[lone_twin4]

Gah! For a couple of months now I have been getting blood in my stool (the gross bit is over, sorry). It's always bright red so I'm pretty sure it doesn't come from inside.

I'm not so worried about the blood itself, or the cause of it, as why it hasn't stopped. I don't eat a bad diet - I eat more fruit, veg and fibre than most of my friends, and I eat the same things my family do. When I got really bad and I figured it might be hemorroids (sorry) I went an extra mile with the fruit and fibre. I possibly didn't do as much as I should have, but I started drinking a lot of homemade fruit smoothies, I always eat wholewheat bread, I drink a LOT of water (though I'm still thirsty a lot). I feel fine, but I'm still getting blood in my stool.
It lessened over the summer whilst I was on my high fibre diet, but even when I started taking supplements it is still there. I'm embarrassed and a bit scared to go to my doctor, although I know I should so I think I will make an appointment and go this week. I just wondered what you guys thought. I'm like 98% sure that it's not coming from my intestine or stomach, partly because of the colour and partly because I have other symptoms of mild hemorroids. Also, my stool is obviously too firm and kind of a weird colour - but I have been making a concise effort with my diet to eat lots of fruit and veg, a lot of fibre - and like I said I have always drank a lot of water. I am worried that maybe these nutrients aren't being absorbed or something.

I'm in America atm so I hope I the doctor doesn't decide I need meds or something. I could pay for them but ideally won't have to!

Sorry for the grossness.

[ECHOES]

I think you are right in your assessment. Red blood is fresh and probably from straining. There are some stool softeners you can buy in the pharmacy/drug store that don't required a prescription and are not expensive. It will help soften the stool so it can be passed more easily and without straining; the hemorrhoid can then heal. I take one stool softener two times a day.

Here is a link to more information: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hem...CTION=symptoms

Sometimes a visit to the doctor is reassuring and gives peace of mind...

[lynn P.]

Don't worry about grossing us out. I'm a mom so I've gone through gross stuff with my kids and child birth basically desensitized me from ever feeling embarrassed LOL. It sounds like bleeding from hemorrhoids but I agree with Echoes to go for a simple stool test - don't feel embarrassed. I also agree with taking a stool softener and I also recommend a cereal called Bran Buds. I've had terrible constipation and this is the only thing that helps me. Do you have an abdominal pain or bloating?

[Perna]

If you drink a lot of water and smoothies, etc. and are still thirsty, it sounds like you need to go to your doctor for a full blood/urine, etc. workup. There can be many causes of rectal bleeding: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rec...SECTION=causes

[lone_twin4]

I thought about the thirsty thing too, though I may also be going OTT about that. I don't get sick often but it seems I am one of those people who won't go to the doctor! I have to listen to what I say to others about how doctors get paid so go to them for anything. I know that constant thirst is a symptom of diabetes, which runs in our family, but there is nothing else going on so I am most likely wrong about that!

I get really awful contripation about the time of my period, and so does my mum, so I think this is where the problems started. I have never heard of stool softener before so I will get some of that - thanks guys! Around this time of month I do also get bloating and water rentention as a lot of women do, but these go away after a couple of days whereas my stool is often giving me problems. I get abdominal pain about my period too but no other time!

I think I will try stool softener but also go to the doctor this week. I was worried when I posted but you guys have reassured me and I feel now like I know what to talk about when I go see the doctor. Thank you!

[ECHOES]

Yay

Good luck and keep us posted, if you wish to.

[Travelinglady]

Goodness, it seems like all sorts of psychotropic drugs cause constipation. Sigh. I just will put my two cents worth in--I know you're already planning on going to the doctor, which will certainly likely be a relief. From my personal experience, it sounds like internal hemmorhoids--they cause red blood in the stool. There are over the counter suppositories that help to heal them. I've even had to get prescription strength. Along with the stool softener and the fiber diet you're eating, that should get you back to normal!

[Marmelade]

As mentioned below it could be haemorrhoids, but it may also just be a small tear. If you are getting constipation then a small tear can be quite common, and just needs time to heal up. It's definitely worth going to the doc for an opinion though.

A good over the counter remedy (but can also be prescribed) is peppermint oil, you can get these in capsule form. It helps settle the bowel and can help with bloating. I have irritable bowel syndrome (and go from constipation to diarrhoea, and vice versa, often), and have used these alongside my perscription drugs. The brand I use is colpermin.

[403K]

I have some of the same issues, but I found that eating that Activia Yogurt ( which is quite tastey) works well for either constipation or diarhea. It does take about a week or two to work, but it does help. I eat one in the morning and one at night. All the flavors they have out there are good to. Even the light ones are good. They also have ones with fiber. I also can tell you that sometimes eating too much fiber can stop me up. So make sure you are getting only what they call for you to eat for your size and weight. Hope whatever the issue may be, you find some relief from it. Take care!!

[NoBread]

You could also have celiac disease. Eating fiber would actually make that worse, if you are eating wheat, rye, barley or oats. D and C are common GI symptoms with celaic disease, and it is often mis-diagnosed as IBS. I'd ask the doctor to do the full celiac panel of blood tests antibodies. Celaac hits 1 out 133 in the USA.

[NoBread]

Just wanted to add, I have celiac disease and used to have red blood appear sometimes before I was not on the gf diet. It went away after I went GF along with a lot of other problems. I have read about other people with celiac having this happen also. Crohn's can cause this too.

[lynn P.]

I like your name/avatar NoBread.

[NoBread]

Thanks Lynn or Bella?

I think the avatar was a default choice when I first signed up back in the day. At some point I may change the avatar, I have a self portrait I did that might fit well too. But the avatar is ok by me for now too.