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What Causes Intermittent Bright Red Rectal Bleeding?
Question: Dear Sir/Madam,
I experienced some rectal bleeding on one or two occasions over 12 months ago. The blood was bright red in colour nothing too significant- perhaps half an eggful or so.. I used to drink quite a bit of homemade soup at the time which was somewhat generous with chilli so I though I might have caused a stomach ulcer. I cut back on chilli and the bleeding stopped - coincidently or not I don't know.
I have experienced some rectal bleeding again over the last few days, again bright red and again nothing too significant around a half an egg cup full or so. I have not expperienced any weight loss and don't seem to have any other symptoms that I can think of.
Is this some form of ulcer that I possible antagonised with a few too many glasses of wine do you think or is it something that I need to investigate if it persists more than a few days?
Many thanks for your advice.
I experienced some rectal bleeding on one or two occasions over 12 months ago. The blood was bright red in colour nothing too significant- perhaps half an eggful or so.. I used to drink quite a bit of homemade soup at the time which was somewhat generous with chilli so I though I might have caused a stomach ulcer. I cut back on chilli and the bleeding stopped - coincidently or not I don't know.
I have experienced some rectal bleeding again over the last few days, again bright red and again nothing too significant around a half an egg cup full or so. I have not expperienced any weight loss and don't seem to have any other symptoms that I can think of.
Is this some form of ulcer that I possible antagonised with a few too many glasses of wine do you think or is it something that I need to investigate if it persists more than a few days?
Many thanks for your advice.
Brief Answer:
Needs to be evaluated.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Although you are having no other symptoms, I think your "bright red blood per rectum" needs to be evaluated.
Most likely it is coming from somewhere in your rectum or large intestine. It is less likely to be coming from your stomach. When there is stomach bleeding, the acid in the stomach changes the blood's appearance so that stools are black and tarry appearing. Unless there is a very brisk stomach bleed in which case it does appear bright red - but then there is a lot of blood, which has not been your situation.
So it is likely the problem is somewhere in the colon or rectum. Bleeding like this can come from rectal tears or fissures, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel (this is unlikely for you as you are not having pain) but can also come from polyps or growths in the colon.
I do not know how the Irish health care system works - if you have to start with a primary doctor or can go directly to a gastroenterologist.
The doctor will first have a look at the anus and rectum. If he/she is unable to find anything wrong there, you should have a colonoscopy, which in the US, is done by a gastroenterologist. The prep to clean you out before the procedure is not fun - but it is important to have a colonoscopy to see what is going on if no other problem is found first. The procedure itself doesn't hurt at all because you will be given a sedative so that you sleep through it. And you will feel fine afterwards.
So definitely do take action for this.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Needs to be evaluated.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Although you are having no other symptoms, I think your "bright red blood per rectum" needs to be evaluated.
Most likely it is coming from somewhere in your rectum or large intestine. It is less likely to be coming from your stomach. When there is stomach bleeding, the acid in the stomach changes the blood's appearance so that stools are black and tarry appearing. Unless there is a very brisk stomach bleed in which case it does appear bright red - but then there is a lot of blood, which has not been your situation.
So it is likely the problem is somewhere in the colon or rectum. Bleeding like this can come from rectal tears or fissures, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel (this is unlikely for you as you are not having pain) but can also come from polyps or growths in the colon.
I do not know how the Irish health care system works - if you have to start with a primary doctor or can go directly to a gastroenterologist.
The doctor will first have a look at the anus and rectum. If he/she is unable to find anything wrong there, you should have a colonoscopy, which in the US, is done by a gastroenterologist. The prep to clean you out before the procedure is not fun - but it is important to have a colonoscopy to see what is going on if no other problem is found first. The procedure itself doesn't hurt at all because you will be given a sedative so that you sleep through it. And you will feel fine afterwards.
So definitely do take action for this.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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