Seeing blood in your toilet, on your toilet paper, or on your stool is surely frightening. It signifies you are bleeding somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract. The reason can range from a simple, easily treated issue to a more serious condition. It is necessary to find out the source of any blood in stool. So, let’s discover when you should make an appointment with Dr. McFarlane at Hope Surgical.
Color Is Key
Our gastrointestinal system takes in the food we eat, helps to digest it, and then removes the waste. Bleeding can come from anywhere from our mouth to our rectum, so the color can give us some information. This includes our esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine or colon, rectum, and anus.
Blood in our stool usually looks bright red or a darker more maroonish color. When the source of the bleed is higher up in our gastro tract, the expelled blood will look darker or almost black since it takes longer for it to reach our rectum. However, brighter red blood is likely to be from your lower tract.
Other Variables
The extent of blood, the source of the blood, and the length of time you may have been bleeding are all important to determine how serious the condition could be. Sometimes you may not be aware of bleeding, and this is known as occult or hidden blood. A simple blood test or stool sample can indicate this problem.
Since blood in the stool can be caused by something treatable like hemorrhoids or as serious as colon cancer, finding out the source of the blood should be a priority. Make an appointment with a gastroenterologist at Hope Surgical in Port Huron, MI if you notice any blood in your stool. Getting a diagnosis and prompt treatment is of utmost importance.
When Rectal Bleeding Is An Emergency
Unless you already know any blood you see is from an identifiable problem, and it is being treated, you should always consult with a doctor.
There are also situations that dictate urgency. If you are experiencing bleeding and these other symptoms, it could be a medical emergency. Call your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room.
They include the following circumstances:
- Feeling dizzy or fainting
- Fever
- Sweating or having clammy skin
- Nausea or vomiting, especially if you are vomiting blood or what looks like coffee grounds
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vision problems
- Experience confusion
- Severe abdominal pain
- Less urine than normal
- Weight loss
Scheduling a Colonoscopy For Rectal Bleeding
Yes, you have heard recently that younger adults are getting colon cancer. The numbers are rising at a rapid rate, like 51% since 1994. You may also know that the American Cancer Society now recommends screenings should start at age 45, even for those with average risk. In addition, not only are more younger people in their thirties and forties being diagnosed but more are dying. If this is not enough to encourage you to schedule your screening, here are additional signs you may need to schedule a colonoscopy.
Certain risk factors will necessitate a screening before age 45 and more frequently than every 10 years. Talk with relatives about their own medical history especially anything relating to colon cancer.
Signs you may need a colonoscopy:
- No Relief After A Bowel Movement
- Changes In Bowel Habits
- Weakness And Fatigue
- Rectal Bleeding
- Abdominal Pain And Cramping
Screening is key to the prevention of colon cancer, and treatment is more likely to succeed if colorectal cancer is caught in its earliest stages. It is better if you have NO signs of colon cancer and yet schedule a colonoscopy or another type of screening.
Schedule a Consultation for Blood In Stool Treatment in Port Huron, MI Today!
If you notice signs of rectal bleeding it is important that you contact a physician who specializes in conditions such as this. Dr. McFarlane will be able to provide a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment options based on the particular cause of your rectal bleeding. To schedule a consultation at our general surgery center in Port Huron, MI, please call (810) 662-0400 today.