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Global_Monk_5778 t1_j26bwp9 wrote

My husband just got checked out for this. Bright red blood is fresh blood and therefore it’s new and from around the anus - most likely tears. Cancer is from deeper within and therefore the blood is darker, more brown and older as it’s had to travel through you. Or that’s what he was told. He had to give a sample and everything was fine. Of course please please go get checked out and get a sample taken but everything may be ok. Worrying about it will be giving you a bad stomach anyway. You could have a rupture. You could have any number of things going on, but the original doc should have checked you over properly not just given you movicol. Fingers crossed OP.

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Im_InYour_Balls OP t1_j26kfk1 wrote

Thank you so much. My fingers are also crossed. I’m hoping next year will be better

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Knickers_in_a_twist_ t1_j26ycet wrote

I can’t believe in mentioning this on reddit for the third time in just as many days, but if you ever notice black poop after taking some pepto bismol (you mention of bowl movement issues brought this to mind) don’t have a huge freak out. The bismuth in pepto can turn some of your poop black.

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Im_InYour_Balls OP t1_j27kyib wrote

I haven’t black stool or pepto bismol ever. Just black specks in stool and on toilet paper.

Isn’t pepto bismol supposed to be good for the stomach??

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Lumpy-Ad-3201 t1_j291rys wrote

Pepto is composed of pink bismuth, and even though it works, doctors aren't completely sure exactly why. They have some strong theories that make sense medically, but the exact mechanism isn't known. When you digest it, your body breaks it down to bismuth and other things. Since bismuth is essentially inert in the digestive system, it gets moved out as what it is: ultra-fine particles of a dull grey metal.

It makes poops turn grey or black, in some cases. Totally normal.

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Impressive_Teach9188 t1_j27i676 wrote

It's more than likely hemorrhoids, I had the same problem around that age and went through 2 Colonoscopies for them to find nothing serious. The doctors just recommended a diet change and start using stool softener

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Im_InYour_Balls OP t1_j26neu2 wrote

And yeah I don’t know why the original doc was so laid back about my persistent bleeding. This new GP I saw said to me “you had a week’s worth of bleeding…and they didn’t get you checked out immediately??”

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Global_Monk_5778 t1_j28bjjj wrote

At least they’re checking it out now. Something you have to learn about GPs - they’re spread very thin and know a tiny bit about lots of different things. If you ever think they should have done something else or haven’t done enough, don’t ever be afraid to ask to see a different GP for a second opinion. They aren’t specialists about any condition and often haven’t even heard of some of them that I have! So don’t ever be afraid to push for more help if you feel you need it.

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