blood and mucus in stool

[cause]

Female in mid-40's. For 2-3 wks I've had mucus and/or blood when I go to the bathroom. Many times I don't pass any stool, just globs of mucus and blood clots. First had more mucus, now more blood. I have had external hemorrhoids in the past but have not had a flare for a yr and half but have never experienced bleeding, only inflammation. I've read that bleeding hemorrhoids usually lasts a few days at a time, not wks. I've been taking Citrucel to help bulk up the stool, but I seem to either pass small balls or none at all. I think my hemorrhoids are starting to become inflamed due to all this, but I don't think they have been inflamed at the beginning to be the initial cause. Any ideas on what could be the cause?

[girlvet]

Hi...have you taken antibiotics in the past few months?  May wanna google Clostridium Difficile and check your symptoms.  If they match, ask doc to do stool samples X three days, looking for C-Diff and toxins A/B.  Best of luck to you.

[Morecambe]

I suggest that you type in rectal bleeding to google/yahoo etc.  You will find numerous sites that describe the main causes of rectal bleeding.  The more minor causes include haemorrhoids, anal fissure but, of course, there are more sinister causes too.  Probably in your case the cause is more likely to be a recurrence of the haemorrhoids but I suggest that you consult a doctor and get the bleeding checked out.  You are entering the age range when cancer can start to occur and, since this possibility always passes through everyone's mind, unless your doctor can 100% assure you that the cause of the bleeding is minor, I suggest that you ask for a colonoscopy which is probably the most conclusive test.  Assuming that the outcome is favourable, you will feel reassured and able to dispel doubts that always linger if the diagnosis is "presumptive" rather than "definite".

Good luck
Morecambe