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What Causes Blood In Stool?
Thank you! I have had a small amout of blood in my stool for the last two days. I have been on perscription antibiotics for a dental issue for a week and have had a small amout of constipation as a result. My question is, can I wait a few days to see if this caused by the anti-biotic or should I immediately seek medical attention? I am male, 46 no other health issues or medication other than the recent codeine and antibiotic for the toothache.No other symptoms. Thanks again!
Fri, 31 Mar 2017
Hello,
Thank you for your query. I understand your concerns.
You have mentioned that you have been given codeine and antibiotics and that you are also having constipation. I feel the small amount of blood in your stool is due to constipation which can happen if a patient is taking codeine. Antibiotics do not normally cause blood in the stool.
When a person is constipated his stool may be hard and he may also strain to push out the stool out of the back passage. Hard stool when pushed out with pressure causes small lacerations/cuts on the delicate lining of the back passage. This causes blood to appear in the stool.
I think you could wait until you finish your course of codeine. One your stools have become normal and you are not constipated anymore, check if you have any more bleeding from your back passage. If bleeding recurs, then kindly see your doctor.
To reduce constipation, drink plenty of water, eat lot of fibre in your diet like salads, vegetables and fruits. If you can’t eat fibre you could take a fibre laxative like Fybogel - mix 1 teaspoon in glass of water and take once or twice a day. If taking additional fibre does not relieve the constipation, you could take Lactulose 15 mls once or twice a day.
Of course if the bleeding from your back passage worsens, if you start having any lower abdominal pain or any diarrhoea, the kindly see your doctor sooner.
Regards
Dr Sunita Sayammagaru
Thank you for your query. I understand your concerns.
You have mentioned that you have been given codeine and antibiotics and that you are also having constipation. I feel the small amount of blood in your stool is due to constipation which can happen if a patient is taking codeine. Antibiotics do not normally cause blood in the stool.
When a person is constipated his stool may be hard and he may also strain to push out the stool out of the back passage. Hard stool when pushed out with pressure causes small lacerations/cuts on the delicate lining of the back passage. This causes blood to appear in the stool.
I think you could wait until you finish your course of codeine. One your stools have become normal and you are not constipated anymore, check if you have any more bleeding from your back passage. If bleeding recurs, then kindly see your doctor.
To reduce constipation, drink plenty of water, eat lot of fibre in your diet like salads, vegetables and fruits. If you can’t eat fibre you could take a fibre laxative like Fybogel - mix 1 teaspoon in glass of water and take once or twice a day. If taking additional fibre does not relieve the constipation, you could take Lactulose 15 mls once or twice a day.
Of course if the bleeding from your back passage worsens, if you start having any lower abdominal pain or any diarrhoea, the kindly see your doctor sooner.
Regards
Dr Sunita Sayammagaru
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