Blood in Stool

[greg wagner]

Over the past several days I have noticed blood in my stool that is bright red in color.  The stool is flat as it has been for many years (but no blood).  It seems to burn or feel like the stool is passing over sandpaper when it exits.  I also have several bowel movements in a day when this occurs.  I had a colonoscopy several months ago with one polop removed but all test came back negative.  Help!

[Janis]

EVERYTHING THAT YOU DESCRIBED IS HAPPENING TO ME. I HAVE HAD BLOOD IN MY STOOLS NOW FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. I HAVE HAD A BARIUM ENEMA, SIGMOIDOSCOPY, COLONOSCOPY, UPPER GI ENDOSCOPY, ALSO CT SCANS AND X-RAYS NOT TO FORGET TWO NEW TESTS CALLED A HIDA SCAN AND AN OCTROSCAN BOTH IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE. ALSO I HAVE HAD A SERIES OF URINALYSIS AND BLOOD WORKUPS. MY SYMPTOMS ARE ABDOMINAL PAIN WITH RECTAL PAIN AND BLEEDING. THEY HAVE FOUND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. I HAVE A SLIGHT DIVERTICULA BUT THEY DO NOT BELEIVE THAT IT WOULD CAUSE MY TYPE OF PAIN. I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE READY TO GIVE UP ON ME. TWO YEARS AGO I HAD A SURGERY CALLED A LAP NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION, THIS IS WHERE THEY TIE YOU ESOPHAGAS AROUND THE STOMACH TO PREVENT ACID REFLUX. I ALSO HAD SURGERY TO CORRECT DELAYED STOMACH EMPTYING. I HAVE ALSO HAD TWO PRIOR HEMORROIDECTOMY SURGICAL PROCEDURES DOWN. BUT I SEEM TO HAVE EVERYONE STOMPED ON THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT. I ALSO HAVE MANY DIZZY SPELLS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SOME THAT ACTUALLY CAUSE THE ROOM TO SPIN AROUND ME GIVING ME BUTTERFLYS IN MY STOMACH. I NEED SOME SERIOUS ADVICE ON WHAT MY NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE MYSELF. I WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE FOR MY CONDITION AND UPDATE YOU AS I GO, WHO KNOWS I MAY RUN INTO SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP US BOTH. GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU.


THANKS JANIS

[lance]

Greg,
     I am not a doctor but I do have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I also had blood in my stool. It depends on if the blood is bright red or dark red. Bright red blood might just be hemmhorids. Dark red blood indicates something else.  If nothing else is wrong with with you after tests have been done, then start taking metamucil once a day, but don't stop taking it, because it takes about a month or two to regulate your system. I have my IBS under control for the most part now. Also, stress is a MAJOR contributor to IBS and instesinal problems. But, DO go to your doctor to rule out possible serious illness. Good luck.

[JRF]

Greg,

I've had an abdominal pain for about 3 months now but all the tests (Endoscopy, Abdominal ultrasound, HIDA Scan, CAT Scan, colonoscopy, and small-bowel series) all showed up normal.  The HIDA Scan showed a 30% gallbladder ejection fraction. My Dr. says I have IBS but I do not diarrhea or constipation, just a mild abdominal pain.  I also believe I have blood in my stool.  Do you know if a stool that is darker (not black) in some parts indicates blood?

Also, I was told that IBS does not have blood in stools.  Do you know if this is true?

[tracy]

Greg,

I also have bright red blood in my stools occasionally, but I have Crohn's disease. If you haven't been diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or even tested for one), then you definitely need to contact your doctor or arrange to see a gastroenterologist. While bright red blood is typically from hemorrhoids or fissures, it can also come from a lower GI bleed. Dark blood (black, tarry) usually comes from the stomach or duodenum....somewhere higher up in the digestive system, whereas maroon blood comes from the small intestine. Hope this helps!

Tracy

[Mike]

How long should symtoms continue before going to the doctor?  I am 45 and this morning had bright red blood in my stool for the first time.  It seemed like a considerable amount.  Not to be disgusting but, it swirled in the bowl and I could almost not tell what color my stool was.  This amount of blood seems like it would be caused by a broken blood vessel some where.  I have a mind to wait a day or so at least.  Do you think this prudent?

[Greg C]

Mike,

Blood should always be checked out by a physician.  Why play russian roulette with your life?  Most likely it is something simple like hemeroids, but you definitely want to rule out anything serious.