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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Rectal Bleeding

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Posted on Tue, 14 Mar 2017
Question: Good Evening,

I'm a 36 year old male and have been having off and on rectal bleeding for a few months. It's not painful and it comes and goes. One day I will notice it in the toilet/stool and then it will go away. Also, the toilet paper is pink sometimes and after a few wipes it goes away. This is inconstant. I have no family history of colon cancer and my father recently had a colonoscopy and they found no polyps. I also have a desk job and have been sitting all day everyday for 9 years. My father and brother have had hemorrhoids. Please let me know what this sounds like.

Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Antoneta Zotaj (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Very likely they are hemorrhoids

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for asking at HCM.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.

According to your symptoms and your family history what you explain is very likely to be hemorrhoids.
With hemorrhoids it is bright red blood present with the stools at the outside surface of the stools (not mixed with them) and also on the toilet or wiping paper. In your case because they are not painful very likely they are internal hemorrhoids.

The basic treatment for hemorrhoids is to make stools looser and easier to pass so not much pressure and this does not aggravate the hemorrhoids.

I would recommend you to:
1. Make sure you have plenty of fruit and vegetable a day- they have fibers and help with bowel movement. Plums have a lot of fiber so having 3-4 of them a day is good.
2. Extra fiber in diet bought over the counter like Psillium. Taking 1-2 a day might really improve your bowel movement and reduce hemorrhoids.
3. drinking plenty is good and advisable in this case
4. be active- physical activity (the opposite of sedentary lifestyle) helps bowel movement be easier
5. make sure you have a routine and follow it. If you routinely have a bowel movement this helps make bowel movement regular and easy.

If you develop abdominal pain, or notice weight loss or blood is not bright red or is mixed with the stools than it would be good to see a doctor and very likely he will perform a rectoscopy first as it would visualize the hemorrhoids and other possible problems in the rectum. If not enough view to visualize the cause to justify the bleeding than colonscopy might be needed and ordered by your doctor.

I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please let me know if anymore clarification is needed.

Kind Regards

Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Antoneta Zotaj (30 minutes later)
Thank you for the response. Does internal hemorrhoids bleed this long off and on? Also, how long do they bleed off and on for before it actually stops?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Antoneta Zotaj (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It might go on and off for years sometimes and hard to predict

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

Hemorrhoids (internal and external) is a chronic condition and they can both bleed on and off unpredictably, it might go on and off for years sometimes. Sometimes might be more intense bleeding and longer periods and sometimes mild bleeding on and off without a certain clear reason and is hard to predict it.

The best way to help the process of healing of them and not aggravate bleeding is having stools a little looser (not too loose as this might also make it worse).
The difference of internal and external is the location and the fact that the external ones are very painful but they behave similar.

So make sure you take medications and fiber to help have easier bowel movements (still not diarrhea) and have regular bowel movement in a regular way, do not strain while having a bowel movement (it makes hemorroids worse as it increases the pressure of the veins there).

If bleeding persists than you will need to see a doctor to have the proper examinations to confirm the diagnosis and get the proper treatment based on the diagnosis.

Please feel to contact me in case of anymore clarification is needed.

Kind Regards

Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Antoneta Zotaj

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 4435 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Rectal Bleeding

Brief Answer: Very likely they are hemorrhoids Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for asking at HCM. I carefully read your question and understand your concern. According to your symptoms and your family history what you explain is very likely to be hemorrhoids. With hemorrhoids it is bright red blood present with the stools at the outside surface of the stools (not mixed with them) and also on the toilet or wiping paper. In your case because they are not painful very likely they are internal hemorrhoids. The basic treatment for hemorrhoids is to make stools looser and easier to pass so not much pressure and this does not aggravate the hemorrhoids. I would recommend you to: 1. Make sure you have plenty of fruit and vegetable a day- they have fibers and help with bowel movement. Plums have a lot of fiber so having 3-4 of them a day is good. 2. Extra fiber in diet bought over the counter like Psillium. Taking 1-2 a day might really improve your bowel movement and reduce hemorrhoids. 3. drinking plenty is good and advisable in this case 4. be active- physical activity (the opposite of sedentary lifestyle) helps bowel movement be easier 5. make sure you have a routine and follow it. If you routinely have a bowel movement this helps make bowel movement regular and easy. If you develop abdominal pain, or notice weight loss or blood is not bright red or is mixed with the stools than it would be good to see a doctor and very likely he will perform a rectoscopy first as it would visualize the hemorrhoids and other possible problems in the rectum. If not enough view to visualize the cause to justify the bleeding than colonscopy might be needed and ordered by your doctor. I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please let me know if anymore clarification is needed. Kind Regards Dr Antoneta Zotaj