Blood in faeces - wait and see?

[Barefootsummers]

Just wondered what the consensus was on this please? I've had bloody stool (turning the water red) for 5 days now. I don't have any symptoms, feel ok, tired but I have twin toddlers so probably that! My partner says it's serious and I should get to dr asap whereas I've said I want to give it a week or so to see if it resolves as I don't feel ill. AIBU? Thanks!

It could be a sign of bowel cancer, sorry to write something so harsh but my dad ignored his bleeding for over a year and was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He has the all clear now but a permanent stoma. Go and see your gp ASAP PLEASE.

Pain free is bad. Bleeding fissures (most harmless option, caused by constipation/straining) tend to hurt like buggery fuck.

See your GP, and get properly assessed.

Please go to the doctor. Hopefully it's nothing but it could be cancer. My DN had blood in her stool. It took a while to diagnose as she's only in her twenties but it turned out to be colon cancer. She went through a lot but is okay now and that was because she knew her body and knew it wasn't normal!

Any news OP?

Hey there. Blood in the poop can be quite scary. Most often it's bleeding piles or a small tear, especially if it's turning the water red. Please get it checked out though, I ignored blood in my stool, and a worsening of my IBS/colitis symptoms, and I had 5 cancerous polyps. I'm completely fine, and tnis was 15 years ago. Just have a chat with your GP and get reassurance.

Sorry for the delay! Dr said nothing to worry about and could have even but a beetroot drink I had consumed. Said to return if it continues but wait a couple of weeks. No blood whatsoever since I went to dr. Will keep an eye on it but hopefully it was just the beetroot (apparently this is common, who knew!!)

Blood in your stool always always ALWAYS needs to be checked by a GP. It's probably piles, but you need to be checked.

Sorry for the delay! Dr said nothing to worry about and could have even but a beetroot drink I had consumed

Oh, had you been drinking beetroot? Because yes, that definitely turns it bright red! Also turns urine red. I always get a fright but then remember... Glad it was nothing serious.

I had but quite a few days before. Apparently it can take days and days to show so the go felt that was likely. And given everything now looks fine and I had no symptoms I think it was. But I will keep checking just to be sure. Thanks for the advice everyone

You should always get checked if you have regular bloody stools.

Even if you feel fine otherwise, it could be a red flag for something that could rear its ugly head.

Please get checked, hope all is well though x

Sorry, just saw that you'd already been! That'll teach me not to rtft glad all is fine!

Glad you've been reassured. If I ever get any blood now-not uncommon with colitis-I make a note, and chat with my GI doc. Hope all stays settled.... I'm due my regular colonoscopy this autumn. Such fun...

If you were to ask me, I'd say you have piles (hemorrhoids), which tend to give bright red blood if they bleed. The GP could send you to estrangulate them, which involves a procedure where they insert a tiny tube with a camera and they put some elastic bands at the root and they eventually dry out. If it were anything else, they would be able to see it at the same time there too.

If it were an immflamatory bowel disease (IBD) like Chrohns or Ulcerative Colitis, you'd probably have other symptoms, such as pain, urgency to go to the toilet, diarrhoea with 5-20 trips to the toilet (or the opposite, not being able to go at all), extreme tiredness, joint pain, nausea, etc. If it were Chrohns you'd probably have stools with dark like tar lines, which would be old blood. With ulcerative colitis you could have red blood but it generally is mixed with a light brown mucous, as UC happens in the colon, and not really fresh blood as you describe. The fact that it's bright red, a stream and only when you go to the toilet as normal, suggests to me that it's piles. I'd go to the GP tomorrow just because if you get worst during the weekend, you'd have to find a walk in centre or go to A&E, plus if you need to book ant5tests, the sooner the better.

Argh, just read the rest!
Weird the beetroot thing, never heard of it lasting 5 days!

Not qualified but I think bleeding from the back end should definitely be investigated. If its piles fine but none of us know what it is. GET THEE TO A DOCTOR ASAP!

Sorry for shouting

should have RTFT

I have this the odd time but it usually goes with a sore feeling so I suspect a pile. Perhaps you should get it checked out,

Trouble is now getting an appointment with a GP is such a rigmarole.

I know you have already been but just to reiterate for anyone reading this in future. All bleeding needs to be investigated. Bright red blood is more likely to be harmless, but not always.

I had bright red blood, and only a small amount on wiping, which was easily dismissed, including by GP, as probably just piles. Six months later I had a stage III bowel cancer diagnosis.

It's very unusual, but better to rule out anything sinister first.

OP, I'm glad your GP is not worried. Perhaps avoid any beetroot for now (and food colourings!) so you can rule that out if you have any future incidents. And please do go back to your GP if you have more concerns. All the best

Beetroot, absolutely frightened the hell out of me, till i remembered eating it the day before.