Toilet Full of Blood=5 alarm panic attack!!!

[rr2005]

Ok, I've been having a lot of stomach problems. Had an upper GI, which was all clear. Dr. said he thought I have a bacterial overgrowth and prescribed me some antibiotics. I've been feeling better the past few days. Then today I thought I had to have a bowel movement, but decided afterwards I didn't (I know, TMI.) When I got up, the toilet was full of blood. I called my Dr. and scheduled an appt. for next week, but I am FREAKING out! Has anyone else had anything like this happen?!?!?

[RNwithanxiety]

I wouldn't stress. I don't know anything about your age or health history but I see a ton of GI bleeds and contrary to popular belief they are rarely due to something serious like colon cancer etc. I would definitely suggest you have a colonoscopy though just for your piece of mind.

[rr2005]

Thanks! I'm a 33 yo female, FYI. No family history of colon cancer.

[Slangevar]

Ah, the old toilet bowl full of blood.  I got that on a business trip when I was about 37... what a treat.

I did exactly what you did - booked an appointment with a GI doc. He did a sigmoidoscopy, an abdominal ultrasound, blood tests and finally a colonoscopy - all turned out clear.  I was diagnosed with IBS and possible hemorrhoids (though I realized later that my allergy meds were dehydrating me and causing fissures).

You're doing the right thing by getting it checked out. Blood in your stool (or toilet bowl) should ALWAYS been investigated. But most of the time, it turns out to be hemorrhoids or some other non-fatal condition.

I suspect they'll probably do a colonoscopy... if so, don't worry - they're totally easy. The prep stuff you have to drink is ghastly, but the actual procedure is actually kind of pleasant thanks to the drugs they give you. And you get to watch the whole thing, so you won't have to worry that they missed something.

Good luck and hang in there!   

[rr2005]

Thanks so much! It's good to hear this has happened to someone else and they're still alive...lol! I was also diagnosed with IBS recently.

[Slangevar]

I think I first joined anxietyzone back when that happened and I remember being so relieved when someone else told me it had happened to them, too. Glad I could pay it forward!  (Really glad, actually, since it means I'm still alive.)  ;-)

Good luck!  My fingers will be crossed.

[Evap]

Like once every 6 or so months this happens to me. It just seems like it's linked to a lot of stress for me.

[mollyfin]

Probably popped a hemorrhoid, no big deal.  A very small amount of blood can look like a Tarantino flick in the toilet!  I get anal fissures a lot, and they tend to look worse than my heavy period days - but objectively it's a pretty small amount of blood coming out. 

[rr2005]

Thanks so much guys, for the reassurance and for making me chuckle! Feeling better now....

[sassparella]

It's almost certainly a haemorrhoid or a fissure but best to get it checked at the doctor if only for peace of mind.

[marc]

I had the same thing happen to me when I was 25 and I had an immediate meltdown.
I thought I was finished and rushed off to the ER, where they found nothing. I was told to schedule
an appointment to get a flexible sigmoidscopy. I had one performed by a colorectal surgeon, who said
I had large hem.

[rr2005]

So good to know this has happened to so many people! Maybe I can last until my Dr. appointment without having a total meltdown now.