I Just Had Bloody Mucus With A Bowel Movement. In

Posted on Thu, 2 Apr 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 2 Apr 2020 Answered on

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Question : I just had bloody mucus with a bowel movement. in the past i had bowel straning and from december to january lost 10 pounds. my blood work shows my hemoglobin levels are good as well as my kidney and liver function. I had a slightly elevated SED level which led to blood work to check for an IND. that came back negative. what could it be?

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It could be many things

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Bloody stools can be many things. If you are less than 40 years old, infectious enterocolitis, hemorrhoids or chronic inflammatory bowel disease are most likely. If you are older than 40, the risk of bloody stools being caused by polyps or cancer increases. If your stools are loose or watery, I suggest you get fecal samples for bacterial cultures and calprotectin. If your stools are not loose, I suggest you go straight to colonoscopy.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have further questions.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (2 hours later)

Why would not having loose stools with blood have you encourage me to go straight for a colonoscopy?

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hi again

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX

Primarily because loose stools or diarrhea suggests inflammation (acute or chronic) that can be cured by antibiotics and a colonoscopy can be postponed until treatment response can be assessed. If your stools are not loose, it suggests a cause that should be treated endoscopically during colonoscopy (ligation of hemoroids, polypectomy of polyps, etc.). Hope this sheds some light on my recommendation.

Feel free to write if you have further questions.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (1 hour later)

Hope not having loose stools doesn’t increase the likelygood of Malignantxy

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
No, not to worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

No, you should not worry. The risk of cancer is very low, however the presence of watery stools with blood increases the likelihood of inflammation. How old are you?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (12 hours later)

I’m 32.

Follow up: Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (3 hours later)

My
Concern is that there’s a significant rise of CC in younger people.

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Do not worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX

It is true that we are seeing an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in younger patients worldwide. However, the risk of cancer in your particular case is still very low and it is probably caused by hemorroids. I would however still advise you to have a colonoscopy.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj