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What Causes Blood In Stool?

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Posted on Fri, 7 Apr 2017
Question: I'm 23 years old female who is 18 weeks pregnant since almost the start of pregnancy I have been having a lot of bowel movement issues. I first noticed red bright blood in my stool even in the days where I was not very constipated but the blood was not always there. I feel so bloated even if I drink only water, there are always sound in my abdomen and sometimes I have cramps in my abdomen that feels like diarrhea cramps but I end up going to the bathroom with difficulties emptying my bowl (constipation). And recently when I have cramps I use the bathroom and only release a small piece of stool and the rest are something like orange mucous. I have seen a gastroenterologist and have done abdominal ultrasound, stool test, blood test and every thing came back normal to blood in stool no infections. They have also checked for hemmaroids and said that I have tiny internally hemmaroids and the area was a bit swallowed and red. However the mucus that I recently see it inside the toiled freaks me out
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Irritable bowel overlaped with Hemorrhoids.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear,
Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query,

Have gone through all your details and i appreciate your concern.

After going through your complete history it seems that you are having symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome overlapped with internal hemorrhoids.IBS is usually a diagnosis of exclusion,As your Ultrasound,Bloodtest and stool tests are all normal.Only test left is Colonoscopy.Once colonoscopy is normal(after your delivery) you could be treated on guidelines of irritable bowel syndrome.

Let me initially give you a brief idea about IBS-
IBS is a common intestinal disorder causing pain in the stomach, gas, diarrhea and constipation. Irritation of mucosa causes increased secretion of mucous. It may not fully be cured, but the condition can be kept under control diet and lifestyle changes and in severe cases with medication and treatment.
During pregnancy-
The colon becomes hypersensitive due to increased pressure over it by an external stimulation(fetus). This causes muscle spasm causing diarrhea or constipation.Apart from that pregnancy cause a number of hormonal alterations in body causing imbalance in chemicals like serotonin and gastrin which are responsible for the communication between the brain and the digestive system,This causes the muscles in the bowel not to squeeze normally, causing diarrhea or constipation.

All the symptoms you are having are typical of IBS,It presents with symptoms like diarrhea and /or constipation often alternatingwith each other, stomach cramps, gas and bloating etc.
\AS you are pregnant now we have to wait till labour,As some times tthese physiological changes settles down by itself after child birth plus Colonoscopy is to be done to rule out inflammatory bowel disease and other condition mimicking IBS.

At present i would not recommend you to take any medicine,Just follow life style and diet modifications-
-Avoid coffee tea and sugary sodas
-Drink 8 glasses of water per day and time your water intake as per your food
-Limit fatty foods, milk and cheese
-Add wholesome fiber to your food.
-Take Metamucil daily it will increase bulk of stool.
-A probiotic should be taken regularly.

For hemorrhoids a digital rectal examination should be done by surgeon.

I hope i answered your query well.
Feel free to follow up.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (25 minutes later)
Thank you doctor,
I have just attached a picture so you would know what kind of mucose i'm taking about. And for now i'm not in my home country so shall i see a gynacologist as soo as possible or no need for now ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up query.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again Dear,
Have seen both the images.
Floating mucous are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can't absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you're ingesting.However mucous in stool can be due to irritable bowel also.The only way intestine responds to an irritant is by increasing secretion of mucous and increasing rate of peristalsis,As fast moving mucous can not be effectively absorbed it appears in stools.Slight pinkish tinge is because of internal hemorrhoids.As you are pregnant right now no further intervention can be done or is suggested.

Follow all my suggestion.Don't panic as stool tests are normal.You will feel better in a week or two.
As per your question you need a internal medicine doctor and not a Gynecologist.

Regards
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 2906 Questions

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What Causes Blood In Stool?

Brief Answer: Irritable bowel overlaped with Hemorrhoids. Detailed Answer: Hi Dear, Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query, Have gone through all your details and i appreciate your concern. After going through your complete history it seems that you are having symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome overlapped with internal hemorrhoids.IBS is usually a diagnosis of exclusion,As your Ultrasound,Bloodtest and stool tests are all normal.Only test left is Colonoscopy.Once colonoscopy is normal(after your delivery) you could be treated on guidelines of irritable bowel syndrome. Let me initially give you a brief idea about IBS- IBS is a common intestinal disorder causing pain in the stomach, gas, diarrhea and constipation. Irritation of mucosa causes increased secretion of mucous. It may not fully be cured, but the condition can be kept under control diet and lifestyle changes and in severe cases with medication and treatment. During pregnancy- The colon becomes hypersensitive due to increased pressure over it by an external stimulation(fetus). This causes muscle spasm causing diarrhea or constipation.Apart from that pregnancy cause a number of hormonal alterations in body causing imbalance in chemicals like serotonin and gastrin which are responsible for the communication between the brain and the digestive system,This causes the muscles in the bowel not to squeeze normally, causing diarrhea or constipation. All the symptoms you are having are typical of IBS,It presents with symptoms like diarrhea and /or constipation often alternatingwith each other, stomach cramps, gas and bloating etc. \AS you are pregnant now we have to wait till labour,As some times tthese physiological changes settles down by itself after child birth plus Colonoscopy is to be done to rule out inflammatory bowel disease and other condition mimicking IBS. At present i would not recommend you to take any medicine,Just follow life style and diet modifications- -Avoid coffee tea and sugary sodas -Drink 8 glasses of water per day and time your water intake as per your food -Limit fatty foods, milk and cheese -Add wholesome fiber to your food. -Take Metamucil daily it will increase bulk of stool. -A probiotic should be taken regularly. For hemorrhoids a digital rectal examination should be done by surgeon. I hope i answered your query well. Feel free to follow up. Regards