Bleeding from bowel

[marie140]

Have had bleeding from my bowels for the past five months, with blood also in the toilet bowl. No signs of external heamoroid. Always feel like I still need to empty my bowels even after doing a bowel movement and never have a normal bowel movement normally soft or the runs. I  am booked in to have a colonoscopy, what do you think this could be? I am 40 yr old female and smoker.

[marie140]

Thank you for your helpful insights. I will let you know what the results are.

[shamus1384]

colonoscopy is right on ! I dont believe smoking has to bear on this( your lungs will talk to you..remember your fondest moments as a kid...and there was NO CIGARETTS involved ~! convince yourself.. there is good life without them..it worked for me. my 3rd try succeeded on oct 27th 1987. i'm 79. fake it until you feel it !! also possible hemoriods !

[clynn19815]

I have crohn's disease and have similar symptoms when it is active. You may have the doctor run a SED rate. Mine runs high when out of remission. Either way, the colonoscopy should show if it is crohn's disease or hemmoroids. Just be sure you don't allow yourself to become anemic. Eat plenty of iron rich foods. good luck!

[ObiQuiet]

Hi there, something similar happened to me about 2 yrs ago (lots of visible blood over a long period of time, etc).  My doctor was really good and I had a number of thorough tests performed, including a barium enema (NOT fun!!), and a colonoscopy - the colonoscopy was a breeze - especially if your doctor directs you to do the cleanse prep with ducolax and pico-salax (the pico-salax is the important one - I think you can ask for that if you've been directed to do something else).  I've done colon preps before, and they were barbaric - the pico-salax was super gentle and very effective.  Don't go far from your bathroom in either case, but there was none of the cramping with the pico-salax.  

I'm glad to hear you are looking into it - it is so important.  Mine turned out to be internal hemmoroids, so no big deal - but the symptoms can look a lot like other big issues that would be good to get a jump on.  It is a good idea to check it out thoroughly, that way you either get answers and a plan, or more likely - reassurance that it isn't anything big to worry about.