Blood in stool looking for reassurance

[CSR721]

Went to the Dr's last week as I've had a few instances of blood on the tp after a bm and a few other symptoms which started after having my baby (stomach pains/cramps etc) she wasn't overly concerned thinking it was constipation post c section causing irritation and bleeding but she's ordered blood tests and stool samples. Today ive gone to collect the first stool sample and there's what looks like bloody mucus on the outside. Only on the outside not mixed in but now I'm petrified 😭 I'm only 31 and just had my little boy. I lost my mum when I was 3 to cancer and I don't want to leave my baby. And now I just have to wait for results (still have one more sample to send off but the kit hasn't arrived in the post yet, even more waiting). Is there any chance this isn't cancer? Because in my head, my fate is already sealed 😭

Oh you poor thing - so stressful. I had the same and it was haemorrhoids. They removed them via colonoscopy. I also have a family history of bowel cancer so I panicked as well. I hope you get a positive outcome

Thank you, I had ruled out haemorrhoids as rectal examination was normal and with the cramping etc. But that's reassuring to know it could still be that. I'm glad you had a positive outcome x

Sorry you're so worried. I'm a GP and have seen countless patients around your age with rectal bleeding. In young people it's almost always haemorrhoids or an anal fissure, much more rarely it is an inflammatory bowel disease. I have never seen a patient near your age in general practice where it turned out to be a bowel cancer. It does happen, but very, very rarely.

It's almost certainly not going to be anything to panic about, but I'm glad you're getting it checked out. Hope you're feeling better soon.

@pbdr thank you so much for your reply. You have no idea how much better it makes me feel to have a little reassurance while I wait for results.

So I had a message to say my blood test results are back, and I need to make a non urgent appointment to discuss. If they thought it was cancer it would be urgent right? Any ideas what it could be? The earliest appointment they have is 23rd June!! I don't even know what they were testing for

No idea what it could be but I agree that it’s not going to be cancer. Really pleased for you

There are so many diagnoses for the symptom of rectal bleeding or stools with blood and some of them are really no big deal. I'd bet you're going to be ok.

Some of the conditions you might be diagnosed with are easier to handle than others but will be way better than the cancer conclusion your head is trying to jump to!

I have ulcerative colitis which is one possible cause, and although it's not all plain-sailing it doesn't shorten life expectancy really and a lot of the time I'm perfectly healthy with it.

Cross-posted but with your most recent message but I'd agree that the non-urgent appointment is a good sign!

Non urgent is good, as it is not the two week C pathway or anything like that.

Did you get a copy of your bloods, if so do you want to say which ones might be flagged?

You will be fine. I had similar and it was not red but the black and tarry type. Straight into panic mode. Turns out I had H. Pylori infection and one of the tiny ulcers was slowly bleeding. All sorted now.

You poor thing, what a worry. It's vanishingly unlikely to be cancer, particularly as they said "non-urgent" for the test results.
You are right to be vigilant about blood in your stools, but don't panic, there are lots of reasons why this might happen and your doctor can refer you for further tests if needed.
But you were right to get tested - and do go again if there's anything there you are suspicious about.

Thank you all for your reassurances. This is just the blood results I'm still waiting for my stool sample results and I haven't sent the fit test off yet as I came on my period so I'm waiting for that to finish so it could still flag further investigation but I'm feeling a little reassured that there's nothing urgent flagged up in my blood. I don't have a copy of them, so I'm not sure what has flagged.

Update: my stool sample was normal and fit test negative! Still waiting for my non urgent appointment but I feel much more relaxed. Thank you for all your reassurance it really helped keep me grounded xx

Great news - very pleased for you.

Could I ask as I'm so worried for myself. For the last six months I've been getting regular bleeding after bowel movements. Probably about half of all. Sometimes I can bleed for a month every time. Sometimes it's the odd day. Occasionally I bleed through my clothes onto furniture without realising. I sometimes feel bloated and pass gas during a flare up.

Dr says it's hemneriod and there is nothing he can do.

He did the poo and blood tests for cancer which were fine. I'm just worried it's ibd or polyts. I'm 41 I can't go through the rest of my life bleeding especially randomly on the sofa.

Should I be pushing for a colonoscopy because of the bloating at the times of bad flare up.

If it's piles I might need to go private on the cc. As he said NHS unlikely to fund.

@cheltsam83 with the blood is it bright red or is it mixed with stool/mucus?

Have you had a calprotectin stool test? The first line general stool test doesn’t test this.

Do you have obvious piles that you’re aware of?

Do you have any other symptoms apart from blood?

If you have piles you can feel and the blood is bright red and not mixed with stool your GP may be right but if they’re bleeding that profusely surely it merits a referral to have them dealt with.

If you have other IBD symptoms then I’d push for a gastro referral.

I would agree with your GP that haemorrhoidal bleeding is the most likely diagnosis from your description of the symptoms and your test results. If you don't have anaemia and you've had a negative symptomatic qFIT test then your risk of colorectal cancer is extremely small. A qFIT result <10 (which is the normal range for a symptomatic test - more sensitive than asymptomatic screening qFIT) in a patient who doesn't have iron deficiency anamia is comparable to a colonoscopy in terms of it's negative predictive value for colorectal cancer, so from a cancer-exclusion perspective there isn't anything else that would be required.

Obviously that doesn't confirm what your diagnosis actually is or relieve your symptoms though. If I had a patient in your situation I personally would ensure bloods for a coeliac screen had been done, send a stool sample for calprotectin and, assuming those results were negative then I would do a routine referral to gastroenterology for consideration of a sigmoidoscopy (urgent if raised calprotectin). But I'm not your GP, so it's worth going back and speaking to them again, or speaking to a different GP at your surgery if you want another opinion.

Were you examined for piles and/or a fissure? The GP can't just assume without looking!

Unless the GP has seen obviously bleeding piles, perhaps you ought to be checked for ulcerative colitis or crohn's. Usually with those you would have pain and diarrhoea as well as the bleeding, but I am not an expert (my dh had colitis and had a lot pf pain and diarrhoea but that's only one person!). Even if they've seen the piles, if you are having a lot of GI symptoms, the piles bleeding could be secondary to your bum having to do a lot of extra work, as well :/

But if you are sure its piles I would want to get them sorted anyway - random bleeding like that sounds awful!

Thanks for posting OP I have followed the answers with interest. I’ve had small amounts od rectal bleeding / bloody stool 10+ times over the last couple of years and after GP checking for coeliac / stool test he just shrugs it off and says it’s probably just a fissure caused by constipation, which pisses me off as I’ve never ever had constipation, so it’s very helpful to hear that other doctors would investigate more. Will ponder.

Really interesting to read this, I have had bleeding almost every time I go for a number two for about a year. It is horrible and I hate it to the extent it is impacting my mental health. My GP ref me to hospital who confirmed I have a anal skin tag which is causing internal piles, the skin tag is king of dragging the piles down.

Despite a recomendation to have it sorted, the NHS won't fund it!!!! despite me appealing the decision they said the bleeding is something I will have to live with unless I go private! I can't beleive for the rest of my life I am going to be bleeding after a number two. Also Like the other poster I feel uncomfortable soemtimes. I pressume because the pile is swollen and stops me emptying fully.