Rectal bleeding with covid or flu.

[Damekitty]

Rectal bleeding with covid/ flu anyone?
I have a nasty virus, yesterday I had diarrhoea and a few hours later started rectal bleeding, enough to turn the toilet water red. I am F 66.

I would definitely get this checked out,perhaps give 111 a call.

Do you have piles? Could you have split your anus and developed a fissure?

Bright red blood usually means a bleed from the anus, piles or tears for example. Possibly diarrhoea and wiping have caused a small bleed. It doesn't take much blood to turn toilet eater pink/ red. Bleeding from higher up is usually darker brown/ black or tarry in appearance.

Was it a one off? Are you still bleeding, even when you aren't on the toilet? Can you check your pulse and BP at home? Have you eaten anything that could colour your stools (beetroot for example)?

Give 111 a call just to be safe.highly likely it's an injury to your anus from wiping, but better to be safe.

Yeah, this doesn’t sound connected.
I get this with piles, I’d give your doctor a ring on Monday unless still bleeding in which case 111.

Oh. Weird. I'd not put 2 & 2 together on this, but last year I had bright red rectal bleeding, toilet water red like you say. Saw GP, positive FIT test and a few weeks later colonoscopy showed internal haemorrhoids. I tested positive for covid 3 days after the initial GP appointment (though looking back had mild symptoms almost a week before positive test).

Decided to leave haemorrhoids alone and take measures to live with them, avoiding constipation etc rather than going on wait list for banding. Settled fine, and no further bleeding until October this year, when I got covid again. Jeez. Another thing to thank it for

Anecdote doesn't equal evidence and correlation doesn't equal causation obvs. Best to get checked by your doctor @Damekitty. Hope things settle for you.

Thank you all for your messages, will phone doctors in the morning