Blood in stool - is this ever normal?

[SB1712]

I noticed a few days ago I had what looked like blood running though my stool. Without being TMI, I investigated and when the (actual) stool was wiped on tissue paper it wasn’t red, just normal coloured. It looked in the bowl as though the blood was running through it as opposed to on the outside.
I couldn’t visibly see any red in it on the tissue, it was more how it look in the bowl. The parts that looked like blood have a mucus consistency so it is difficult.

Today I’ve had pains in my stomach unlike anything I’ve had before, they’ve now subsided after going the toilet.

I’ve contacted the doctors via an e consult so am waiting for them to get back to me.
I guess I’m asking for any advice or similar stories, I suffer with health anxiety so my brain has gone into overdrive. I am petrified.
has anyone ever had something similar and it turned out okay? I know I won’t rest until I’ve had a colonoscopy. I’m in my early 30’s with a young child and I’m so scared.

Have you eaten beetroot ?

No it’s not normal. But it also doesn’t mean you have cancer, could be an infection (hence stomach pains) or even something you ate

No, no beetroot. Tomatoes yes but not when it happened the first time.

I once totally panicked at something similar until I realised I'd been eating strawberry jelly! If there's nothing in your diet to explain it, worth a GP trip to get it checked out.

I’m had this once when I was in my 30’s. On investigation it turned out to be a small internal haemorrhoid. Had no idea I had it, no other signs.

I do have piles since having my baby a couple of years ago. Most of them don’t bother me and don’t flare up. No idea if I have any internal ones but didn’t think that could cause blood IN the stool, rather than just on it or in the bowl?

I think I wouldn’t be so worried if it wasn’t for the pains in my stomach today.
I know my doctors will probably fob me off with piles too.

They won’t fob you off with piles. They will investigate it but the likelihood is it is piles. I had a fright just the same as you when I was in my early 30s with a young child. Mine turned out to be haemorrhoids. Try not to worry. You’re doing the right thing getting it checked. It’s never ok to not get it investigated but try not to worry in the meantime (easier said than done I know)

Thanks for all your replies. I can barely concentrate in work, my mind has gone to the worst scenario. I have health anxiety anyway and I am always militant in checking things like this, so it’s scared and shocked me.

@Justbekind2yourself don’t want to ask too many questions but what was yours like if you remember?

No worries, ask away.

I had some abdominal pain (just that day) and went to the loo. There was bright red blood in the bowl and also in the stool. Never realised I had haemorrhoids. Had a family history of bowel cancer so was beside myself with worry. They brought me straight in (GP) did an internal examination. Then referred me to the consultant. Consultant could tell quickly (after another internal) what it was. Never had another episode again. My dd was only two at the time. It was the most worrying two weeks of my life but turned out to be harmless. You’re absolutely right not to ignore it but please try not to worry too much

I don’t know how obvious the blood should be on the stool. In the bowl it looks red but out the bowl it doesn’t…nor on the tissue?

Also thanks for sharing with me @Justbekind2yourself. I am praying mine is something similar. I have been the toilet 4 times today 😥

I have Diverticulitis which presents like this and is fairly harmless most of the time.

It certainly needs investigating but please don't think the worst. There are other, much simpler, explanations.

As with @HollyFern1110, diverticulitis would be my first bet too. It's outrageously painful, but treatable with painkillers and diet.

Have you changed your eating habits at all? The trigger for me was doing some daft protein-rich diet but not wanting to eat loads of meat, so I'd had pulses three days on the trot...

@HollyFern1110 No I cant say I have, but I haven’t been eating great the last few weeks. Barley eating much in the day to be honest as I feel like I’m always on the go. Not sure if that has anything to do with it, I don’t eat a lot of meat either so can’t put it down to something dodgy.
I’ll have to read up on diverticulitis

Hi OP I know this is an old Post but did you find out what it was? I have something similar - very tiny amount of blood in mucus but it might also not be.