Question:
Has anyone had a similar problem? blood in stool

I am 9 months post op and have lost 116 lbs. I went today to my PCP for my yearly physical and I had blood to show up in my stool specimen. He told me to contact my surgeon and I have an appointment next wednesday. He did bloodworrk but I do not have the results yet. I have been a little tired lately. Anyone else had this problem and what could it be. I am a little concerned. Thanks    — cindylou56 (posted on April 23, 2004)

April 24, 2004
Hello Cynthia, At 6 months out I had blood in my stool and was very alarmed, I made an appt. with my dr. only to find out that I had a little "fisher" tear and that caused there to be blood! I hope this is all you have cause it will go away. I'm now almost 9 months out and I've not had anymore problems and I'm at my goal of 135lbs. Good Luck to you and hope this helps.
   — Jeri L.

April 24, 2004
I too had blood show up, and my doctor decided it was from hemmorhoids. He put me on Zantac twice a day and it cleared up in a couple of days and I've had no more problems. Good Luck to you!
   — Kendell C.

April 24, 2004
This is really strange. I had a physical yesterday and the doctor did a stool smear test and also told me I have blood in my stool. I am 17 months post op and feel fine. I am going to call my surgeon Monday. I really don't think it is anything to worry about but my poor hubby is terrified!!! I am trying to reassure him that if it was bad I would not be feeling as good as I do. I'll post more when I know.
   — debbie11092002

April 24, 2004
Hi Cynthia, <br> I am surprised that your PCP didn't explore this further. There are many reasons you could have blood in your stool. As the previous posters have suggested, hemorroids or a small fissure could be the culprit. Have you been constipated? Do you have any history of ulcers or diverticulitis? Is your stool red? very dark? Does your stool have a coppery odor? Did you eat red meat or beets prior to seeing the doctor? Do you have pain anywhere---from the stomach to the rectum?<br> Sometimes we have blood in the stool and it's meaningless. There are also a few serious reasons for blood being present, and sometimes, it's a false alarm (such as after eating beets or red meat, we will have a false-positive reading). By all means, see your surgeon and let him get to the bottom of this. But don't spend all your time worrying...it could easily be something perfectly harmless or easily remedied. <br> Good luck and big hugs..<br> Linda
   — Linda S.