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What Causes Red Discoloration In Stool While On Probiotics?
Question: I started probiotics 4 days ago because I heard they were good for the stomach. I noticed my poop got softer the longer I took them. One morning my poop was almost too soft and not of very good consistency and I was pooping 2-3 times a day so I stopped taking the probiotics. After eating a few banannas and 24 hours later I had a normal BP again. This morning I woke up and had what I thought was normal BM but when I turned around to flush I notice red spots lightly embedded on the outside of the BM. It was only located in several clusters on the end of the BM and only on the right side of that end... I didn't see it anywhere else on the BM. I did eat red peppers 2 days ago and first thought It was that... however, it worried me that it wasn't embedded elsewhere in the BM and only on that side and end. Should I be worried this is blood or should I just watch my next few BMs to see if it goes away. If it is just a one time thing.... should I not worry? Do I need to see my GI doc?
Brief Answer:
There is completely no reason to be worried.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
No, you should nor worry at all. First of all please note that the most serious disease of the digestive tract (colon cancer) does not appear at your age. It can happen only in extremely rare cases and is always associated with hereditary disease (which runs in the family). So if there was no colon cancer in your family which has appeared in young age, you have no reason to be worried.
Blood on the stool surface which is bright red always comes from the last part of the digestive tract (rectum). And in most cases it is due hemorrhoids.
However such blood is usually present as a longitudinal trace of blood, not just spots.
So in my opinion what you have seen was not even a blood. Most likely it was from the food (peppers can be the reason, even if not whole stool is with this spots).
So in conclusion, please ignore it. There is no reason to be worried. You should see the next few stools. If the spots appear again, you should have stool tests done and rectal examination (not a colonoscopy).
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
There is completely no reason to be worried.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
No, you should nor worry at all. First of all please note that the most serious disease of the digestive tract (colon cancer) does not appear at your age. It can happen only in extremely rare cases and is always associated with hereditary disease (which runs in the family). So if there was no colon cancer in your family which has appeared in young age, you have no reason to be worried.
Blood on the stool surface which is bright red always comes from the last part of the digestive tract (rectum). And in most cases it is due hemorrhoids.
However such blood is usually present as a longitudinal trace of blood, not just spots.
So in my opinion what you have seen was not even a blood. Most likely it was from the food (peppers can be the reason, even if not whole stool is with this spots).
So in conclusion, please ignore it. There is no reason to be worried. You should see the next few stools. If the spots appear again, you should have stool tests done and rectal examination (not a colonoscopy).
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
one last question... for the past 5 years I have noticed occasional stringy clear mucus which comes out of my rectum area. I usually notice it after a BM I believe. It is not all the time.... just occasionally. Is this worrisome?also since high school... I get these XXXXXXX horse cramping in my rectum area. Obviously I have had them for over 10+ years. They come and go about 5-7 times a year. When they happen I have sat on the toilet thinking maybe I need to have a BM. I learned quickly not to do that because it hurts way to bad. If I lay on my left side and relax for a few minutes it goes away. Sometimes I swear it feels like something is spasming inside. Can your rectum have a spasm? My dad says he gets the same feeling also. Maybe something hereditary? All his colonoscopies have been normal.
Brief Answer:
Mucus is not a worrisome symptom.
Detailed Answer:
Mucus is constantly produced by intestinal cells. So it is present in every stool, just in a small amount.
It becomes more visible in case of constipation, infection or hemorrhoids. For sure it is not worrisome. It could be serious symptom if it were present along with bloody stools. In such case, Crohns disease could be possible.
But in your case its rather a sign of stool patter changes.
If its about rectum pain, this is not a hereditary issue. Please note that women are much different in this area than are. To the women rectum, uterine is attached. If its about men, prostate is close to the rectum.
So the rectal pain in your case is from uterine. It can be due to menses or be a sign of some other uterine issues. It would be good to consult gynecologist.
If its about your father, he may have prostate inflammation or even something more serious. He should have PSA level checked and consult urologist.
Mucus is not a worrisome symptom.
Detailed Answer:
Mucus is constantly produced by intestinal cells. So it is present in every stool, just in a small amount.
It becomes more visible in case of constipation, infection or hemorrhoids. For sure it is not worrisome. It could be serious symptom if it were present along with bloody stools. In such case, Crohns disease could be possible.
But in your case its rather a sign of stool patter changes.
If its about rectum pain, this is not a hereditary issue. Please note that women are much different in this area than are. To the women rectum, uterine is attached. If its about men, prostate is close to the rectum.
So the rectal pain in your case is from uterine. It can be due to menses or be a sign of some other uterine issues. It would be good to consult gynecologist.
If its about your father, he may have prostate inflammation or even something more serious. He should have PSA level checked and consult urologist.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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