Blood in Stool

[mike40]

Over the last week I have had major amount of blood in my stool. For me this wasnt much of an alarm because I have had blood in my stool off and on for probably 15 years but never to this extent and for this long (almost two weeks). It is literally dripping from me a very bright red color.

Just some background on my GI history.. I am a 40 year old male.  I had a flex sigmoid done in 1989 at age 23 that revealed an extremely small amount of ulcerative colitis. I had two follow up sigmoids in '94 and 2000 which showed no active colitis.

I have had two colonoscopies.. one in March of 2001 where I had  small edenoma polyps that were removed but no sign of active colitis. A repeat colonoscopy done in Nov 2004 was done and more multiple edenoma(very small) polyps were removed with the doctor saying to come back in 4 years and that no active colitis was apparent. The doctor made a brief mention about Hemorrhoids but nothing was done about that

Fast forward to a new gastro doctor who I went too because of insurance reasons..she said because of the amount of blood she could see using an anoscope.. she said to get another colonoscopy done as soon as possible. She herself doesnt do colonoscopies. She did a quick inspection and was able to see blood and a "ring" of inflamed Hemorrhoids. She gave me a prescription for the hemorrhoids but insisted not to go by only that and to getting another colonoscopy done.

My question is this.. Shouldnt I have some piece of mind knowing that I have had two colonoscopies in the past 5 years?
I mean the polyps were all removed in 2004 and it takes years for new ones to grow. This new gastro doctor said it all depends on well you've been cleaned out  ... She just worried me a bit. She said her concern was of any colitis acting up to be checked out

I am going to proceed with another a gastro and another colonoscopy and I am going to give the a anusol suppositories at try.

I would think any primary reason for another colonoscopy is to see if there is active colitis.  For anything really bad such as a tumor wouldnt that polyp have to have escaped detection of two prior colonoscopies?

Thanks
Mike

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Two colonoscopies in 5 years would make things like cancer and polyps less likely.

However, the bleeding is obviously continuing, and things like hemorrhoids, colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease can crop up in the meantime.  

I agree with repeating the colonoscopy for this reason.  If scheduling is an issue, a flexible sigmoidoscopy can be considered as well - although the colonoscopy is the better test.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[steelergrl30]

i'm a 39 yr old female w/ no kids and just diag w/ cystocele and rectocele and now have God-awful cramping along with passage of mucous and some blood in tissue-like looking stool.  Hx of extensive abdominal and pelvic adhesions s/p surgery in 2001 and adhesions removed along w/ tubes in 2004.  i have a b.m. q 2 weeks prior to this cramping episodes.  what do you think?  I am going to have a colonoscopy soon.