This is not unusal for me as I have Von Willebrands Disease (bleeding disorder) and constipation – so I always assumed tear etc in the past. I noticed today that there was blood after a bowel movement on the toilet paper. Those opinions will not be given on my blog and I would hope the same would be true for all other online medical channels moderated by a health care professional. rectal bleeding) or other medical advice. I’m posting this comment since I continually receive questions regarding the urgency people should use to see their doctor regarding their symptoms (e.g. However, it should not be used to seek health advise or replace the care and expertise that a physician can offer. UPDATE: The Internet can be a great resource for researching various health symptoms and available treatments. Whatever you do, Don’t Ignore It contact your doctor. Most of the time, it is a simple problem to fix, but schedule an examination with your doctor in order to make sure. So, if you see blood in your stool, Do Not Panic. If a direct cause is not found, then a colonoscopy should be performed in order to diagnose and treat the problem. The best test for rectal bleeding depends upon your age, symptoms, and examination findings. Therefore, it is best to get checked out by your doctor if you have any rectal bleeding. However, it is not uncommon for colon cancer to be diagnosed in patients who have ignored bleeding for years, assuming it was from hemorrhoids. They can be removed very safely from the colon, preventing progression to cancer. These polyps are generally present in the colon for years before they become cancerous. Precancerous polyps near the end of the colon can mimic bleeding from hemorrhoids. While most rectal bleeding is caused by non-serious issues mentioned above, bleeding can also be caused by cancerous or precancerous conditions.

Why should I worry about rectal bleeding? If the blood is dark red or includes clots, usually this indicates bleeding from higher in the colon. This produces black, tarry bowel movements due to stomach acid, which turns blood black. Bleeding may also come from higher in the digestive tract, such as the stomach. All of which can be diagnosed with an examination. There are many other causes of rectal bleeding, including Colitis, Crohn’s disease, IBD, Proctitis, Angiodysplasia and Diverticulosis. Unfortunately, colon cancer usually doesn’t present with any symptoms, but sometimes it presents as rectal bleeding and needs to be evaluated by your gastroenterologist. Colon Cancer and Colon PolypsĪlthough not the most common cause of bleeding, colon cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Anal fissures can cause bleeding and a sensation of tearing, ripping, or burning during or after a bowel movement. Anal fissureĪn anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus. Bright red blood typically coats the stool or blood may drip into the toilet or on the paper. Painless rectal bleeding with a bowel movement is a common symptom of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in the rectum or anus that can be painful, itchy, and can sometimes bleed. There are lots of potential causes of blood in stool or rectal bleeding, but the most common ones are listed below.

If there is a small amount of blood in the water or on the toilet paper, it could be a variety of treatable conditions which are described below.

If it is a significant amount, this could be an active bleeding situation, which needs medical attention immediately. What now?įirst, take note of HOW MUCH blood there is. You see blood in stool or on toilet paper after a bowel movement.

Digested blood in feces