Bleeding from down there

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

NC as this is embarrassing and personal, not a troll post, I’ve posted before under a different name.

I have IBS. Bloods/stool sample were both fine (taken several times, not just once) so no need for any further investigations or referrals. Bloods showed no inflammation and I tested negative for coeliac.

I have diarrhoea most days, but earlier this year I’ve started having a more embarrassing problem. I thought I was having incontenance as I had noticed staining on my underwear, and I had started to hurt down there- it’s a really sharp burning pain. I noticed a few weeks ago that actually it’s not incontenace but it’s blood. I’ve had diarrhoea with blood in it a few times before. Today, I had diarrhoea (no blood) then went for a walk and started to feel the sharp pain, so I came home and my underwear was stuck to me in a patch of blood. It’s not leaking all over my underwear, it’s only the patch that was stuck to me. It was both brown and red so I think it had been bleeding on/off for the entire time I was out walking.

I thought it might be a pile or fissure so I checked myself using a mirror but couldn’t see any blood or redness or obvious cuts. I also wiped down there but again there was no blood which I thought there would be if it was a fissure or pile? I have tried using anusol but it doesn’t really help.

I’m too embarrassed to go to a doctor about it, and I don’t know if this is just part of having IBS, but it’s happening nearly daily now and having a serious impact on my life- more than the constant diarrhoea/nausea is. I’m young (university age) and nobody is even seeing my underwear apart from me, but it’s still really embarrassing and it’s affecting the clothes I wear because I’m very anxious about bleeding randomly from down there and it being obvious. I was so worried thinking it was incontenance so I was relieved when I realised it actually wasn’t, but now I’m even more worried because I’ve realised it’s blood which is bad too! The blood is a mixture of deep, bright red and also brown- I’m unsure if this is because it’s dried blood or if it was brown anyway.

Sorry I know this is a horrible topic to post about but I don’t know what else to do. My doctor said I have to learn to manage my IBS so I don’t want to go back with this if it’s something simple I could treat at home, but I don’t know if it’s a fissure or pile or if there’s anything else that could cause this. There was no blood when I wiped and no obvious cuts or blood when I checked in the mirror. For anyone else with IBS, is this normal with it? What else could it be if not a pile or fissure?

[FlorenceNightshade]

Any persistent change in your symptoms is always worth discussing with your gp or consultant if you’re under one. I’d give them a phone tomorrow

[nocoolnamesleft]

It's not normal to bleed with IBS. It may be a pile or a fissure. Or it may be something more worrying. The only way to know is to see a doctor. Please make an appointment.

[Lockheart]

You need a doctor. See one ASAP.

If the bleeding does not stop, go to A&E.

[Aseagullatemypasty]

Do go to get it checked by your GP tomorrow, blood in your urine should never be ignored.

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

My GP referred me but I think they rejected it (I’m not 100% sure yet) as they saw me previously and said I just need to manage my IBS as my bloods and stool were fine, so I was really anxious about going back again with this because I know it’s probably something minor I could sort at home and I’m trying really hard to manage my IBS on my own.

Just in case I accidentally made the bleeding sound worse than it is, it’s not non-stop bleeding that would need urgent attention; it’s just a patch on my underwear (maybe the size of a £2 coin). I immediately thought it was a fissure or pile especially because of the pain down there, but there was no bleeding when I wiped which made me unsure if it was that. I guess maybe the bleeding had stopped but it was red in my underwear so I expected to see some blood when I wiped but nothing and when I checked online it said fissures and piles cause blood when wiping so I wasn’t sure if it was just a normal part of IBS and I need to manage it

[KloppsTeeth]

Agree you need to see a GP about this urgently. It could be as simple as internal piles. They will give you prescription strength suppositories. But it does need to be checked out to find out what is going on.
Don’t be embarrassed, doctors have seen thousands of arses and to them it is an everyday thing.

[HitthefloorforTaintedLove]

Get it checked out OP, see a different GP if necessary and don't be fobbed off by them saying this is just IBS or you're too young for it to be anything serious. It might well be but it needs proper investigation, the sooner the better, to rule out anything more serious.
I'm not trying to scare you, just want you to get proper medical attention.

[PinkArt]

I have IBS. This is not a normal part of it. 'Managing it' doesn't mean ignoring blood in your stool, that is the type of thing a doctor would expect you to go to them about. Please do. Hopefully it's nothing but if is something then the sooner they are aware of the problem, the sooner they can try to fix it.

[Hairyfriend]

Its not a horrible topic, nor is it something that a Dr doesnt see everyday!!! Its not clear from your post, but was it vaginal bleeding or anal? Did you use a panty liner or tampon? Where was the blood coming from? Was it bright red or brown, old blood? Where in your cycle where you when this bleeding occurred?

If you've had smear tests, have they been normal? Any gynae issues? Are periods regular? Are you on hormonal contraception?

[WaltzingToWalsingham]

You may not even need to see your GP in person, OP. A lot of doctors will do a telephone appointment for this sort of thing, prescribe a short course of suppositories to soothe any piles, and only see you face-to-face if the problem persists. So do phone for an appointment tomorrow.

Even if they do end up seeing you in person, remember that GPs see loads of bums every day. Bottoms are just another body part to a GP, of no more significance than a nose or a toe. Please don't be embarrassed - your doctor won't give it a second thought.

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

@HitthefloorforTaintedLove

Get it checked out OP, see a different GP if necessary and don't be fobbed off by them saying this is just IBS or you're too young for it to be anything serious. It might well be but it needs proper investigation, the sooner the better, to rule out anything more serious.
I'm not trying to scare you, just want you to get proper medical attention.

Yeah I remember someone at one point saying it’s too young to be anything sinister!

I mentioned previously to the doctor that I sometimes get blood in my stool/diarrhoea (not in the water, it’s in the actual poo or diarrhoea itself). I also mentioned incontenance as I thought that’s what it was at the time (this was before I realised it was actually blood). She said there’s nothing more they can do as my blood/stool sample was normal. She referred me to the hospital to get checked but I think it got rejected as I had been previously and my bloods/stool sample was healthy.

I very rarely get blood when I’m wiping, it’s only happened once or twice when it was particularly bad diarrhoea but generally i seem to get the burning feeling down there then blood in my underwear rather than wiping which made me think it maybe wasn’t piles or a fissure but I’m probably wrong!

I have a really great GP surgery and am lucky there are lots of appointments, I just felt a bit silly about calling back when they’ve already said there’s nothing else they can really do

[childcarequery]

When in doubt, get checked. It may feel odd, that's normal but like others have said, you must get checked by a doctor to get appropriate medical attention
All the best dear

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

@Hairyfriend

Its not a horrible topic, nor is it something that a Dr doesnt see everyday!!! Its not clear from your post, but was it vaginal bleeding or anal? Did you use a panty liner or tampon? Where was the blood coming from? Was it bright red or brown, old blood? Where in your cycle where you when this bleeding occurred?

If you've had smear tests, have they been normal? Any gynae issues? Are periods regular? Are you on hormonal contraception?

thanks (to you and everyone else!) for being so understanding! I was so embarrassed posting this and I didn’t want to say anything rude in case it wasn’t appropriate! I was also worried about people thinking I was a troll but I’ve posted before, I just name changed because this is a personal topic!

It’s definitely anal bleeding. It’s usually a mixture of red (not very very bright but also not dark, more like a deep strong red colour) and brown- I’m not sure if the brown is from it being dried by the time I’ve seen it or if it was actually brown.

I’m not on any contraception and my periods are usually light and often skip months at a time but I’m not sexually active so I’m definitely not pregnant and my periods have always been irregular and I’ve been told it’s normal for me. I’m not old enough (and probably not brave enough!!!) to have a routine smear test but I’ve never had any gynaecolgical problems thankfully!

[SocialConnection]

Please go to your doctor. This is their job, their profession. They trained to do this. They felt called to help people who are frightened, embarrassed, uncertain. Practice your account til you're comfortable speaking it out loud. Have notes handy to remind you whether it's on the phone or in person. Make notes of what they say. Please make that phone call in the morning.

[Mytigerhasstripyfeet]

It’s the Dr’s job to help you 🙂that’s what they’re paid for. Sure, it’s good to use some common sense when deciding if you need to see one. I think getting unexplained persistent bleeding checked out is definitely the sensible thing to do.

You could always acknowledge as part of the conversation that you’ve been managing the symptoms yourself, but say as this is a new symptom you wanted to get checked over. Not that you have to justify yourself - you have a perfectly valid reason for seeing a Dr.

Also don’t be embarrassed. When I was younger I probably would have felt so awkward about it too. But it’s just another body part 🙂 basically everyone’s body does crappy things to them at some point. For example I have unwanted body hair. So not glamorous! Other people might have embarrassing smells or falling out teeth. Just bodies 🙂they’re like that.

[MrsEricBana]

You poor thing. You definitely do not have to manage this yourself and, I agree with others, this is not a normal presentation of IBS. Please ring your GP first thing. Hope it improves soon

[Fefifobum]

If they have seen one fanny/arsehole they have seen them all so yours isn’t so special?
I get that you’d feel embarrassed but just pretend your on some internet site telling all in great detail about down there?
What would you rather have a few minutes of feeling embarrassed as to possibly something quite sinister?

[Gilead]

You do not bleed with IBS, you do bleed with IBD. You need to see a doctor. It’s also common that blood and stool samples look fine and then colonoscopy shows otherwise.
An example being my bloods were totally normal the day before my emergency sub total colectomy.

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

@Fefifobum

If they have seen one fanny/arsehole they have seen them all so yours isn’t so special?
I get that you’d feel embarrassed but just pretend your on some internet site telling all in great detail about down there?
What would you rather have a few minutes of feeling embarrassed as to possibly something quite sinister?

Thanks (you and everyone) for the reassurance. Part of me was reluctant to call the gp again because I was self conscious about it, but the main reason I’m anxious about going back is because I don’t want to feel silly when they’ve already said my bloods and stool sample were clear and I just need to manage it. I complained about blood in my stool before but they said there was nothing wrong with me so I wasn’t sure if this new blood was also a side affect of the IBS and continuing the anusol would help it or if it wasn’t normal with IBS. I’ve been looking up more information about piles and fissures and I think it’s probably one of them. I’ll phone the GP tomorrow and make an appointment or ask for a prescription

[TyphooMary]

Definitely see the doctor. And don't be afraid to get a second opinion.

I have a young friend with stomach cancer at the moment and it just pushes it home how important it is to be safe over being sorry.

Does some of the pain suddenly feel like you've got a javelin stabbed up your arsehole?

It could still be internal piles. I get this issue.

But I don't get random butt blood when not having a bowel movement etc.

I'm not coeliac but I was diagnosed with IBS at 21, and it seems the main problem is actually dairy intolerance and wheat intolerance, and too many sweeteners in my diet. Since this summer, I've cracked right down on sweeteners and I don't often eat gluten and wheat now. The difference is amazing. I can go days or weeks without diarrhoea now.

So that's something to consider.

It's hard because I love bread and cakey things.

I do hope a GP looks into this. I also hope it's just piles and nothing more sinister.

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

@Gilead

You do not bleed with IBS, you do bleed with IBD. You need to see a doctor. It’s also common that blood and stool samples look fine and then colonoscopy shows otherwise.
An example being my bloods were totally normal the day before my emergency sub total colectomy.

I didn’t know that it was possible that you could have normal bloods and stool samples with IBD! Do you mind me asking what IBD you ended up being diagnosed with? Did you had similar symptoms to mine before being diagnosed? I’m really sorry you had to have a sub total collectomy, you sound really brave and I hope you’re on the mend now. x

[LaurenKelsey]

A colonoscopy may be in order. Please don’t let it go. Not to frighten you, but a friend who had blood in stool and let it go. By the time she went in it was stage 4 colon cancer. She had lengthy treatment and is okay now.

[Dddccc]

I have had ibs for 10 years and just found that going really low carbs has sorted runny stool issues, if the blood is red it is more then likely a internal pile that pops but alway worth getting checked out

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

@TyphooMary

Definitely see the doctor. And don't be afraid to get a second opinion.

I have a young friend with stomach cancer at the moment and it just pushes it home how important it is to be safe over being sorry.

Does some of the pain suddenly feel like you've got a javelin stabbed up your arsehole?

It could still be internal piles. I get this issue.

But I don't get random butt blood when not having a bowel movement etc.

I'm not coeliac but I was diagnosed with IBS at 21, and it seems the main problem is actually dairy intolerance and wheat intolerance, and too many sweeteners in my diet. Since this summer, I've cracked right down on sweeteners and I don't often eat gluten and wheat now. The difference is amazing. I can go days or weeks without diarrhoea now.

So that's something to consider.

It's hard because I love bread and cakey things.

I do hope a GP looks into this. I also hope it's just piles and nothing more sinister.

That’s so sad about your friend, I’m so sorry yes that’s exactly how it feels when it hurts, it’s like a sharp pain. It didn’t hurt at all when I went to the toilet then about an hour later when I went for a walk it started hurting/bleeding. Good point about avoiding dairy/gluten! I’m the same I love bread and cakes, why do they have to be so bad?! Not fair!

[WishIhadmagicpowers]

I’m going to spend today trying to phone the doctor again (tried phoning 40 times so far but can’t get through) and request an appointment because it happened again during the night for absolutely no reason, not lots of blood, but enough that I’m concerned since it happened for no reason and I hadn’t been to the toilet- I just woke up with it randomly on my underwear. Exact same situation as last night- I checked myself in the mirror and couldn’t see any obvious cuts or sources of the blood, and I wiped and there was absolutely nothing. But there’s definitely blood. It’s so frustrating

With piles/haemorrhoids, are they easily treated with suppositeries? I read online that sometimes surgery is sometimes needed but I’m presuming that’s only for really severe cases?!