BLOOD IN STOOL. I'm worried 😭

[Miemie09]

I'm 21 years old. I'm suffering on and off blood in stool for 1 month😭 For the first time I saw i blood i consult a doctor online and prescribed me antibiotics for 1 week. And i saw an improvement because the blood in stool decrease. I thought i will be okay after taking antibiotics. But after 3 days i saw again a blood. Sometimes there's blood sometimes not. I consult a gastroenterologist and he said maybe it is due to hemorrhoids. And yes i do have hemorrhoids i can feel it but it does not cause any pain. He prescribed me a medicine for hemorrhoids for 1 month. I am already taking it for 1 week. But i can still see blood in my stool 😭 This photo was taken a while ago after i poop. Is there someone who has the same symptoms with me? I am super worried. I don't know what's going on in my body.

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Dear Miemie09 ,

Thank you for posting in Colon Cancer Connected. I'm sorry that these symptoms are causing you anxiety.

It sounds like all appointments have been virtual so far - do you know if there is an opportunity for an in-person appointment so you can be physically examined? Can you contact the doctor's office to ask?

When you experience blood in the stool, the doctor will often perform a DRE (digital rectal exam) where they will both look and feel with their gloved fingers, to see if an any anal fissure (tears in the anus), hemorrhoids, or something else that could be causing the bleeding. Depending on the DRE results, any symptoms you are experiencing, family history, other factors, etc. your doctor will determine if further tests need to be performed.

There are many causes 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.

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.