Stomach and bottom issues...

[SunshineSusan14]

For the past few weeks I have been experiencing slight, bright red blood when wiping. There isn't a huge amount but it's noticeable.

I've also been feeling quite bloated and have had pain in my stomach and lower back. The pain comes and and goes and at the moment I feel ok. I rang my GP more for the bleeding than the pain. They asked if I suffer from piles which I do and basically surmised that that must be the problem. And to ring back if it continues for another month.

Is that an adequate response at this stage or should I try and get a second opinion? Admittedly the piles are probably the cause of the bleeding but I'm not sure how other things can be ruled out without me even being seen.

Bump

Did you tell the gp about the pain and bloating? Sorry, it wasn't completely clear from your op.
I'd maybe wait and week and ring back again.

If you are otherwise generally well and healthy then I think that’s a reasonable response. I had a similar thing last year and after being told to wait a month or so I went back with symptoms still the same then everything sped up - got put on the two week wait list to be thoroughly checked at the hospital, colonoscopy done etc

Bright red tends to indicate bleeding at the anus, most likely from piles or a tear.

If you decide to wait please don’t wait longer than a month. If you have a change in bowel habit alongside the bleeding, pain and bloating then push for investigation if this had been going on for a few weeks. My mum’s bleeding was put down to piles and it wasn’t.

I did mention the pain and bloating but I also said is intermittent which makes it more likely to be brought on by certain foods or triggered by something. Obviously when you see blood your mind sometimes goes to sinister things but she said because I'm only in my mid thirties I shouldn't worry too much. I just don't know if I should push to be seen or referred at this stage or not. The bleeding has been happening for about three weeks and even though it isn't severe it's still enough to be noticeable.

I wouldn't worry too much, she's right but I would keep a food / drink diary and note any instances of pain and bloating next to the day. Make sure you record everything.
Also use a piles cream and drink plenty of water to avoid straining too much.
Then call back in maybe 2 weeks better armed with information.

I do have piles from pregnancy 10 years ago but they rarely cause me any pain or problems and have only bled a few times over the years so it seems odd to have started again for a fairly prolonged period of time. Overall my general health is ok - I'm tired and stressed but aren't we all at the moment! But appetite is fine, no unusual weight loss. I have occasional IBS issues so experience bouts of diarrhoea from time to time but that's fairly normal for me.

I just feel like you can never really fully know what's going on in there without a colonoscopy and everyone always says that bleeding should be investigated which this hasn't. Just seems like guesswork. Educated guesswork but still guesswork,

It’s not guesswork though, they’ve said if it’s the same in a month go back when they are likely to investigate further. It sounds like you want a second opinion anyway so just phone them back and ask to be seen.

Sorry going to get graphic no but as a result of the pain and bloating have you been straining when going to the toilet or doing especially hard/big poos? If so could be fissures especially if it's bright red. I thought I had piles for ages but it was actually fissures when I had it checked out. They didn't mess about though and have in within the week. Pre-Covid though.

I know of someone with similar who had blood and pain on and off for months. End result was tragically colon cancer that spread to his liver.

It’s probably not that. But 100% INSIST on a blood and stool test straight away.

Bit grim but is the blood in the poo on just when wiping? If it’s mixed in it can sometimes be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease but if it’s when wiping then it sounds like it’s in the bumholey area. I would ask for some of the prescription strength suppositories and if the bleeding doesn’t stop then go back after a couple of weeks and ask to be seen

The blood is only when wiping and I feel like it's definitely the bottom area than further up the bowel. I'm sure it's not a fissure as I've had no straining or hard poos. I've had a fissure in the past and I think I wouldn't recognise those symptoms again. This is why I'm worried i guess, there just doesn't seem to be an obvious cause for the bleeding other than the piles which are usually symptomless.

I agree with @stinkystinky - there are many many things it could be, and the most likely answer is something less serious, but my friend was in her 30s when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The only symptom she had was bleeding - no bloating or other issues and she felt totally well in herself. Luckily her GP got her to do a stool sample and sent her for a colonoscopy fairly quickly. Following treatment she is now cancer free but things could have been very different if it hadn't been properly investigated.

It took me 3 years and countless GP visits to be diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease - which isn't even that rare. I agree, if you can please keep asking for further investigations

A Doctor told me once that bright red blood wasn't too much of a concern to him it was only when the blood was very dark red (coming from further up, bowels and intestinal area) that it would be a major concern. But obviously all factors would be considered. Always good to push for testing etc if you feel something isn't right though.

@STAYTHEFUCKHOME

Bright red tends to indicate bleeding at the anus, most likely from piles or a tear.

I was wondering how long it would take for this misinformation to appear. I was not disappointed. Just to be clear, colonic and rectal cancer can both present with bright red bleeding.

@sunnyside23

A Doctor told me once that bright red blood wasn't too much of a concern to him it was only when the blood was very dark red (coming from further up, bowels and intestinal area) that it would be a major concern. But obviously all factors would be considered. Always good to push for testing etc if you feel something isn't right though.

Amazing. I would have very little confidence in this doctor as he is completely wrong.

Thank you all for replying. After speaking to you all I phoned back and spoke to another doctor who has arranged for me to have bloods and stool samples. Hopefully this will give a bit more insight.

Yes that dr was completely wrong

Good luck OP

Thanks the second doctor said it was unlikely to be anything sinister but I do feel quite worried now even so. I will try and get to the pathology lab at hospital this week although I'm not sure if they are operating as normal.

I would also check if it’s happening after eating certain high fibre foods as it could be that they are irritating your bowel lining

That’s great that it’s been arranged. I didn’t mean to alarm but it’s best to get it checked and excluded as soon as you can. X

I have provided a stool sample and had blood tests. Does anyone know what these actually test for? I'm not sure. Will there likely be further investigation following this? Im still experiencing bloating and bleeding and the waiting is doing my head in!