Rectal Bleeding Treatment Specialist Q&A

Rectal bleeding usually refers to blood that passes through your anus. Rectal bleeding normally refers to bleeding that comes from your lower colon or rectum. Your rectum is the lower portion of the large intestine. Rectal bleeding can show up on the toilet paper you are using, in the toilet bowl, or you may see blood in your stool. Blood that comes from rectal bleeding usually shows up as bright red in color. Sometimes it may be more of a dark maroon in color.

Whenever you find blood in your stool or start to see it with some frequency on the toilet paper you are using, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor. Rectal bleeding can be a sign of another health issue. If the bleeding is heavy or you see blood in multiple bowel movements, it is important that you see a doctor. Rectal bleeding can have serious causes.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be dealing with something very serious. If you have rapid and shallow breathing, lightheadedness, or dizziness. If you have blurred vision, confusion, fainting, nausea, pale, cold, clammy skin, or low urine output, you should call 911. These indicate a very serious situation. If your rectal bleeding is continuous or comes with serious abdominal pain, seek immediate attention.

There are a number of different reasons why you might have rectal bleeding. The causes of this can be common and mild conditions, or something more severe or rare.

Rectal bleeding can be caused by:
• Hemorrhoids are the most common cause.
• Anal fissure or tear in the skin—sometimes confused with being a hemorrhoid
• Anal abscess or fistula
• Diverticulitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcers -Left untreated, large polyps can become cancerous.

Less common causes of rectal bleeding:
• Cancer
• Various forms of colitis

The severity of rectal bleeding can be defined as:

• Spots, drops, or streaks – if you see this on toilet paper or a few drops in the toilet bowl; you may also see these on the stool.
• Mild rectal bleeding is when you see more than a few drops or streaks.
• Moderate rectal bleeding is when you pass blood without a stool, see the toilet water turn red, or see small blood clots in the toilet or on the toilet paper.
• Severe rectal bleeding can be from constant bleeding, bleeding that happens on and off, or when you experience large blood clots.

Digestive Disease Care will start with a consultation to help determine what the root cause of the rectal bleeding may be. Digestive Disease Care has the experience and knowledge to understand and treat the many causes of rectal bleeding.

You can expect your first visit to be rather thorough. The doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, medical history, and treatments you may be taking or have tried. The doctor will also examine you for any kinds of irregularities that may indicate the cause of the rectal bleeding. If the determination about why you have rectal bleeding is inconclusive, you will likely be required to do extra tests to determine what the cause is. The doctor may even request a colonoscopy.

The goal is to get you back to a place where you are feeling better and your gastrointestinal tract is functioning more normally. Digestive Disease Care is here to help you get back to a better place. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Jamaica NY, Melville NY, New Hyde Park NY, Forest Hills NY, Jericho NY, Mineola NY, Lake Success NY, Babylon NY, East Setauket NY, Massapequa NY and BEYOND.