Blood in stool, what should I do?

Digestive health
1

Hey everyone, this is my first post and just a fair warning, it’s a little TMI. I’m and 18 year old girl and for the past 2 years I’ve been dealing with some stomach issues. I got a colonoscopy back in 2016 due to blood and mucus in the stool, and I got a second colonoscopy in the beginning of 2017 due to continued stomach issues. Both were negative, except they found an internal hemorrhoid in the second one. Things got a bit better after that and I didn’t have many issues other than some gas and an occasional stomach ache here and there.

The past few days have been a bit concerning. 2 weeks ago I had some bleeding when I wiped, but it got better the day after so I didn’t think much of it. However, last night after I used the bathroom, I saw a bit of blood after wiping but I thought it was just because I wiped too hard. But this morning, after I went again, I just happened to check and saw that there was bright red blood throughout the stool. This really shocked me and now I’m sort of getting worried. I’m currently at a university and don’t have access to my regular GP. Should this be a cause for concern? I really don’t want to have to go through the same thing I did in 2016, and I really hope it was just the hemorrhoid that decided to flare up again, but idk. Any advice would be appreciated.

2

Go to the doctor please and thank you

3

Hi linette6464
Bright red blood usually indicates that it is fresh blood from an anal fissure or heamorroid. If it was anything sinister the colour of the blood would be reddish/brown.
If it becomes troublesome you can buy haemorroid cream from the pharmacy or you could go to student services at uni and ask if there is a doctors surgery you could book into on a temporary basis…best wishes..

4

You could go see your Dr to be sure, but I’ve always read/been told that bright red blood is from something non sinister, near the opening of your bum - like a hemorrhoid or fissure. If your stool was tarry or black, that would indicate internal bleeding and that would definitely be cause for concern.