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Hi, After I Ate A Heavy Meal Last Night, Earlier
Question: Hi, after I ate a heavy meal last night, earlier today I vomited and have had continuous diarrhea. The latter is now just watery with blood. I’m concerned about the blood. I went to the ER, they performed a stool test which was negative. They told me it could be that my rectum is irritated from the diarrhea, but that there is no blood in the actual stool. It just seems like too much blood for it to just be a hemorrhoid. The color is red/pinkish and looks like watered down mucous. Please advise.
Brief Answer:
Common in bacterial enteritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Blood in stool during gastroenteritis is usually seen in infection with shigella bacterium.A simple routine and microscopy test often misses out bacteria's unless they have really large colonies or infection is very severe.So a test called stool culture should be done where stool laden with bacteria's would be cultured on a medium(food for bacteria) to form their colonies.This will take 48 to 72 hours.If there is bacteria in stool it would form large number of colonies.
In case you have problem of hemorrhoid then definitely yes blood could be due to hemorrhoid bleed.
During gastroenteritis the inflammed mucosa of intestine is usually irritated by food.Some times there could be small breeches causing mild bleeding.
As of now unless the episode repeats itself or amount of blood is high no need to worry.
As very likely its bacterial gastroenteritis take complete course of Ofloxacin and Tinidazole.Avoid imodium as it causes stagnation of bacteria in intestines.Drink plenty of electrolyte and have soft easily digestible food.
In case the episode repeats itself revert back.
Hope i was helpful.
Feel free to follow up.
Thanks and regards!
Common in bacterial enteritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Blood in stool during gastroenteritis is usually seen in infection with shigella bacterium.A simple routine and microscopy test often misses out bacteria's unless they have really large colonies or infection is very severe.So a test called stool culture should be done where stool laden with bacteria's would be cultured on a medium(food for bacteria) to form their colonies.This will take 48 to 72 hours.If there is bacteria in stool it would form large number of colonies.
In case you have problem of hemorrhoid then definitely yes blood could be due to hemorrhoid bleed.
During gastroenteritis the inflammed mucosa of intestine is usually irritated by food.Some times there could be small breeches causing mild bleeding.
As of now unless the episode repeats itself or amount of blood is high no need to worry.
As very likely its bacterial gastroenteritis take complete course of Ofloxacin and Tinidazole.Avoid imodium as it causes stagnation of bacteria in intestines.Drink plenty of electrolyte and have soft easily digestible food.
In case the episode repeats itself revert back.
Hope i was helpful.
Feel free to follow up.
Thanks and regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you for your prompt response I went to the emergency room again and because I had bowel movements about seven times which consisted of about 4 tablespoons of blood with liquid and no stools. They told me that I will need a colonoscopy to rule out diverticulitis, colitis, or colon cancer. This is all very scary to me because I have never had rectal bleeding other than hemorrhoids after constipation. In your opinion, are all these things more possible than just a simple bacteria causing the bleeding?
Today I haven’t used the restroom. But I also haven’t had anything to eat in two days and I’m afraid to eat anything because I don’t want to experience the bloody diarrhea coming back.
Thank you for your feedback.
Today I haven’t used the restroom. But I also haven’t had anything to eat in two days and I’m afraid to eat anything because I don’t want to experience the bloody diarrhea coming back.
Thank you for your feedback.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again my dear patient,
Sorry to hear about that.
As per me yes as the amount of blood is increasing and is recurrent a colonoscopy should be done to rule out pathology other then bacterial or protozoal infection.
Are you on any medications for gastroenteritis?
Have you taken medication suggested?
please reply
waiting!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again my dear patient,
Sorry to hear about that.
As per me yes as the amount of blood is increasing and is recurrent a colonoscopy should be done to rule out pathology other then bacterial or protozoal infection.
Are you on any medications for gastroenteritis?
Have you taken medication suggested?
please reply
waiting!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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