Bloody mucus stool

[erins44]

I am a 31 year old female.  I have blood (sometimes red, and sometimes maroon) and mucus after I have a bowel movement.  A lot of times the blood and mucus are mixed together,  They are sticky strings.  I also get bad abdominal cramping.  I had a colonoscopy and they only found internal hemorrhoids.  I know that there is something else besides the hemorrhoids.  I am scheduled to see a new GI doctor on the 15th.  I can go for months with no symptoms at a time.  Any ideas as to what could be causing this?
Thank you

[Sassywassy455]

is there an update to this? I am having the exact same symptoms!

[Caryopteris]

A good gastroenterologist should be able to figure this out and explain it to your satisfaction.

Causes Of Red Stool

The passage stool that is red or maroon colored due to the presence of blood is called "hematochezia." The brighter color of the blood indicates that it may be coming from a source in the lower gastrointestinal tract. A physician should investigate blood in the stool to rule out potentially serious conditions. Causes of blood in the stool can include:

hemorrhoids
anal fissures
colon polyps or colon cancer
diverticular bleeding
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
A common source of bright red blood in the stool or on toilet paper is hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins in the rectal area that may burst and bleed. Hemorrhoids are not usually serious, and can often be treated effectively with over the counter medications. Troublesome hemorrhoids that won't heal may need the attention of a physician or prescription medication.

A fissure is a tear or ulcer in the lining of the anal canal (the last part of the rectum before the anus). Fissures can occur in anyone, but are more common in middle age or young adults and can cause bright red bleeding. Acute fissures generally heal with non-invasive treatments.

Colon polyps can also cause red blood to appear in the stool. Polyps are growths on the inside of the colon that are believed to be the precursors to colon cancer. Blood that may be from polyps or colon cancer is not always visible in or on the stool. This type of blood is called "occult blood," and can be identified with a simple test. The fecal occult blood test may be done as part of a screening panel for colon cancer.

IBD and diverticular disease are also sources of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. Both Crohn's disease of the colon and ulcerative colitis can result in blood passed in the stool, frequently along with diarrhea. Pouches in the colon wall (known as diverticula) caused by divercular disease may produce considerable amounts of blood in the stool.

Blood in the stool may not always be the result of a serious or chronic condition, but it should always be checked by a physician. Any change in bowel habits, such as color, odor, frequency, or consistency (constipation or diarrhea) that does not clear up within a few days is reason to make an appointment with a family practitioner or a gastroenterologst.