Follow-Up - Blood on Stool

[Hunter926]

I appreciate your response to the attached question, but I would like to follow up on the reaponse with the following:

If the described condition (see below) is blood, it is present in very small amounts, and there is no streaking, blood in bowl, etc, just a small area the size of a sesame seed that has a reddish color.  I am afraid I am overreacting to the symptoms.  

What are the chances that it is not blood at all, just components of normal stool, and, if it is bleeding exclusively in this presentation, what would be the most likely cause?

Thanks again.



Original Question:

“How will blood in or on the stool commonly present itself?”  I have noticed that my bm’s typically may contain several  “specks”, “flecks” particles or spots that are red in color (several being one or two).  Many times there will be only one (or none), it is on the surface of the stool, is very small (diameter < 1 or 2 mm) and only apparent in very bright light conditions.

I understand that blood in stool is a warning sign for colorectal lesions, and, given that I am approaching age 50, I recently started closely watching BM’s.  I suspect this is just ordinary stool being looked at very critically by the untrained and paranoid eye, therefore the question of what I should be looking for.

BTW-I performed the series of three FOBT cards last fall and all were negative.

I really appreciate your thoughts.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I'm sure you can understand that it would be difficult for me guess at what it could be without seeing the specimen you are talking about.  There is always the possibility that it may not be blood, but you always want to rule out the worse causes first - in this case, the various causes of GI bleeding (i.e. hemorroids (hemorrhoids), polyps etc).  I would suggest a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy as reasonable initial tests to evaluate this.  

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.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b