blood in poo- help!

[namechanged2016]

Have name changed for this as embarrassed

On Friday morning, I passed some blood when I went for a poo. The blood was on the toilet paper and in the poo itself and was bright red. It didn't happen again when I went to the toilet yesterday or today.
I saw my GP immediately on Friday as I was terrified. There was no pain when the blood was passed- and I know there is usually pain with an anal fissure or with piles.
I've recently had my second child though didn't have any constipation or piles during pregnancy- though i did have a c section after which I was constipated for a few days. I've been going to the loo daily since then, as normal, and my diet hasn't changed.
I had a stomach bug last week for a couple of days but it cleared up quickly.

Not sure what my question is really- just looking for advice and reassurance. Can piles be painless if they are internal? My GP did a quick examination and said she couldn't feel anything like piles- and also could feel no lumps etc in my tummy. I've been referred to a gastroenterologist and had blood and urine samples taken which I'm waiting for the results of.

I'm so worried about dying of bowel cancer and leaving my two little children

Keep an eye and go back if it happens again and ask for further checks. I hope it's nothing serious.

You can't feel piles so GP would only have noticed them if they were so huge that were visible outside. Internal piles are painless and mainly just sit there happily not bleeding and not causing any bother and they are far and away the most likely cause of your bleeding.

Practically everyone who has had DCs was got piles even if they are tiny ones. Piles are only painful if they are external and sore. So you can have internal ones that decide to bleed randomly, just to wind you up, without pain - this is the most common cause of bleeding like you have described - red blood on the toilet paper and separate from the poo rather than completely mixed up with it.

There are many many causes of rectal bleeding that aren't bowel cancer but one episode of bleeding like you've described is still most likely to be piles. And even if it is bowel cancer, it's one of the most treatable cancers there is and you have gone to get treatment at the first sign of any problem. But you haven't got bowel cancer - you've not got the symptoms of it. You've got the symptoms of piles.

Calm down, don't google FGS, and wait for the fun of the gastroenterologist sticking a tube up your bum

Bright red, on paper and in loo, almost certainly internal piles. If one bursts (and bleeds) it won't be swollen anymore, and so not feelable....honestly, has happened to me a couple of times over the years. Don't google, try not to worry, and I'd bet rather a lot on you having a very reassuring visit to the gastroenterologist.

Also, re the latter, in my experience they're usually very nice and unembarrassing, and a proctoscope (which is not a big deal) is frequently enough to give you reassurance.

Both my parents have had bowel cancer. Both caught early, both successfully treated.

Not that I think you have bowel cancer but you are worried about it so just wanted to share that it is treatable.

Just keep an eye on things

Thanks everyone. I'd love to think it was just piles, but the GP said she couldn't feel anything there. Elibean- if it's possible that the pile burst and that's why it couldn't be felt, it's reassuring.
I've been referred for tests which I'll definitely go for- in the meantime just need reassurance!

Meant to say Wolpertinger- thanks for your lovely reassuring message. It made me feel a lot better

I was in this situation last year and half-worried myself to death.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy showed that it was internal piles... By far the most likely explanation.

Thank-you As both me and Elibean said the fact the GP said he can't feel anything makes it more likely to be piles not less as you really can't feel them unless they are mahoosive, external or thrombosed.

I'm glad you feel better

Thank you lordtrash and again, Wolpertinger!

Generally blood from a cancer in the bowel will not be bright red it will be dark older blood which is why they tell you to look for something like coffee grounds in your poo

Thanks titsywoo. I'm still scared that it's cancer. My GP said he couldn't refer me under the 2 week rule where cancer is suspected as I didn't meet the criteria for cancer based on other symptoms. When I do the NHS symptom checker, it tells me the most likely cause is piles. But I can't stop worrying!

Update- further to this- I saw the nurse who used a proctoscope back in March and she said she could see evidence of recent bleeding in the rectum so no need to do further tests. The bleeding was most likely caused by a pile that had since shrunk.
Fast forward to today- I've had the bleeding again This time there was pain around my bum when I went. Is this symptomatic of piles? No bleeding for ages then 6 months later it happens again? I wasn't surprised to see blood today as it was pretty sore- unlike last time. Should I go back to the doctors? Help!

How did this go..?