This morning when having a bowel movement it was painful and there was some red blood mixed with stool on my toilet paper and a little bit on my stool in the toilet. I didn't have my regular bowel movement yesterday and when I had the urge to go last night I felt constipated so this morning I ate some high fiber cereal which made me go. Now my anus feels sore and it looks as if there is a small area of tissue that is swollen. I used some prep H and hopefully this will help. I am also taking Benefiber to make sure I don't get constipated again. Over the past year this scenario has happened to me about 3 times. Usually I will see blood for 2-3 bowel movements in a row and then it goes away for months and my bowel movements won't have any blood in them, but will return usually after I experience some mild constipation. I know that I need to see my doctor. Would I go to my Primary Care Physician for this or should I seek out a specialist? Does this sound like hemhorroids or something else?

Anytime there is rectal bleeding it should be checked out by a Doctor for peace of mind. It sounds like hemorrhoids but a Doctor exam is needed!!!

God Bless---Harry

[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 01-22-2003).]

Thank you Harry for the reply. This problem has been something that has been weighing on my mind and of course I have thought about all of the worse case scenarios, but I know a doctor's visit is the only thing that will ease my mind. I am petrified though! Can you or anyone else out there tell me what I should expect from the doctor? I have done research and it seems like a sigmoidoscopy would probably be in order, but the thought of this scares me. I know I'm a big baby! Can this procedure be done with a sedative? Any information to help me understand what I may have to go through would be appreciated. Thank you all for listening!

You are correct a sigmoidoscopy is probably what the doctor will want to do. And, it is done with a sedative. The Prep is not good because your colon has to be clean for the visual Exam. But, you may want your entire colon looked at ----the prep is the same.

Harry