Starting to get seriously concerned - rectal bleeding

[SnowieBear]

I could really do with a bit of advice from wise medical Mumsnetters.

I started to notice some blood spots when wiping earlier on this summer. I thought it would sort itself out as I was not experiencing any discomfort. This has continued and ealier on this week I took the plunge and made a GP appointment for early December.

My concern was that the spotting was still there and a family history of colon cancer (DGM and all her siblings).

Today I am not spotting, I am seriously bleeding! Still no symptoms that would make me think piles.

Should I try to see the GP earlier? Any idea what this could be? I am bleeding even when not emptying my bowels, bright red blood.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Aww you poor thing. It's great that you've made an appointment, but yes you absolutely need to ring up tomorrow and say that you need an appointment asap.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Caveat -I am neither medical nor wise.
But I stand by my advice!

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Yes, you need to see a GP earlier. If you are losing serious amounts of blood you need to be seen sooner rather than later.

[SnowieBear]

Thanks guys, I'll get in touch with the practice first thing. Very scared and walking around clenching my buttocks... not a good combination.

[Isaiaheva]

Get seen urgently, definitely not normal.

[iMatter]

This is going to sound bizarre but do you lift heavy weights?

I damaged/tore my sphincter when I was squatting with some seriously heavy weights (almost my body weight). It was horrendous. Loads and loads of blood.

Either way, I'd be on the phone to the GP tomorrow to get an emergency appointment.

[SnowieBear]

Hi iMatter, no, no heavy lifting. I was really hoping someone would say not to worry, obviously just fooling myself.

i appreciate the replies, wish me luck for tomorrow!

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

I can understand your worry but there's a chance it could just be piles. I've had a few instances of a scary amount of blood coming out for a day or two with no other symptoms eg pain etc and it's always just been internal piles. Always best to get checked though

[ThreeRuddyTubs]

I have piles (had a colonoscopy to check) and I had bleeding almost every day, even when I wasn't on the toilet. I would wipe and there it was. Scared myself stupid...literally stupid I didn't see a dr for a really long time. It's probably nothing but if it has changed I would get a more urgent appointment

[LocalEditorEssex]

Many years ago ex Dh had piles and this happened to him when we were looking at a nursery !
He turned to me and said, we have to leave now. The blood was running down his legs and all across the back of his jeans.

I think you can get internal piles (most people notice them when external) so I hope that might help?

[iMatter]

Good luck Snowie. Let us know how it goes.

I know this sounds odd but I hope you have piles

[Katymac]

I would also say internal piles

If it was bleeding from further up - it would be a different colour & consistency

That being said - if you are bleeding a fair amount the piles need cauterizing

[SnowieBear]

Ladies, thank you, thank you for the reassurance and advice .

I promise to update you as soon as I've seen the GP.

[NameRanger]

I know someone who had an horrendous amount of bleeding, she was fainting with them amount of blood she kept losing.

She had a colonoscopy and it turned out that she had a big polyp.

They removed some smaller polyps and she went back later to have the large one removed. All fine now!

[SnowieBear]

Nameranger, my DGM started with polyps which she refused to get treated... it developed into cancer and I lost her in 1999. I am not making the same mistake, but really, really prayung for piles (never thought that would happen!).

[Borninthe60s]

I hope it is nothing serious but realistically you should have had a check when you first saw blood. Good luck tomorrow.

[NameRanger]

Snowie I'm sorry about your DGM. I didn't know that polyps could cause such a huge amount of bleeding until my friend had her issues.

Let us know how you get on

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Fingers crossed for piles, good luck tomorrow

[Dontlaugh]

I have had this, no shame in it.
A few questions - have you had children? They cause a lot of damage in that area to those of us prone to it.
Do you have IBS, colitis, Coeliac disease, any other diagnosed condition? This will contribute to your symptoms.
On a positive note, I had a colonoscopy post 2 children, lots of bleeding etc like you and had IBS diagnosed, huge flare up, with haemorrhoidal tissue very inflamed (as opposed to haemorrhoids visible). I modified diet, and have had nothing since. Even though I had a baby since, although it did arise again during the birth but nothing major.
The joys!

[Dontlaugh]

Polyps need attention, as far as I recall, as they can be precursors to bowel cancer. Ignoring them is not an option.
I have never said this ever, but OP, I hope it's piles!
And if it's polyps, get them removed. Job done.

[girlandboy]

DH has had exactly the same thing recently.
A bit of spotting that he assumed must be piles, although he couldn't feel anything on the outside and never probed on the inside!
Then he came home from work saying that he was bleeding "quite a lot". We disappeared into the bathroom and he pulled out a wodge of loo paper that he'd stuck into the back of his pants. It was soaked, I was shocked that he'd bled that much.
So he went to the doctors the next morning for an examination. The doctor couldn't find any piles external or internal, but said that it was probably an internal pile that had burst and then shrivelled up so he couldn't see it.
It's not happened again, and coincidentally he was then called up for the "over 55's bowel screening". A more detailed exam was carried out for that with a camera and there was nothing sinister found apart from a bit of diverticulosis, which is fairly common in that age group.

Just get yourself checked over, and try not to worry. It could well be an internal pile.

[dancerchancer]

This happens a lot with DH, usually when he's been doing some heavy lifting.
It's probably internal piles, but you're doing the right thing getting it checked, then you can put your mind at rest.

[SnowieBear]

Just back from the GP.

She could see a tear on a vein close to my anus and could find anything else on her exploration. She's referred me for a colonoscopy just in case there are some polyps higher up. The advice if it bleeds heavily again and doesn't stop after 20mins is to go to A&E.

Thank you to you all for your posts and good wishes. Fingers crossed it'll all be OK!

[girlandboy]

Glad you've been examined, and I'm sure it'll all turn out ok.

[graciehxxx]

Did you get answers in the end @snowiebear ? Xxx