Posting for traffic & advice - medical advice needed please

[alwaysthepessimist]

I am prepared to be told I am overreacting here but can anyone advise me what to do - back story included for a balanced view

When I had my DD (now 6) I was very, very constipated, when I finally managed to go I tore and for a few years had a recurring anal fissure, anyway had medical treatment & is basically all cleared up seemingly fine. Have since also been diagnosed with colitis and IBS - all stress related which I am very aware of. All been ok recently, no issues, planning to go on our first foreign family holiday this Friday, went to the loo this morning and when I had a bowel motion & wiped the paper was soaked is bright red blood, blood also in the bowl, cleaned myself up & thought all was fine, am now at work - just me & an other man and nipped to the loo for a wee, wiped and noticed blood in my knickers & also all over the paper again, have cleaned myself up again , not in pain, don't feel ill apart from I have hayfever, am menopausal so not a period and blood is definitely coming from back passage.

What do I do? Getting to the gp today is next to impossible because of the appointment system - could it be piles & one has burst? Would I have known I had them to start with? When I went this morning it didn't feel like a tore again, in the past when it happens it is very painful to go, like passing glass to be honest.

Any advice given would be very much appreciated.

Ring your GP's office now to make an appointment, explaining why you're making one: bright red blood from your anus that is leaving toilet tissue soaked in it. A good receptionist will recognise that as something that should be looked at very soon, a problem that isn't urgent, or as something she might want to ask the doctor about. If you get no reaction, perhaps add 'Should I be worried about this?' which I'd hope would get a reasonably informative reply. Good luck.

Definitely agree with ushuaiamonamour

I would add that if it gets worse and you're bleeding continually, go to A & E with all due speed.

When you say you have colitis, do you mean ulcerative colitis? Diagnosed by a colonoscopy/ biopsies?
I have Crohns and passing blood with a bowel movement is a feature in active disease, but not while weeing only and not spontaneously. It's usually accompanied by pain and feeling pretty unwell.
Can you feel any piles? Could you have internal ones that have bled when straining?

so it appears to have slowed right down and possibly stopped or is now only bleeding very slightly, my anus is aching a bit so I am wondering if I have reopened the old fissure - when I can escape my desk (it isn't private) I will call and see if they will give me an appointment.

@Floottoot - they just said colitis - had biopsies & colonoscopy (worst experience ever), they queried if I had diverticulitis but that was ruled out.

Thanks for replying everyone, I have calmed down a bit now - why do these things only happen when you have something really important coming up & time is very limited!

Just ring reception and ask for an urgent appointment today. Tell them you are bleeding from your rectum . You need to see a GP as yes it may be piles but it also could be coming from higher up.
I wouldn't go to a&e unless you were bleeding very heavily / feeling dizzy / fast heart rate etc.

You could get some over the counter piles cream and use it and see if helps. If it's happening primarily when you open bowels then piles more likely.

Do you have an IBD nurse in the hospital you can call, they may that be able to bump your appointment for consultant or give advice. That's what mine do for UC issues.

@scotchpie no I don't sadly

@toastedbeagle - our gp surgery is terrible, you have to phone at 8am & noon, if you don't get through all the appointments are gone and you are told try again the next day. My plan is to go into the surgery at 8am tomorrow if there is still an issue and ask for an appointment there & then - I can never get through if I call

That's awful, a call to your consultants secretary might be of some help.

@scotchpie - I don't think I have a consultant....I was admitted 2 years ago, had lots of tests and then was diagnosed, I have never been seen since...

Sounds like an internal pile has burst, but get checked out, as others have said.

Bright red blood means it coming from near your bowel exit, and also it takes very little blood to turn the bowl water crimson, same with toilet paper.

Deffo needs checking out, and you do need clarification to what "colitis" you have.

You need to ask your GP to refer you to Gastro, having UC is no fun if you end up in a flare.

Hope you get sorted soon x

Hi OP,
Your UC doesn't sound like it is being controlled or monitored ? Have you not been given any medication for it ?

If you can not get a appointment at your GP , go to the local walk in clinic, you will have to sit around for a while ( 2 or 3 hours sometimes ) but at least you will get seen today.
they can give you advice , treatment and any prescriptions you need and most importantly if you need to see your own GP for follow up or extra treatment the W.I.C tend to be able to get much sooner appointments than you would be able to .

rikey. I'm currently in remission from Crohn's but still have to be seen by my consultant or gastro nurse practitioner every 3 months, plus I'm on long term meds to help keep me in remission.
I'd start with your GP and see what they say.

Crikey

I think doctors worry if the blood is darker and comes from further up. Bright red blood is likely to come from piles. Do see your GP though.

Please don't think that bright red blood is just piles. I have had UC for 30+ years and it can be bright red at times.

The definition of colitis is ‘inflammation of the lining of the colon’, so OP might not have UC, and that’s why no consultant, etc.

As people have said if it’s bright red it’s not bleeding internally. Try not to freak yourself out but see the GP tomorrow.

no appointments left today and it is not urgent, it is the tear reopening I think because the blood is only there with a bowel movement, we fly first thing Friday am, I am off work tomorrow so I can just see if I can get in tomorrow, we have no walk in clinic where we are just a&e (and I am not going there at all) I feel fine in myself so will see how I go on

Thank you everyone for replying to me though & I am sorry for slightly overreacting yesterday am!

receptionist says it isn't urgent btw (not me)

Ok; can you book an appt for when you come back off holiday? Until then (obviously) keep the area clean, use Savlon as necessary, and try to relax when having a poo. Imagine you’re blowing bubbles and breathe slowly. And perhaps take some stool softener? Depending on its consistency already; don’t dehydrate yourself!
I’m a Crohn’s veteran and constantly have bum issues.

I think you should double check your insurance and pay to upgrade it if necessary. I am massively risk averse but I wouldn’t want to be stuck abroad with bum troubles and a massive bill.

Hope your holiday is lovely and your arse behaves

Yes it is urgent, you know your own body! I'd love that receptionist to have a sore arse one day and then decide it 'not urgent!'

If you can't get an appointment ask for the practice manager, that might help.