Question:
Yucky question, but is a concern to me

Whenever I have a bowel movement, there is usually some blood (bright red in color, not dark or black) on the tissue and in the toilet water. I try to drink enough water, but my bm's are still usually very dry and painful. Any suggestions? Is there something wrong with me? I don't have health insurance anymore and can't afford any healtcare. Thanks in advance. 5 months out,Open Rny, -78 lbs.    — J. W. (posted on April 9, 2003)

April 9, 2003
Have you tried any stool softeners? You can get them at wal mart for about $4, or less. Adding fiber might help also. Either get that at wal mart too, or try adding something like grape nuts, fiber one, or something of that nature. Popcorn works well too.
   — Diana L.

April 9, 2003
If the blood is only on the tissue when you wipe, and not in the stool itself, it may be hemmorids, get some hemmored (sp) wipes that are medicated and use them for awhile to wipe with, they are disposal, it can not hurt.
   — cindy

April 9, 2003
It could be possible that you have hemmorhoids too, and the straining **sorry!** could cause them to inflame. Since you say the blood is bright red that probably means it's occurring at the moment you use the bathroom, and it could be a hemmorhoid rupturing. Do you experience pain when you have a bm? Hemmorhoids can be painful. Try some hemmorhoid cream or a suppository. If hemmorhoids is your problem you should experience some relief quickly, within a day or so. Good luck!
   — beeda

April 9, 2003
Hi, I think all the previous posts are great while you wait to see your doctor. Call today. Blood is never a good sign. I had the same problem a few months ago, the test is a simple one. It turned out to be nothing. Better safe than sorry.
   — msmaryk

April 9, 2003
As much as we THINK we're properly hydrated, in most cases we're not. One of the first places our body takes water from when we're dehydrated, is out stool. This is what causes them to be dry and hard. Add substansially to your current intake and you may help your problem.
   — tommyd1221

April 9, 2003
I had a similar problem some years ago...I went to my dr. all kinds of freaked out...after examination, he explained to me that I was tearing the skin around my anus-hole (sorry people) and that is what was causing the bleeding...small cut/tears less than 1/4 inch in length...but because of their location, they are quite dangerous...be careful to clean well...you could get infected terribly. I was prescribed a stool softener to let the area heal some and I had to use baby wipes for a little while...kept things in that area moist and from being painful and getting infected. Take care!! Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
   — Mustang

April 9, 2003
You really need to check around and see if there are any "free" or subsidized clinics in your area. Call your community action agency or health department or health and welfare office. Any and all of those should help you find some type of help if its out there. If you can find a clinic that's free or subsidized they usually charge you based on your income. If you're low income you pay a very small minimum. Its important to have access to healthcare somehow. If you're very low income, have you tried getting on your state's medical? I know it sucks to have to ask for help, but when you need it, you NEED it. And by the way, if its fissures at your anal opening try cleaning well and putting neosporin until they seem healed, after that I found that putting A&D ointment there really helps to keep the area soft so you aren't tearing things back open and protects it too.
   — Shelly S.

April 9, 2003
Sounds like a hemorrhoid problem. I've had them off and on for years (I'm pre-op). You may want to check with other post-ops to see what types of fiber supplements they can tolerate. I use Metamucil in the morning, take peri-colace a couple of times a week, and try to eat higher-fiber foods. It's a challenging problem, and one I'm sure I'll have to continue working at post-op. Anyway, when I'm pretty regular, I don't have the bleeding problem, but when things get backed up and "hard," the hemorrhoids come back. When they flare up, I use "witch hazel" to clean the area, and Preparation H for lubrication. I haven't tried it, but have seen other posts about "Smooth Move" herbal tea. Water is the most important thing, and regular exercise also helps a lot. Good luck to you!
   — Carlita

April 9, 2003
I was told it was hemmorhoids too without examination. I used every over the counter anything to help with this excruciatingly painful problem. I suffered for 11 months with this and finally saw a surgeon to remove my "hemmorhoids". It turned it that the problem was an anal fissure and not hemmorhoids at all. I won't go into it all and what it is but you can find all kinds of info if you type that into a search engine and what procedure they do to correct it. Aside from wls, it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I was in severe pain for too long, I could barely sit.
   — Dee ,.

April 9, 2003
It is probably just a tear from the bm's being so hard. My daughter had that problem when she was an infant and i freaked out and took her to the doctors and they told me what it was but they did do a examination of the bm to see if it was just on the outter layer and not all through it. I would get it checked out to make sure thats the same thing happening to you. By the way, they gave me some stool softener for her to take to help with the hard bm's. I would ask the doc for something so you dont have to go through that anymore. good luck.
   — rachel W.

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