blood and mucous in stool

Sorry this is kind of gross.  But I am a little concerned and want some opinions.  I quite frequently have mucous in my stool and my gastro doctor told me not to worry about it becasue your body naturlly lubricates your colon with mucous, so I have not worried about it.  However, Sunday I really struggled to have a bowel movement and when I did there was alot of mucous in it.  Today when i had a bowel movement, it again was extremely hard and mucousy but what worries me is there was also some blood in it.  When I wiped there was no blood on the toilet paper or floating in the toilet, just on the movement and in the mucuos.  I assume the blood was from struggling so hard.  Do you think that is a safe assumption?  If it keeps happening, of course I will make an appoinment but do you think I need one based on this one incident?  I am a 27 year old female.  I eat pretty healthy.  I had a colonoscopy in August of 06, which came out clean, other then 1 internal hemmrroid, which he was NOT concerned about.  Any thoughts?

[lizziecee]

Sounds like haemorrhoids....I would go back to your gastro and if he doesn't do something positive, get another one.
Hope you get it sorted!
Liz.

[ukmagenta]

I had very similar things happen.  My doctor said if the blood was bright red it was most likely hemmrroids.  I have also had dark burgundy red too, which I don't know what that is.

[lizziecee]

Hi - I have had a number of severe rectal haemorrhages requiring hospitalisation and blood transfusions, and have  learned over the years that if the blood is bright red, it is coming from the colon (could be haemorrhoids or other causes like ulcers and crypt abscesses as I had), but if it is black, with spots like coffee grounds, it is from the small intestine or stomach, as the blood takes longer to go through the GI tract, and so darkens. I do think you should go back to see a gastro and find out why this is happening. Blood in the stool should never be ignored. My late father ignored it for a year and died of colon cancer because it had spread to his liver and kidneys before he collapsed, and it was too late then. Don't want to alarm you, just want you to go see a gastro who knows what he is doing. Many don't, in my opinion.

[hikids]

Hi lizziecee,

Thank you for your comments.

I did call my gastro docotor and they said to just keep an eye on it and let them know if it happens again.  It only happened that one time.  Because it happened while I was constipated, they assume that was the cause.  I have not seen blood since that one time.  They told me if it was something serious, cancer, etc. then I would continue to see blood and have problems.  So I am assuming since I have not  noticed it again, I should be fine.

[lizziecee]

Sounds good advice - if there was a serious problem you would continue to see blood in your stool or on the paper. Just keep an eye on it to be safe and sure. You probably had a tear (fissure) through straining.
take care,
Liz.

[ferilkid]

its malabsorbtion of fat..