I have a herniated disc in my lower back L5-S1. I've had sciatic pain from it for about 2 1/2 months. My doctor just prescibed a medrol dose pak to take for 6 days. Today is day 6 and when I went to the bathroom this morning, I noticed brigtht red blood after my bowel movement. At first I thought I had stomach bleeding (which I've read to be a possible side effect of the medrol), but the more I read, the more I realize that bright red blood in stool is not typically indicative of stomach bleeding (i.e. it is usually brown or black by the time it reaches the stool). Could these two things be related? Or is it perhaps just coincidence? I have read that consitpation can sometimes lead to blood in stool, and I do believe I was constipated over the past couple weeks. Do I need to see a doctor right away? Or should I monitor for a couple days?