What could small, faint, red streaks of read on your stool be?

Question

Im 19, and just recently began noticing that occasionally, i see faint red streaks on my stools...I get scared if its blood or something, but when i went to the doctor, he assured me its nothing serious, after doing this pressure test thing on my abdomen and said everythings fine....even though my doctor said its nothing and even my dad says it too, im a bit of a hypochondriac and still worry..The stools look normal and all..normal color, normal size and shape, and im not constipated, dont have diahreaa, and never have stomach cramps or anything bad like thast....its just when i see, what looks like a normal colored stool, with a small faint splotch of red on the end where it initially came out, and sort of streaks down, very faintly though, not very noticeable unless u go to check....anyways i was just wondering if i should worry or not or if it happens to anyone else.

Answer 1

could be the result of backdoor banditry

Answer 2

Pressing on your abdomen is NOT an adequate exam or assessment if you think you are seeing blood in your stool. The chances are that all you have are tiny anal fissures that will heal themselves and leave a bit of blood on the stool, but there is the small possibility that something more serious is going on. The red could even come from foods you eat or even red threads from clothing, but it sounds more like slight blood streaking.

At a minimum, a stool guiac test should be done to see of there is occult (hidden) blood on the inside of the stool. A blood test to be sure you aren'y anemic from a hidden source of bleeding is also reasonable and very inexpensive, as is the hemoocult test I mentioned.

Even hypochondriacs get sick on occasion. If this doctor did not do a rectal exam and even some minimal testing, I would be less than comfortable with the quality of care. Get a second opinion if you possibly can. If it is nothing, it will reassure you and if there is a problem, the sooner fixed the better.

Write out your observations and concerns before seeing the doctor and be prepared to ask why no exam or diagnostic testing is being done AND what should alert you to make another appointment, like how long such symptoms are OK to ignore.

If your gut feeling tells you something is not right, it very often means something isn't right. Don't be afraid to mention your worries about being a hypochondriac, either.

Answer 3

Could be something you're eating or drinking. If you drink Mountain Dew Code Red, or some other red food or beverage, red dye can make its way to your stool.

Other possibility is that you have a small hemmorhoid that is bleeding a little. You may not even feel it. It should go away.

In general, small amounts of red blood in stool is OK, because it's new blood. Old blood, indicating a serious problem, is usually undetectable to the naked eye because it's generally the same color as the stool. So if you had a real bad problem, the appearance of your stool would not be the first symptom you noticed.

Answer 4

It's probably not much. You most likely have an internal hemorrhoid. The reason that I would say that is that the blood is bright red, as if it is new. That means that it's something very near the anus and most likley not serious.

Now, if hte blood were black, as if it were old, that would be a reason to go to the doctor now. That would indicate a bleed soemwhere high in the intestine, and the most common reason for that is cancer.

However, yours doesnot sound like cancer.

If you are still uncomfortable, you could insist that you get a colonoscopy, and then you (or your insurance carrier) could spend a thousand dollars (or a bit more) for it. Your doctor would have to order it, though.

But the symptoms are not of anything to worry about. Bright red blood is more common than you may know. I've had it for years, and guess what, it's no big thing. My every colonoscopy (since I'm rather older than you are, I've had a few of these--hated them) has been negative. I only have a little unhappy vein near the rectum that leaks every now and then. Ah well.

At this point I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 5

You could get a second opinion from another Doctor if you are that worried. It probably isn't anything to worry about, but you should not have that in your stools. It actually could be something red you are eating, or you could need to ask your Doctor for a stool check for occult blood. NEVER take a layman's answer for anything that has to do with your body that you are concerned about. That why we go to college for the medical field. I am a nurse, and don't give out any diagnosis to anyone. That's what Doctors go to school for. Good Luck, and see another Doctor to reassure that you are O.K.

Answer 6

The IBS symptoms sound exactly right. It does sound like a fissure or hemorrhoid, regardless of the wiping. It's sensible you are doing the best you can to reassure yourself medically, and your explanation of your symptoms is clear and informed. If you get nothing obvious in the ultrasound can I suggest something? It's a larger picture approach. This worry of illness will create stress that increases IBS. Relaxation, exercise and diet are key to getting IBS under control and the peppermint oil based capsules help. IBS is particular to each person. I am sure that when you manage your IBS and it settles, that you will no longer see blood. IBS is not a precondition to colon cancer but it does create stress on the colon's delicate muscles and surfaces and what you're describing is common. Take a breath and be as informed as you are, but don't let your concerns or the necessarily narrow medical focus of your doctors distract you from the bigger picture of healthy self-care and giving yourself a break. Everything that you are describing sounds common to my own experience and research on IBS. I send my good wishes on your healthy recovery.

Answer 7

Don't worry. Everything is fine. Seeing bright red blood in your stools is probably the result of hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Anal fissures are small cracks in your skin that are caused by straining from frequent constipation that are easily broken open again. Red blood in your stools means that the blood is oxygenated, and it is not internal in source. The only time you should be concerned about blood in your stool is if your stools appear tarry and black. Blood that has not been exposed to oxygen will appear very dark, and that means the blood is coming from inside your intestinal tract. You can also have anal bleeding as the result of eating spicy foods that cause your feces to be abrasive the sensitive skin as they come out. All of these problems are temporary and nothing for you to be overly concerned about.

Answer 8

You best find a Dr that will give you a through exam to find the problem. Your Dad doesn't want to spend the money for you on doctors. Doctors miss diagonis problems regularly. My friend went to 5 different doctors with her problem and basically got the same answer of nothing wrong. The 6th Dr. found cervical cancer and gave her 6 months to live.

Answer 9

Hemorrhoids are associated with constipation and straining at bowel movements. How to get rid of hemorrhoids https://tr.im/QEwnC
Pregnancy is also associated with hemorrhoids. These conditions lead to increased pressure within the hemorrhoidal veins that causes them to swell. Other conditions, for example chronic liver disease, may also cause increased venous pressure and may be associated with hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are very common and are estimated to occur in up to one-half of the population by age 50.

Answer 10

It could be the signs of the beginning of hemorroids, or perhaps a boil that is bursting and getting infected at intervals. Your best bet is to go to your doctor and get an examination, if for no other reason than to put your mind at ease.

Answer 11

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