When to worry...a bum one

[cactusjane]

Not a troll, MN can verify.

Had bright red blood from my bottom for years. With notable piles. Nice. Seen the GP many times and been given creams which do ease the discomfort but don't get rid of them. I could probably cope with them as they aren't majorly painful or uncomfortable but the bleeding seems to have gotten worse lately to the point where I saw a small clot earlier.

Obviously I'm aware of the other more sinister signs of rectal bleeding but because of my age and the clear piles the doctors don't seem to want to consider anything else. I did have a colonoscopy a few years ago which was clear but it's still a worry when you see that much blood after a BM.

Is this normal? Has anyone else with piles had significant bleeding and how did you deal with it? I know surgery is an option but it really frightens me.

Yep I've had piles for over 10 years. They bleed from time to time. Sometimes quite a lot. For me bleeding always coincides with a flare up - pain, itching, piles visible. And a flare up usually occurs after constipation. I will sometimes go months without a flare up - recently I went a whole year without any bleeding. So I'm confident it's just piles - cancer wouldn't go away! How often do yours bleed?

I usually double up on suppository and cream. The suppositories work way better than just the cream! Don't be afraid to use them, you literally just push it gently in, once it's all the way in it feels like it instantly dissolves and you can't feel it. I always feel instant relief from using one. They don't get rid of the pile, but they shrink it down.

I've also mentioned my issue to various GPs and always been told it's just piles. I've had an MRI of my pelvis though (for an unrelated reason) and nothing could be seen on there, so 🤷

I would say that I have bleeding more often than not when I have a BM these days. And the amount of blood seems to have increased recently. I do have some IBS issues and if it's what I call a 'difficult poo' then the bleeding is much more pronounced. I'll try a suppository and see how I go.

I have IBS too, I know exactly what you mean. When mine bleed I have to use suppositories and cream after every BM to get the bleeding to stop, otherwise it will just carry on. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks to clear up. Germoloids is my favourite brand, I'd recommend it over Anusol personally. I was afraid to use a suppository the very first time, but it's easy. A hundred times easier than inserting a tampon for example.

Give it a go. If the treatment stops the bleeding, then you have your answer.

Op here. Back with an update or bumdate if you will.

Been using the suppositories for nearly a week now and have noticed improvements with the pain but the bleeding hasn't stopped at all. If anything it seems to have gotten worse. I largely forget about my bum troubles until I have a BM and then the amount of blood I see tends to freak me out. Its painless but it's frightening to see. I read up on the suppositories I was prescribed and it says they can thin the skin so I'm wondering if this is what's happening? Has anyone else noticed excessive bleeding during the use of these? Do I need to persevere?

Do they have hydrocortisone? How many were you prescribed and for what duration?

Personally, I use the Anusol HC (hydrocortisone) for about a week. Then I use the germaloids ones for as long as necessary. I buy them, so haven't been prescribed.

BTW. Well done for using the suppositories!!! I hope it wasn't difficult to do.

Way easier than I'd imagined. Thankfully!

They contain hydrocortisone yes. And I've only been prescribed 12 to use once a day at night. So I guess I'm only half way through the treatment and should keep on going with it. I just hoped I'd have seen some improvement by now. The bleeding seems to have gotten worse (in terms of volume - there looks like more than there has been previously) which I didn't expect.

What sort of volume of blood are you passing? Do you need a pad or anything after you've finished in the bathroom?

I'm not a medic, so don't know what is normal with piles bleeding, and of course everyone's perception is different. I have piles and ulcerative colitis, so have experienced many episodes and differing quantities of passing blood.

Obviously consult your gp/ medical practice if concerned, but really hoping you see significant improvement soon.

No I don't need a pad or anything like that. It tends to be a substantial amount on the toilet paper after wiping and maybe a drop or two in the toilet but it's not gushing out or anything like that. It's just alarming more than anything.

If it hasn't improved a bit by the time this course of suppositories is finished I guess it'll be back to the GP for the umpteenth time.

Found your thread when researching the same problem. Did you get sorted?