I'm not really sure what blood in stool looks like, is this blood?

[yesno4567]

Is this blood? My stool looks like this from time to time.

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Dear yesno4567 ,Thank you for posting in Colon Cancer Connected.

This site doe not offer medical advice, but we are here to share our experience and offer our advice, but it should not replace speaking to your doctor. It is pretty hard to tell from a photo what's going on unless the blood is very obvious, which doesn't seem to be the case here. However, we recommend that you speak to a medical professional to find out for sure if there is blood in the stool and any issues.

There are many reasons for blood in the stool, some are very treatable with medication, diet change, and minor procedures, and of course, there are more serious reasons for blood in the stool as well. For that reason, we always advise patients to seek medical care when they have blood in the stool.

Depending on where you live and your insurance, you may start with a call to your primary care doctor. And with COVID, that may mean a video or phone call instead of an in-person office visit. There are stool tests that your doctor can order and bloodwork that your dr. can do, and that may determine if they refer you to a specialist. Your doctor may take a medical history including asking if any family members have had colorectal (bowel) cancer.

Before you speak to your doctor, be sure to have written down a list of all medications that you are currently taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Often, patients with GI issues will also keep a food journal to track food and beverage intake, bowel movements, any pain or bleeding, etc. This could be useful information for your doctor. Additionally, it could show you a pattern (for instance, possibly being lactose intolerant, if you experience diarrhea after eating dairy).

Please keep us posted, we're here for you!

~Nicole, GCCA Staff Member & Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[mondlee6248]

Hi, did you go for any scope checks??