Blood in poo

[Gothambutnotahamster]

Was wondering if anyone can give me reasons for blood in my poo other than bowel cancer as that's all my googling gives me as a result?

I've been bleeding quite a lot when going for a no 2 also and seem to poo multiple times a day (when I was a once in the morning regular as clockwork kind of person!).

I've been to the GP & have an appt for bloods to be drawn and also waiting for a FIT test to come in the post but in the meantime all my googling keeps bringing me back to bowel cancer!

I'd love to hear other viable diagnoses as I'm freaking myself out a bit! TIA!

Don’t panic !

It’s always certainly piles

Important to get it checked though - well done for acting so fast

Could it be piles even if the doctor couldn't see (or feel ) any?

… if you are poo-ing a lot could also be some inflammation.

Piles - yes still could be

I don't know - i probably drink too much (have wine at weekends and generally on a Thursday evening) so perhaps it's too much alcohol or a poor diet?

That's good to know @continentallentil - thanks!

I had piles when I was pregnant that caused it plus another time I had a anal fissure which caused it. The fissure hurt most of the time but the piles didn't. Then I've had it look look like blood but was beetroot.

Just done a routind FIT test myself today - that says you hear within 14 days, so hopefully won't be long to see if they want more tests done.

Ive just had test done called calprotectin for blood in my poo for about 4 weeks. Likely IBD probably colllitis. Got an appointment with gastro in a couple of weeks but thankfully its stopped now. Im 35

I’m being looked at for similar. Had bloods and stool sample come back normal. What’s a FIT test?

Thank you - I'm normally very rational but have been finding myself very teary when I'm alone as I'm catastrophising! Good to know there are other causes as literally all my googling brings me back to bowel cancer!

FIT test is the poo sample you send off

I was told that it's a stick in a pot and you put a bit of poo on it and then send it off for analysis @sparklelikeadiamond (can't remember the acronym but it's faecal something or other).

Much more succinctly put @Ohmylovejune

Ah I see. I had to hand two samples in at the doctor. Must have been that.

My GP said they come from a separate dept that deals with bowel screening so they can't administer the test & I need to wait for the test to come in the post. Really hope it comes before we go on holiday as I'd like to have the test sent off & then forget about it until I get back!

Usually piles.
If not piles then diverticular disease

Also just to say - to OP as well as you you, cos I know she’s going to be googling colitis right now (are you @Gothambutnotahamster ?!) I had colitis a few years back - had some treatment and it’s never been back. Most IBD is very well managed and getting better all the time - it’s one of those areas of medicine that’s really leaping forward - so don’t Google horror stories and think it will be you.

Although OP booze does irritate the stomach lining so do knock that off for a bit.

Some people find probiotics v helpful - most don’t do much for me but I find symprove really good

Thank you!

Probably not much comfort but my husband bleeds from his anus almost constantly and has had every test there is including a colonoscopy, they still don’t know what it is! But not cancer

Pooing multiple times a day as in diarrhoea and difficult to hold, or just normal poo but throughout the day? And is it brown or red blood?

That's also good to know (although not for your husband obviously!)

Honestly thanks all as earlier today I pretty much had myself dead before my eldest gets his GCSE results in August!

And I promise I am usually so calm and rational!

@Overthebow normal poo but softer than usual lots of times a day. I can hold it if I'm not somewhere close to a toilet but the need is still there.

Often the first or second poos of the day don't have blood, but then it's usually there for the 3rd plus poo!

Sometimes it's very dark spots of blood but today it was a lighter colour (but the poo was also a different colour today).

I did chuckle to myself earlier feeling like Gillian McKeith!

Lots of options to explain this apart from cancer.

I have ulcerative colitis. It's easy to manage most of the time. If you're Googling, stick to good sources of information like PatientInfo and Crohn's & Colitis UK.

Thanks @ThreadExterminator - it was mainly the NHS website and then googling the symptoms and other than weight loss (annoyingly), it ticks every box for bowel cancer and nothing else even seemed to come up as suggestions!

I'll look at those other things now, thanks!

Any changes in medication?

I take warfarin for a blood disorder so I do tend to bleed where others wouldn't.