Poo symptoms - looking for reassurance?

[lughts]

I have so much health anxiety at the minute and seem to just have symptom after symptom.

When I poo the past few days, I feel a really sharp pain as it comes out, and then there's bright red blood on the tissue.

What's this about?
I'm slightly constipated. I'm still going every day in the morning but the poo is rock hard and comes out in small parts.

Could the the blood just be from piles?

@Hotttchoc possibly!! Internal? I'm not really sure what they feel like. Could that be the stabbing pain?

Sounds like piles - they can be so painful!

Drink more water! Lots more water.
Warm boiled water before bed.

The affect is accumulative so keep it up.

Your poos are too dry and hard. That’s why they’re in bits. That causes the pain.

Fresh bright-red blood might be piles. Bug soothing ointment from chemist. Ask for advice what brand is best.

drink more water op

Look at this link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bristol-stool-chart-for-carer-web-version.pdf

I drink two litres of water every day already. More than that?

Nurse here, sounds way more like an anal fissure (small cut at the anus) which gets essentially opened each time you have a moment, very sharp pain, can be quiet intense and even linger a little bit after you go the toilet. Also always accompanied by fresh red blood either on the stool or on the paper. incredibly common and easy to treat! constipation and hard stools are the cause to increase fibre, increase water intake and start a stool softener one called laxido you can buy over the counter is first port of call. they don't make you go more often but they add water to the stool so they soften them and allow the fissure to heal. hope this helps!

@Becsahm yes, it sounds like it could be that which reassures me.
It's a really sharp pain to the point I audibly wince and then have an uncomfortable sensation down there for up to an hour afterwards and then it goes.

I'll try laxido. I just always get worried with stuff like that that I'll end up with horrendous diarrhoea but it could definitely do with being softened

Likely a fissure, a small tear or piles. Take some senna tablets, eat more fibre and drink plenty of water and use anusol cream for a few weeks. If your still bleeding regularly after a month go to the GP.

@lughts different type of laxatives work differently, some laxatives stimulate the bowel so you need to go more often (think the effect of coffee!), some add like a glycerine to the stool and some add water to soften, laxido is the type where it doesn't stimulate but adds water to the stool so it makes them a softer consistency so there shouldn't be any straining and thus tearing. Also useful to have 'sitz' baths with epsom salt or just regular baths would even work because it's about the blood flow being increased to the area and aiding healing. being active and exercise really important for chronic constipation as it keeps gut functioning well. 2L- 2.5L of water spaced through the day is important but you can include tea or coffee off this amount so it's not so daunting, but drinking water is really important. Anusol cream topically on the tear or anus itself will help to soothe it and aid healing too. hope this helps!

Definitely recommend Laxido. I have had same issue for ages and it has been fab.