What Causes Blood In Stool When Diagnosed With Anal Fissure?

Question: I recently checked into the hospital because I had some bleeding and pain in the rectal area, and pain in my left side plus lower back pain combined with frequent urination. They gave me a CT scan. Let me give you some background first though. On my regular checkup a year ago they found a trace of blood in my stool so they gave me a colonoscopy. The test came back normal. However in XXXXXXX of this year I noticed a trace of blood on wiping after a BM and went in again. They said it was likely an anal fissure so they gave me a suppository and Proctodan..plus Restorlax to soften the stool. That seemed to work for awhile..A few days ago I woke up to the pain in my side and back and other symptoms I described...Upon having a BM that morning again there was blood on the surface of the stool.. Even more so than what was there in XXXXXXX and increased pain and burning especially when I am walking. The stool has been very thin and soft. I have been treated for the past 20 years or so for chronic prostitus and am now back on antibiotics again....Thats the background...yesterday I got the results of the scan....What it showed was a distended bladder, an enlarged postage and some cloudiness in the rectal area which the family doctor described as possible inflammation. They are now going to refer me to a surgeon but here in Canada it may take awhile to get an appointment...In the meantime I have trouble even sitting down or walking and pain in the anal area. No blood today or yesterday after BM. I would be interested in your thoughts on this and any recommendations you might have concerning both but particularly the pain and occasional bleeding and is it possible for an anal fissure to keep recurring for such a long period of time...Thanks

Hi...Thanks for your answer...I did have my urine checked. Showed no infection I assume as they didn't tell me at the hospital..What they said was the prostate was enlarged on the CT scan and the bladder was distended so they gave me antibiotics for prosititus and, Flomax to drain the bladder...The creme they gave me today for the suspected fissure is nifedipine compound.....A question though as this concerns me....Over the years I have had hard stools from time to time..I have been using a rubber glove and been using hydrated body lotion formulated with aloe, on the glove to remove the stools manually.....I have now heard lotions of this type are not for internal use....Am i looking for skeletons or could it be that that usage has caused the problem. Thanks,

my follow-up question is this.....I just had the CT scan 3 days ago which my family doctor said revealed some cloudiness in the anal area,and an enlarged prostate... They have been treating me for the past couple of months for suspected anal fissur and acute non-bacterial postititus as I mentioned in a previous email.Usually it takes weeks up here to see an attending surgeon but they have already scheduled a review with the surgeon in just a few days......What should I read into this.....if anything...Looking for your honest opinion.

Hi Doc....I have been on Restorlax for 4 days now and taking ultra fibre supplements to soften stools and induce BM's. I am drinking lots of water 4-6 cups per day... Still taking the meds for prostate inflammation(Doxycycline, and Flomax...I have had small bowel movements over the past few days but they are very very strained. The burning sensation I had last week on a BM is no longer there but Still have that dull throbbing pain all the time in the rectal area. I cannot understand why I am still having problems with constipation when I am taking things to assist bowel movements. I don't believe I should really have to strain to induce a BM and I am afraid if I push too hard it will re-open the fissure....Any ideas on this? Thanks

Hi....I have just come from the surgeon....They did notice what they thought was a fissure close to the anal opening so all good there.. Thats what was causing the bleeding from the rectum..However the bit of cloudiness picked up by the CT scan was higher up so they have scheduled a sigmoidoscopy to check the small bowel for hemmoroids, polyps....I had a complete colonoscopy last year and it was clear when it came back......I thought a colonoscopy checked everything.......I have had some problems with constipation in the past ten years off and on... Stool changes and bowel habits have been up and down for me for 25 years....I have not lost any weight at all though, no jaundice, have had some mild abdominal pain(gas, and bloating) mostly last year before the colononoscopy and it still picked up nothing.
So, my question to you is this....What are the chances that I have small bowel cancer now that the CT scan actually picked up? Would like your honest opinion...Thanks

Thanks for your response....here is a followup question based on that....When they took the CT scan I was suffering from chronic non bacterial prostitus, a distended bladder and what they said was an enlarged prostate.. I have had this problem off and on for years, and this time was a very bad episode..My question is this...Could it be possible that the cloudiness picked up in the rectal area was inflammation from the nearby prostate and the prostitus? Also, as my colonoscopy from last year was clear what are the odds that a noticeable polyp in the colon could develop that quickly ...and .Finally, what are the things that could be in the colon that COULD cause some cloudiness on a CT scan Very curious about that.... Thanks

I would ask you to explain the wording in laymen's terms from the CT scan if you would.."There is a mild haziness along the left side of the rectal serosa, stranding of the mesorectal fat, nonspecific. No gross evidence of an obstruction rectal lesion, no bowel obstructions. Remainder of colon is unremarkable. Appendix, terminal ileum and small bowel loops are grossly unremarkable."

The urinary bladder is distended with no focal abnormality. Postate gland is enlarged.

Superior segment of the lingula has milds stelectasis" Thanks

I still have not heard from you in regards to the above question...Does stranding of the mesorectal fat(non-specific) on the CT scan mean in most cases there is cancer present? The ct scan made no mention of thickened bowel wall or evidence of growth..so is that good? I am really worried about this and I need your XXXXXXX answer. Thank you in advance