Blood in stool

[rgysug]

  I started having a mild pain in the lower abdomen  and a difficult bowel movement(not the usual and normal) from last sunday.Based on a doctor's advise I took antibiotics and multivitamin pills,suspecting ameabiasis, for the last 5 days.After i started the above course,the pain reduced ( but some light pain persists). I am noticing, for the last three days, blood coming along with stools( not in insignificant quantities) .The colour of the blood is light red and thin,but the stool is normal in colour and size and shape.There is no pain in the whole process.A week back, just before I had this pain I had a difficult bowel movement one day because of outside food,as I was travelling.But previous to that the stool was was absolutely normal.I am at a loss about what to do, as this is the first time I have observed like this.I am 61 year old male,and my bowel movement is otherwise very regular and smooth and my general health condition is good.need some professional guidance.


This discussion is related to Blood in stool.

[patient915]

Please post your question as its own post because this one is so old.

[liz234]

The last two or three days I have had sever abdominal cramping and pain, more so than normal and it is too early for it to have been PMS. At the same time I noticed bloating along with the discomfort and pressure. I have had somewhat irregular bowel movements, but nothing that was difficult or painful. Then tonight, the third evening, I noticed light red spotting on my stool, and the toilet paper was covered in the light red blood. A short time later I went to the bathroom a second time and there was nothing but the blood and some kind of mucusy material. While I know the blood in my stool is not a healthy sign, how long should there be blood present before I should be worried? My family has a history of IBD (inflamatory bowel syndrome) and I have had IBS off and on for years, but otherwise there is no family history of any types of cancer or other explanations. I am only 19 years old and I'm not sure if I should be worried or just stay calm and see if it passes? I'm in college and cannot afford running off to the hospital and doctors if it's nothing...any advice or insights would be amazing.

Liz.

[rgysug]

Hi,Morecambe,

          Thanks for your guidance.--rgysug

[Morecambe]

Hi - you are in the age range where the more sinister conditions associated with rectal bleeding could occur.  These can be (hopefully) discounted via the most comprehensive test available which is a colonoscopy - unless of course your specialist can positively confirm that the bleeding is caused by one of the more minor diseases such as haemhorroids/anal fissure etc etc.

If there is any ambiguity I suggest that you insist on a colonoscopy (and maybe an endoscopy if relevant) as a way of providing you with the maximum possible reassurance.

Blood in your stools and/or rectal bleeding is never normal and should always be investigated.  Sadly one of my wife's uncles ignored it and eventually succumbed to (surely treatable??) colon cancer.

Good luck
Morecambe