You need to either go to the ER tonight or make an appointment with a G.I. (stomach specialist) first thing in the morning.
You may have a bleeding ulcer.
What color is the blood?
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or small intestine. Left untreated, a peptic ulcer can cause internal bleeding. When this occurs, doctors refer to this as a bleeding ulcer. Peptic ulcers can also cause a hole in the wall of your stomach or small intestine. This puts you at risk of serious infection of your abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
Signs and symptoms of a bleeding ulcer include:
* Black, tarry, loose stools, sometimes with abdominal cramps
* Vomiting blood, which may appear bright red or black like coffee grounds
Peptic ulcers usually cause pain due to stomach acid washing over the open sore. But when bleeding occurs, it may buffer the acid and decrease the pain. About 10 percent of people with bleeding ulcers don't have pain.
Treatment of a bleeding ulcer depends on the underlying cause. Acid blockers may temporarily relieve pain. If bleeding is severe, treatment may require endoscopy or surgery.
There are many possible reasons for blood in your stool. Some are harmless and temporary, while others may signal a more serious condition. Anytime you find blood in your stool, it's always best to check it out with your doctor.
Finding blood in your stool can be alarming. Often, the underlying cause can be treated or controlled. Even if the condition isn't serious, early diagnosis is essential.
Causes are varied
Bleeding from your rectum can occur for many reasons, including:
* Constipation. Passing hard, dry stools may scrape or tear your anal lining. You may notice small drops or streaks of bright red blood on your stool, on your toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl.
* Hemorrhoids. These swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum are another source of rectal bleeding. Again, you may notice small drops or streaks of bright red blood on your stool, on your toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl.
* Diverticular bleeding. Diverticula are small, bulging pouches in the large intestine. Diverticula may cause painless but sometimes severe bleeding.
* Infection. Some bowel infections cause diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and fever may be present as well. These infections are usually caused by eating contaminated food.
* Colon polyps. A polyp is a small clump of cells. Although most colon polyps are harmless, some may eventually become cancerous. You may notice bright red blood on the toilet paper after you've had a bowel movement.
* Peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach, upper small intestine or esophagus. Sometimes the sores bleed. In addition to upper abdominal pain, you may notice dark blood in your stools or black, tarry stools .
* Inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease. These often painful and debilitating conditions cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Food moving through your digestive tract can cause the inflamed tissue to bleed. You may notice bright red blood in the toilet bowl or darker blood mixed with your stool.
* Lack of blood supply to the bowel. If the blood flow to your small intestine or colon is reduced, you may develop intestinal ischemia. This may cause bright red- or maroon-colored blood in your stool.
* Colorectal cancer. Most colon and rectal cancers begin as small, harmless clumps of cells called polyps. Eventually, some of these polyps may become cancerous. You may notice rectal bleeding, along with a change in bowel habits, narrow stools, abdominal discomfort, a feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely and unexplained weight loss.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
* Constipation
* Hemorrhoids
* Diverticulitis
* Colon polyps
* Peptic ulcer
* Crohn's disease
* Intestinal ischemia
* Colon cancer
When to see your doctor
Consult your doctor at the first sign of rectal bleeding. Often, the bleeding is temporary and easily treated. Sometimes, however, the bleeding may be a warning sign of something more serious. Prompt diagnosis and treatment could save your life.
Edited by Two_Westies on April 9 2006 at 8:51pm
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