes of colon inflammation that can cause diarrhea and bleeding.  Very rarely, there are some endocrine tumors that can present as watery diarrhea, but I think that this should be considered if the other causes have been ruled out.  

I would also consider evaluation for malabsorption if the colonoscopy is negative - this can also present as unexplained chronic diarrhea.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[loganaj]

Sorry to bother again.  What exactly defines chronic diarrhea?  I might only experience it once every month or two, and that being some quick gassy cramps and a 2 minute trip to the bathroom like I ate something that didn't agree, with no more diarrhea after that (not like I am in and out of the bathroom all day).  And the blood problem has only occurred the mentioned times.

Thanks!

[loganaj]

Well, I went for the colonoscopy and the Dr. said he found a small pollyp, just under 1cm in my rectum.  I asked if it was a hyperplastic polyp and he seemed to think so (which is benign and does not become malignant).  However, he said this polyp was not the cause of the bleeding, and that I had a fissure that was responsible!

Well, funny thing is I have no pain in that area, so how could I have a fissure?

[diarrheaguy]

A related discussion, Diarrhea Question was started.