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Is Blood Discharge From The Anal Region A Cause For Concern?
Posted on
Sat, 24 Mar 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 24 Mar 2018
Answered on
Tue, 23 May 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a fifty one year old male. For the last few weeks I have been sick to my stomach and constipated. This morning I finally had a bowel movement but it was followed with several episodes of going to the bathroom with only blood coming out. My urine seems fine in color but the amount of blood disposed from my anal area is disturbing. My gut area feels fine except when I have to go when I get gas and blood coming from me. I do have a history of high blood pressure, cholesterol and RA. Due to financial reasons I have not been taking the medications for these conditions. I am 6'2 and 165lbs. I do not use drugs of any kind but have an issue with drinking for over twenty years.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The blood could possibly be from an anal fissure - a tear from a hard/large bowel movement, but these usually do not cause a large amount of bleeding repeatedly, and the blood is not in place of passing stool, but rather some additional small amount of bleeding.
If you have lost more than a few tablespoons of blood, I advise that you go into the ER. If the bleeding has tapered off or stopped, I recommend contacting your doctor who may want to do an in-office exam with an anoscope to see if a tear is visible. If you have not had a recent colonoscopy, that would be indicated.
You write that you have been sick to your stomach. Have you had fevers or pain in any specific areas? Because sometimes diverticulitis or diverticulosis can have some of these symptoms.
When you go in to be seen by your doctor, especially since you have a history of RA, checking a sed rate (sedimentation rate) for inflammation, and a CBC (complete blood count) would be indicated too.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Thoughts on this...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The blood could possibly be from an anal fissure - a tear from a hard/large bowel movement, but these usually do not cause a large amount of bleeding repeatedly, and the blood is not in place of passing stool, but rather some additional small amount of bleeding.
If you have lost more than a few tablespoons of blood, I advise that you go into the ER. If the bleeding has tapered off or stopped, I recommend contacting your doctor who may want to do an in-office exam with an anoscope to see if a tear is visible. If you have not had a recent colonoscopy, that would be indicated.
You write that you have been sick to your stomach. Have you had fevers or pain in any specific areas? Because sometimes diverticulitis or diverticulosis can have some of these symptoms.
When you go in to be seen by your doctor, especially since you have a history of RA, checking a sed rate (sedimentation rate) for inflammation, and a CBC (complete blood count) would be indicated too.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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