Gruesome question, sorry!

[anon99]

I'm posting anonymously since dh would be cross if I used my usual name! He says he had quite a lot of blood on the paper when he went to the loo this morning and he is worried about it. I suggested NHS Direct but he wants to leave it and see what happens. If it's a one off should we not worry about it? Or is even a one off cause for concern? Could it just be a burst blood vessel or something? If it doesn't happen again do you think he still ought to go to the doctor? I'd be really grateful for any advice, thank you.

From his bottom, I'm assuming?

Was the blood bright red, or dull?

If it was bright red, he's bleeding near his anus. Probably a fissure or piles, neither of which is really a big deal. Either way, he should avoid straining and being constipated. If it doesn't happen again, he doesn't need to see a doctor. Even if it does, there's no real medical risk, I guess, as long as there isn't like tons of blood.

If it was dull, old blood, then he's bleeding somewhere further up, and he should go to A+E now.

If he was a bit constipated and strained to get it out, he might have an anal fissure which means a little tear in his bottom. However, I would have thought he would have noticed that as it is very painful. I would advise going to the doctor if he bleeds again and he doesn't think it is a fissure, but if he thinks it is a fisuure, there is lots he can do to help himself without going to a doctor (ie eat more fibre and drink plenty to make the stools softer).

This really is something to tell the doc about. Could be nothing - could be something.

TMI ALERT.- Did he strain? Was it afterwards or in amongst the stool.

If it was just a little bit of red blood, it sounds like piles or a fissure, like NQC says - nothing to worry about in that case. He's lucky he doesn't normally suffer, he must have a good diet!

Fissures hurt more than piles, I think. (From my experience - lucky me!)

And you can have what looks like a fair bit of blood from either. Not spoonsful or anything, but still ...

Oooh I get the occasional spoonful from my fissures...

Unfortunately I appeared to turn my arse inside out when I gave birth.

Must go and eat some muesli...

Thank you so much all, he's not panicking as much and if it happens again will go to the doctors.