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Original poster

Rectal bleeding: Any medics etc who can advise

32 replies

bumstheword · 19/12/2007 16:15

Right, regular mner BUT name change.

Basically around 2 weeks ago I noticed blood in my pants (sorry if tmi ) and blood when I wiped and I put it down to coming from my bottom.
This never happened again till today....again blood before I have even gone to the toilet and blood/mucus when I have gone. Both in my stools and when I wipe..? Not sure if its mixed in iykwim.

I am currently on ad's (citalopram) and iron tablets and im sure I remember my gp saying to me a few months back if I had noticed rectal bleeding which at the time I hadn't.Not sure if they can affect me to cause bleeding..? My stools are black= iron tablets.

Im now very worried as obviously this isn't right. Im booked to see my gp on fri BUT wondered if anyone can put me at ease...

There is no pain and I haven't lost weight,feel fine and otherwise am in good health.

Anyone reasure me..?

OP posts:

TwinklyfLightAttendant · 19/12/2007 16:19

I don't know but I think the scary bleeding would usually be dark, ie like the iron related darkness of poo

Red blood isn't usually anything serious, I think? Not in a cancer type way at least. It could be something else, well obviously it's something else, but what I don't know.

I have really helped there haven't I?

Sorry, am useless. but I hope it is nothing to worry about.

3JinglesandnoBells · 19/12/2007 16:20

Haemorhoids? (never know how to spell this)

Bridie3 · 19/12/2007 16:20

Could just be piles--the blood with them is usually fresh and red. But it's good that you're seeing a GP.

moodlumtheHOHOhoodlum · 19/12/2007 16:22

It could be an anal fissure, (ie a tear where you really wouldn't want a tear), but there would probably be pain with that. You could also have piles?

When I was pg I took iron tablets, but found that solgar did a "gentle" iron tablet, which is meant to be easier on your system. These are better to take, I found, than your standard iron tablets.

HTH?

Sidge · 19/12/2007 16:24

How long have you been on the iron tablets? If you have an internal bleed eg from the bowel it can cause your Hb to drop and make you anaemic. But normally the bleed would come first, then a blood test then the iron tablets.

If you now have blood in your stools as opposed to blood from the rectum or anus, then they will want prob 3 separate samples, which they will send off to test for FOB, or faecal occult blood testing. Is the blood fresh bright red? Or dark red? Or black?

If the blood isn't in the stools but is from the rectum then you may need a scope up your bottom to see where the blood is coming from. It may be polyps, an anal fissure, a colitis or even a painless pile. The mucus leads me to think it's more bowel-y though.

Hope you get it sorted.

nimnom · 19/12/2007 16:24

You're doing the best thing seeing the gp. I had a small tear inside my bottom a couple of years ago and since then I suffer from bleeding every now and again. When it first happened I was really worried, but it's best not to worry until you've had it checked out.

Winetimeisfinetime · 19/12/2007 16:26

Are you in pain when you go to the loo ? I had bleeding like you are describing last year but with a lot of pain and it turned out to be an inflammation of the bowel and was sorted out with tablets . It's good you can see your GP on Friday for a check over.

WanderingHolly · 19/12/2007 16:27

If it's red blood, rather than brownish, it's more likely to be piles. You can have internal hemmorhoids of which you might be unaware. If it seems like fresh blood, it's more likely to be coming from the end of your digestive tract than higher up, in your colon.

The mucus on its own could indicate an allergy or intolerance, more so with the blood.

I'm not medical but I do know a little bit about this.

It is scary, though if you don't have symptoms such as a change in bowel movements, lethargy, unexplained weightloss, nausea etc, it's not likely to be something to worry too much about.

Have you read the leaflet with your ad's and iron tablets - do they mention rectal bleeding as a side effect?

Original poster

bumstheword · 19/12/2007 16:43

thanks for the replies...I have been googling which I know is not good..

Well the blood is "fresh" as bright red although this morning it was a more "berry" red so slightly darker and it wasn't following a motion ikywim. I just felt blood was there and it was...

I have no stomach pain btw.

OP posts:

walkinginawinterBundleland · 19/12/2007 16:44

how old are you?

Original poster

bumstheword · 19/12/2007 16:49

Im 28. Forgot to add,I started iron tablets 3 months ago after I went to the gp for feeling tired and lack of energy. Blood tests came back fine (hormone levels etc) BUT I had low iron levels. So my gp suggested a 3 months course of tablets. I have around 2 weeks left.

So in my case it was tired,blood tests,iron low,iron tablets,blood......

Worries me slightly that my iron levels may have been low if I was bleeding internally but this wasn't noticed...? YET I have only myself noticed blod 2 weeks ago and today is the 2nd occasion...

OP posts:

walkinginawinterBundleland · 19/12/2007 16:51

i think you should go and see your doctor to get this investigated properly.

Original poster

bumstheword · 19/12/2007 16:54

yes,im booked in for fri.

OP posts:

camillathechicken · 19/12/2007 16:54

i had that , and it turned out to be crohns disease, not great, but not cancer, which was my main fear. i hope your gp can put your mind at ease. it might be a side effect of the tablets, or piles, or a fissure... don;t panic yet .

TwinklyfLightAttendant · 19/12/2007 16:56

I was thinking Crohns. I have another friend with it. Immensely treatable if so, I think? It comes and goes iirc.

Original poster

bumstheword · 19/12/2007 17:02

thanks camilla and tfa,must admit im petrified. Im sensible enough to get myself seen to if anything is wrong but worry so so very much...

What causes chrons..?

OP posts:

Original poster

bumstheword · 19/12/2007 17:03

crohns..sorry

OP posts:

WanderingHolly · 19/12/2007 17:06

If you had internal bleeding 3 months ago, and the rectal bleeding is related to that, then surely you would have had rectal bleeding 3 months ago?

Have you felt less tired since taking the iron?

From what you've said, I would agree with it being some kind of digestive disorder rather than cancer. You're v young to have bowel cancer and, whilst the bleed is worrying, there are many more, less serious, things it could be.

Keep a food/bowel/bleed diary from now, and take it with you on Friday. You could find a link.

Easier said than done, but please try not to worry too much.

3JinglesandnoBells · 19/12/2007 17:06

but isn't crohns connected with diarhea, etc...and possibbly also bad cramps and things!

camillathechicken · 19/12/2007 17:07

not sure what causes it, i think it is genetic.
mild cases can be controlled easily with medication

hippipotTEDCHRISTMASTREEami · 19/12/2007 17:09

Wandering, OP had tiredness 3 months ago, the bleeding only started two weeks ago.

hippipotTEDCHRISTMASTREEami · 19/12/2007 17:09

Ah, I see what you are saying Wandering, sorry, ignore me

camillathechicken · 19/12/2007 17:10

yes, but the only symptoms i had when mine started was bleeding/ mucus when going to the loo, and it was time to time, not all the time. i didnlt start to get other symptoms until years later

hopefully bumstheword's doctor will put her right on friday

DarthVader · 19/12/2007 17:12

I think you are absolutely right to go the the GP but the most likely cause by far is piles so don't be too concerned!

mumtwofairies · 19/12/2007 17:13

I suffer from ulcerative colitis and at the moment I'm ok but now and again I get stressed and it flares up. This is a milder form of crohns. It is extremely painful when going to the loo and also you have to go when you go, so basically can't hang around. I had to ask shop assistants to let me use their loos or I will poo in my pants which unfortunately did happen to me during the worse time about 7 years ago.

It sounds to me if this is a side effect of your tablets but as you are going to your gp I'm sure you will get professional answers. You may have to do stool samples though.

Good luck.

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