Bloody diarrhea after running

[debbiemc2000]

Hi,
This question is a follow-up to another I read on this forum.  I have been a runner all of my life, but had to slow down due to my 2 pregnancies.  After I had my first baby, I got back into running and was doing great.  Then I was running a 10K, and 1/2 way through I had severe stomach cramps and had to find a restroom.  I had bloody diarrhea which really scared me.  I walked the rest of the race...had a bit more blood in my stools and then back to normal.  Not long after that I got pregnant with my 2nd child and stopped running again (never had bloody stools after that one day).  Now it has been 7 months after giving birth and I began to run again.  I've been training for a 5K and running pretty hard.  After about a week of training I started getting bad stomach cramps and the bloody diarrhea came back.  The diarrhea is bring red in color and after I go, the next time I have a bowel movement it is still a little red (but more firm), and then back to normal.  The stools are normal again until I run really hard.  My doctor doesn't know what it is and has referred me to a GI specialist.  My doctor checked me for hemorrhoids (both internal and external) and she said that wasn't it.  She also checked me for an anal fissure...that was a negative also.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Does this sound like bowel cancer?  


This discussion is related to Blood in Stool - After Running?.

[debbiemc2000]

I ended up having a colonoscopy and the results came back normal.  He also did a MRI on the blood flow to the colon (to see if there were any blockages) which also came back normal.  The GI specialist said it is very rare...but he thinks it is exercise induced Ischemic colitis.  He has seen a couple of other patients with the same condition.  He said I would have to stop running altogether in order not to potentially "kill" part of the bowel (due to blood restriction).  Since the diagnosis, I have been jogging very slowly and doing other forms of exercise (walking, riding a bike) without a problem.  I have done a couple of road races and the blood came back...so I have to go really slow.  I hope this helps!

[medques333]

I have a similar problem after running longer distances and I am only 21.  My doctor says the stomach ache its just gas build up and he hasn't gotten back about the blood (only happened twice now) and diarrhea.  I would appreciate it if any of you hear back about what it could be.

[kristy76]

hi, I have had the same problem after a couple of my runs. I also stop running while I am preg. and start again after breastfeeding. This is the first time I have had this problem. Please let me know if you find out anything!! Kristy

[Morecambe]

You don't say how old you are - but the more sinister diseases that can accompany rectal bleeding tend to occur at age 40+.  However, I suggest that you ask for a colonoscopy as a way of providing (hopefully) maximum reassurance.

regards
Morecambe