Possibly TMI - could someone who knows about these things reassure me that I don't have bowel cancer or some such please?

[CabbageLooking]

Right, you have been forewarned, there is going to be a bit of unpleasant detail here so don't read on if you're squeamish...

Had my DS in July and throughout the pregnancy had constipation and piles. Dealt with it by eating lots of dried fruit, drinking water, etc. Seemed to work.

After giving birth, it was VERY painful to poo. Figured it was still piles, continued with what I had been doing. Blood when I wiped but that seemed to make sense.

Anyway, just did a poo now which appears to have blood IN it. It has a reddish tinge in general. When I wiped there wasn't any blood. I am panicking a wee bit. Will make a doctor's appointment on Monday but could someone tell me something reassuring please?

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

You are right to see the GP, but it is way more likely to be piles (they can be internal only, not just the proverbial grapes hanging out of your arse) or a little fissure.

Eat lots of fruit, lots of fluids so you avoid straining.

Did the blood look bright red like fresh blood or blackcurranty/like old blood at the end of a period? Fresh blood suggests more likely to be piles/tear/fissure.

[CabbageLooking]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Was fresh blood definitely. Will see the GP but that makes me feel much less panicked. Thank you!

[Spookey80]

Aso apologies for tmi but my dh had this last night and I am sending him back to the doc as he has had this before. Fresh blood, usually piles.

[Jammygal]

Firstly don't panic! Book appt with gp....choose a female if you are more at ease with that. The doc will probably take a look and might give you something to treat it like cream or suppositories....they may also refer you to consultant.
They may give you something like fibrogel to keep poo soft.
You aim must be to keep poo soft (like toothpaste) and NO straining as this will exasperate problem!

Good luck and don't be shy...they have seen it all before.

[AMumInScotland]

Far more likely to be something like piles if it is fresh blood - bowel cancer is one cause of blood in your poo, but it tends to get into it far further up your system and so is dark blood all through the poo, not fresh red blood on the outside.

Do see the doc, but don't fret.

[MissTweed]

A few years ago my now DH went on a stag do, got wasted, stayed in a caravan and in the morning went to the loo. He phoned me to say he was dying from a massive internal haemorrhage! And made me phone NHS direct. 2 days later he went to the DR's and indeed it was just an internal pile. I know how scared he was but all was ok. Ditto what everyone else has said, fresh blood is good. But obviously still go to the Dr's just to be on the safe side. Panic not and what ever you do, no not consult Dr google!!!