embarassed - need advice

[firelighter]

Feel really embarassed but need advice. Have noticed a bit of blood in last few days when I poo (bright red). Also have had a look in mirror and think I can see what I think is a pile? God I'm so embarrassed but could someone tell me what the hell is going on? Doesn't hurt or itch but don't feel like I can get clean if you know what I mean? Sorry for t.m.i. but I'm panicing.

I'ts probably piles or a fissure - small tear thet keeps re-tearing after each visit to the toilet.

Wrt cleaning - try flushable moist wipes. It should hopefully heal up fine and maybe appear now and then. Very common. If it goes on or you get worried, see your GP. Trust me, he'll have seen worse!

Yes, if you're worried see your GP for advice. Moist wipes are an excellent idea. In the meantime, the one thing to avoid is any kind of straining. Anal fissures and piles are made worse if you are a little constipated and 'pushing' to go... so you'll need to keep your stools as soft as possible.

• Eat three kiwifruit a day from now on as they are an excellent natural stool softener and mild laxative.
• Get five further portions of leafy green vegetables, other fruit and salad items a day
• Drink 2 litres of fluids... preferably plain like water or tea and warm/tepid rather than ice-cold
• Swap white bread, pasta and rice for wholemeal bread, wholewheat pasta and brown rice... Choose a high-fibre breakfast cereal like porridge oats or all bran. A higher fibre content will help.
• Choose more oily foods...oily fish like salmon, avocados,olive oil etc.
• Avoid very salty foods which can cause dehydration. This makes constipation worse
• Avoid spicy/hot foods that could make any inflammation worse

But do see your doctor if it doesn't improve soon. Good luck

thank you both of you for the advice. dare i ask what piles actually are? i mean, what is it that i can feel/see?

Check out NHS Choices website and do a search for piles and anal fissures. Quoting from the information there....

"Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are enlarged and swollen blood vessels in or around the lower rectum and back passage (anus). When the pressure inside these blood vessels is increased, they swell and form small lumps. Increased pressure is often caused by straining when trying to pass a stool."

"An anal fissure is a tear or ulcer in the lining of the anal canal, just inside the opening of your anus. They can be very painful, particularly when you are passing stools and for a while afterwards. Anal fissures can also cause minor bleeding, which you may notice in your stools or on your toilet paper."

In both cases, keeping stools soft by using the methods I indicated earlier should help a lot. If it carries on then you should see your doctor.