Anal bleeding

Hi folks,

I am almost three months out from RNY. Things have been great except for some early constipation issues. I take Restoralax daily and have been regular, no straining for several weeks.

This morning, I had a bowel movement and noticed it was streaked with bright red blood. I googled and everything said it was likely a hemorrhoid (which I don't think I have but figured maybe I have an internal one from my problems early post op).

I just had another bowel movement, but this time the whole toilet was filled with blood. So it's got me a lot more worried now.

I went back to dr google of course, and saw a reference to Intussusception. I remember reading some posts here about it.

I welcome any and all thoughts and support. What do you think it could be? Thanks.

I think you should call your doctor.

Going to go see him today! Thanks.

If you are dizzy or short of breath or sweaty, or have any abdominal pain, go to the ER now. If not, call your surgeon first thing tomorrow. There are many things this can be and most of them are no big deal, but this is not something that should be diagnosed on the Internet. Hope everything's OK!

Thankfully no other symptoms! All good things to think about connecting the dots though. Thanks for the response!

First, I want to say quit googling. Hard I know but it's best. 2nd, what may look like an entire toilet filled with blood can take just a little bit, even just 1 tablespoon in a toilet makes it seem like a lot when mixed with the water. If the blood is bright red, that means it's closer to the exit rather than further up. That means you could have what is known as a fissure, usually these are painful but there are some people that don't feel pain when these occur.

Usually if the bleeding is further up, it makes the stool darker colored, and tarry looking. My best advice is to seek the council of a doctor and have them take a look into this for you. It could very well be a hemorrhoid and you may not know. They rarely hurt, and you don't always need constipation to have one develop. Even sitting a lot in a hard chair can cause them. Sometimes just being over weight and sitting can cause them. I know this for a fact.

Try not to worry and just have them take a look into this for ya.

Thanks. Yes, not googling is difficult! You're right - it's not as much blood as I'm sure I made it out to be, but the sheer fright and shock of it made it seem like a whole lot. I've never had fissures or hemorrhoids so this is uncharted territory for me. I've got my fingers crossed that's all it is and it will self correct, but I'll go see my real doc, not my online doc (google) today!

For the non-panic comment I have had this.. now and then before surgery. Red blood is the best alternative in this case. In my case they have been fissures or hemorrhoids. When the bowl looks like it is filling with blood it has been a fissure. This makes sense given the hard bowel movements. They typically heal on their own but you can do to your doctor and have them cauterize it. In the mean time keep up with the stool softeners, ramp up your water and have an Epsom salt bath to calm down the muscles down there.

Thanks. That's a relief (literally!). I have been scared to go to the bathroom since yesterday. Not what I needed - to be scared to go to the bathroom again. Ugh - my poor bowels since surgery. A bath with Epsom salt sounds good too. I'll do that.

I would call Dr. Please let us know how you are.