Hey Chris. You didn't mention your age or anything, but stop thinking the worst if thats what you're doing! Red blood in the stool and red blood that shows in the toilet water tells you that the bleeding is coming from very low in the colon, the rectum or the last couple inches of the large intestine. You said that you have been constipated. that could very well be your reason for bleeding right there. When you're constipated, you can tear your rectum or give yourself hemmorhoids, internal or external. If you are 25 or younger, you have less then a 1 in 500,000 chance of it being something serious like colon cancer. If you are under 40, the chances are still slim. My dads bleed TONS of times just from being constipated. He got all worried and went to the docs. He made them do a scope on him and all sorts of tests and he was fine. If you want reassurance, go to your doctor. They could do a sigmoidoscopy. That would look at your rectum and the last part of your colon. Thats where the red blood would be coming from. I had the test done. ITS NOT pleasant, but i guess its worth the reassurance. No worries!! Constipation can cause this. :-)
I have been through the same thing. I was bleeding every time I went to the bathroom and got very scared. I went to my doc and he stuck this tube up my colon (uncomfortable but not painful) which opened me up. He said he could see the internal hemorrhoids which were caused from straining when I had a BM. Since I went I have been relieved of so much anxiety and I know that this is VERY common. Just go see your doc and you'll be fine.
I agree totally! After years of alternating diahrrea and constipation, I too experienced blood on my "movement" and in the stool water. Typically bright red blood is nothing to worry about, but if it would make you feel better, I too recommend that you see your doctor for a sigmoid. The discomfort you experience is well worth the peace of mind you end up with! My guess is that you either have internal hemmoriods from straining or possibly even an external or internal fissure (tear)in your rectum.
Good luck, and stop worrying, the odds are with you!