Seeing blood in your toilet, on your toilet paper, or on your stool is surely frightening. It signifies you are bleeding somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract. The reason can range from a simple, easily treated issue to a more serious condition. It is necessary to find out the source of any blood in stool. So, let’s discover when you should make an appointment with GI Solutions of Illinois.
Color Is Key
Our gastrointestinal system takes in the food we eat, helps to digest it, and then removes the waste. Bleeding can come from anywhere from our mouth to our rectum, so the color can give us some information. This includes our esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine or colon, rectum, and anus.
Blood in our stool usually looks bright red or a darker more maroonish color. When the source of the bleed is higher up in our gastro tract, the expelled blood will look darker or almost black since it takes longer for it to reach our rectum. However, brighter red blood is likely to be from your lower tract.
Other Variables
The extent of blood, the source of the blood, and the length of time you may have been bleeding are all important to determine how serious the condition could be. Sometimes you may not be aware of bleeding, and this is known as occult, or hidden blood. A simple blood test or stool sample can indicate this problem.
Since blood in the stool can be caused by something treatable like hemorrhoids or as serious as colon cancer, finding out the source of the blood should be a priority. Make an appointment with a gastroenterologist at GI Solutions of Illinois in Chicago, IL if you notice any blood in your stool. Getting a diagnosis and prompt treatment is of utmost importance.
When Rectal Bleeding Is An Emergency
Unless you already know any blood you see is from an identifiable problem, and it is being treated, you should always consult with a doctor.
There are also situations which dictate urgency. If you are experiencing bleeding and these other symptoms, it could be a medical emergency. Call your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room.
They include the following circumstances:
- Feeling dizzy or fainting
- Fever
- Sweating or having clammy skin
- Nausea or vomiting, especially if you are vomiting blood or what looks like coffee grounds
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vision problems
- Experience confusion
- Severe abdominal pain
- Less urine than normal
- Weight loss
Sources:
Rectal Bleeding: Causes, Colors, Tests & When To Call The Doctor (clevelandclinic.org)
Gastrointestinal Bleeding or Blood in the Stool | Johns Hopkins Medicine
