should i go to the doctor ??

[kelly]

Yesterday i had a bowel movement and afterwards some blood dripped out as well, and it was not because of a period.  No blood is coming out other than after a bowel movement.. I know this is serious, and i am pretty worried.

[Greg C.]

Kelly,

First of all, don't get too worried.  There are many causes of rectal bleeding which are not life threatening.  You didn't say how old you were, but if you are relatively young, the chances of colon cancer are very very small.  If you have bright red blood, that indicates a problem in the anal and sigmoid colon area.  Most often this is caused by bleeding hemeroids or anal fissures (small tears in the anal lining).  Usually hard stool can agravate this.  Other causes of bleeding could be diverticulosis (bulging pouches in the colon), irritation of the bowel (eg. Chrones disease), etc.

There is certainly a possibility of cancer and you definitely want to rule that out.  Please go to the doctor for any kind of rectal bleeding.  You will most likely be relieved to find it is nothing too serious.  But GO!!!

[tom]

Blood in the stool can be serious. But, my wife had blood in her stool about a year ago. It dripped out similar to what you said. I don't know if it lasted a week or went away. She went to the doctor and they did a sigmoidoscopy and found that she had a broken hemorrhoid inside her. That was all. So don't stress yet,
it may be something simple like that. Good luck.

[JW]

Well, your bleeding may or may not be serious.
First of all, the fact that it seems to drip
a bit after a movement, might indicate a
fissure.. [ a break in the skin around the anus
or tissue just inside.. or - your bleeding
could be coming from a hemmoroid, as well.

The fact that the blood is not mixed all
together with your fecal matter could point to
these two senarios.

Regardless, you should have a doctor check this
out. I would guess nothing is all that seriously
wrong. Best of luck to you.

[amelia]

I'm terrified too. I'm at the end of 6 mos. of "relocation" - being generally in limbo with my husband.  I did not have a physician when I first noticed it a month ago, an oily like discharge then bleeding, bright red blood, no movement, just blood. We've found a place to live, made an appointment, but my coverage does not begin until next mos.  I'm 37, and my paternal grandfather died of colon cancer, my father had polyps and was tested yearly.  My mother is in remission for a rare form of bone cancer and cronic demylinating polyneuropathy, her mother had breast cancer which runs throughout that side of the family.  I had some cramping and today I noticed whisps of blood rising to the surface from the stool.  My husband watched his mother die after yrs. from breast cancer, she was 52.  I'm terrified that he will go through it again, with me.  I haven't told him anything.  Could it be rectal/colorectal cancer?  It only happened to the men on my father's side.

[to amelia]

amelia,
i am so sorry you're scared.  please don't be too afraid though.  i believe that worrying about it will send bad energy to that part and will make it sick even if it's not.  please see the doctor asap or if you feel you can't wait there has to be a clinic or something you could go to.  think positive thoughts and please tell your husband.  it'll help you to stop worrying about it if you can talk to someone else about it.  take care and good luck.  also, keep posting because the people here are so supportive.
erin :)

[Doris]

By all means, yes!!!  I had the same problem 2years ago and wound up in the emergency room three times only to be told it was probably hemroids. After a year of this my husband complained that nothing was being done and mya hmo doctor decided to do a colonoscopy and found the ccancer. By this time it was too late and it had Metastisized.  After 9 months of Chemo, I am doing well so far but I have started having this pain in my upper left side every time I eat and I'm afraid to go to the Doctor.  So please go and make sure they follow through with all the tests necessary.

[lis]

I have been having some pain in my mid back (right side) in Nov 1999 I had chest and upper right quad x-rays done that showed no abnormalities at that time the Dr. also do a Hida scan to check for gallbladder problems also normal.

In Jan. 2000 I had surgery on my right collarbone (they removed 1/4" at the tip-an artheritic condition) for about 1 month the pain I experienced in the mid back was gone, then I began again only ocassionally, but for the past month it has increased.  It seems to be better when I apply heat.  I have seen the Dr. and was told that this could be a pulled muscle, I've also seen a chiropractor.  Back in November I had blood work done which showed a slightly elevated ATL liver enzyme, the Dr. said there was no need for concern.

This pain seems to be localized in the back but sometimes radiates around to the front under the rib cage.  I've been tested for any kidney infections and all is normal.

Please if anyone has experienced this I'd appreciate some help!

[jj]

I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS FROM THE WASTE DOWN

[shelly]

To Kelly & Lis,                                                                        First to Kelly. I am 34 years old and also had some bleeding but mine was in the stool.I was already being treated by a gastroenterologist and had all kinds of scopes done. But when I had the blood in my stool I was a little scared to tell him about it because of all the other problems I had been having.But of course my boyfriend told him at one of my tests he was doing , so he did a colonoscopy the next week.The test was not painful at all it was actually one of the easier scopes that I've had done. It turned out to be diverticulosis and not a big deal . So I urge you to go to a G.I  Dr. and get this checked out. Blood in your stool ,as my Dr. would say, should always be checked out.                                                                     Now for Lis. I also have mid back pain going under my rib cage but on my left side . When it was on my right side it turned out to be my gallbladder which was removed after a year of pain. All the tests they ran for my gallbladder came back negative including the regular Hida scan, until my G.I. Dr. ordered a hida scan with an injection (not sure of the medical name).What they do is give you the dye and all that stuff ,watch it until it gets to the gallbladder and then they give you another injection into your I.v.The second one makes your gallbladder contract like it would after you eat and they can see how much fluid it is releasing and how it is functioning. Thats when they found that mine was only working at a low percentage.It was not emptying the way it should.So if your pain persists I would check into having this test done. Good Luck                                                                    Kelly I just forgot to tell you one thing about the colonoscopy, the most unpleasant part about the test is the preparation for it.You have to take a laxative to clean your bowelsthe day before and you have to drink this stuff they call Phospha Soda. You need to stay pretty close to the bathroom.Other than that the test is a breeze .The endoscopy I had done was more unpleasant than this.Thats when they put a tube down your throat.Good Luck to you both.                                Shelly

[Justin]

Hi I am 16 years old and about a week ago I noticed blood on my feces and i am very worried there is no dripping I dont know what to do this is quite embarrasing and worrysome what should I do??

[brian]

I have experienced the same thing. After a bowel movement, I detected some blood after wiping. I don't quite know what's wrong or if it's really serious, but I'm starting to worry. Any ideas?

[paula]

to brian and justin:

my husband started bleeding periodically about 12 years ago when he was about 13.  there is nothing wrong with him now but he does still bleed from time to time.  the doctors at that time said it was all due to stress.  i would recommend that the both of you dont worry, and get it checked out.  pray about it also and rely on GOD for answers.  you guys will be fine.