Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Blood In Stool And Daytime Drowsiness
Question: Hi
I have an embarrassing problem. I am a 39 yr old female with no prior gastrointestinal problems--I think. I'm not completely sure since I never had a pediatrician. severe poverty prevented my family from seeing doctors. Anyway, for the past three or four months I have begun to see bright red blood in my stool. I am not feeling any pain, but my primary physician thinks this is the cause of iron deficiency anemia and has given me a gastroenterology consult in mid-August. He asked me if I feel weak which I don't think so, but really I mostly feel extreme daytime drowsiness and am concerned about the fact that the problem has been getting worse--i see blood in my stool more often and sometimes making the entire bowl a maroon color. My primary physician did a rectal exam and ruled out hemorrhoids and anal fissure, when I saw him on Friday. I was really surprised because I was convinced it would be one of these, so I am wondering what it could be and how serious it might be in order to press my GI doctor to get seen sooner, and what symptoms I should watch out for that are red flags to go directly to the ER.
THANKS aXXXX
I have a JPEG of my last bowel movement which had relative little blood if you want to see it.
I have an embarrassing problem. I am a 39 yr old female with no prior gastrointestinal problems--I think. I'm not completely sure since I never had a pediatrician. severe poverty prevented my family from seeing doctors. Anyway, for the past three or four months I have begun to see bright red blood in my stool. I am not feeling any pain, but my primary physician thinks this is the cause of iron deficiency anemia and has given me a gastroenterology consult in mid-August. He asked me if I feel weak which I don't think so, but really I mostly feel extreme daytime drowsiness and am concerned about the fact that the problem has been getting worse--i see blood in my stool more often and sometimes making the entire bowl a maroon color. My primary physician did a rectal exam and ruled out hemorrhoids and anal fissure, when I saw him on Friday. I was really surprised because I was convinced it would be one of these, so I am wondering what it could be and how serious it might be in order to press my GI doctor to get seen sooner, and what symptoms I should watch out for that are red flags to go directly to the ER.
THANKS aXXXX
I have a JPEG of my last bowel movement which had relative little blood if you want to see it.
Brief Answer:
The source of bleeding seems to be from large intestine
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query as well as the attached images and understand your concerns. Gastrointestinal bleeding can occur due to a number of reasons. It can be anywhere in
* Stomach - as in gastritis where you are likely to get problems due to hyperacidity. Besides, the blood will not be fresh. It will be black.
* Duodenum and small intestine - you are likely to get a central abdominal tenderness if there is an infection associated. Blood will be brown.
* Large intestine and rectum - it can be due to colitis (infection of the colon) or due to hemorrhoids. Blood in stool would be fresh as in your case. I would need to ask if the stool is hard. In case it is hard, it is more likely to be related to constipation and you need to use stool softeners. Sitz bath will be helpful. In case stool is not hard, I will suggest you to try a 5 day course of metronidazole and see if it provides relief.
Try out the measures suggested and if that does not help, visting doctor (or may be the ER) might help.
Regards
The source of bleeding seems to be from large intestine
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query as well as the attached images and understand your concerns. Gastrointestinal bleeding can occur due to a number of reasons. It can be anywhere in
* Stomach - as in gastritis where you are likely to get problems due to hyperacidity. Besides, the blood will not be fresh. It will be black.
* Duodenum and small intestine - you are likely to get a central abdominal tenderness if there is an infection associated. Blood will be brown.
* Large intestine and rectum - it can be due to colitis (infection of the colon) or due to hemorrhoids. Blood in stool would be fresh as in your case. I would need to ask if the stool is hard. In case it is hard, it is more likely to be related to constipation and you need to use stool softeners. Sitz bath will be helpful. In case stool is not hard, I will suggest you to try a 5 day course of metronidazole and see if it provides relief.
Try out the measures suggested and if that does not help, visting doctor (or may be the ER) might help.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
