im scared to death!!!!

  Hello,
  My name is Keren and for the past year or two Ive been
  suffering from  stomach problems.For instance last night i
  went to a restraunt and had ribs when i came home i felt really
  sick so i threw up,sometimes i have diarehha as well.
  I havent had that checked out yet but now Im afraid I will have
   to take this a little more serious then i have been .Today while
  in the bathroom i noticed that my bowel movment had some
  blood "mixed" in it like it was colored red,when i wiped i had
  blood on the tisue.
  My question is what could this be and should i be afraid?
  also just for the record i havent been in the bathroom for a
   week and this time it was kind of hard to go.
  Could that be the reason i bled?
  thank you very much.sorry my story was graphic i just
   dont understand what is happening.
Dear Keren,
Although bright red blood in the toilet bowl or on the tissue paper is suggestive of bleeding from the anal canal secondary to hemorrhoids or a fissure (tear in the anal canal secondary to straining and constipation), it would be important to rule out a more proximal source of bleeding. This can be done with a test called flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In these tests a tube with a light and video camera are introduced into the rectum and advanced into the large intestine. A gastroenterologist usually performs these procedures. You may also want to carefully analyze your diet to see if any particular foods consistently give you trouble. Sometimes increasing the fiber in your diet to 25-30 grams per day may help. An easy way to meet your fiber requirement is to take 2 oz. of FIBER ONE cereal per day. Good luck to you.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you would like to be seen at our institution please call 1-800-653-6568 our Referring Physicians' Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
HFHSM.D.-ym
*Keywords: bright red blood per rectum, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy