Because the treatment method for bloody stools depends on the cause, make sure you always check with your doctor if you experience it. Remember, an accurate medical diagnosis is needed to identify the severity of your illness!
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Part 1 of 3: Identifying the Origin of Bleeding
Step 1. Watch out for stools that look black or have a tar-like texture
Identifying the color of stool may sound like a disgusting activity, but understand that it can provide useful information for you and your doctor!
- Dark stools are known as melena. Specifically, the condition indicates that the blood is coming from your esophagus, stomach, or opening in your small intestine.
- Some possible causes are a blood vessel disorder, a tear in the esophagus, an ulcer in the stomach, inflammation of the abdominal wall, interruption of the blood supply to the intestines, an injury or object trapped in the digestive tract, or the presence of abnormal veins in the esophagus or stomach (varicose veins).
Step 2. Watch out for stools that look red
This condition is known as hematochezia, which is bleeding in the lower digestive tract.
Some of the possible causes are: disorders of the blood vessels or interruption of blood supply to the small intestine, large intestine, rectum, or anus; tears in the anus, polyps in the colon or small intestine; cancer in the colon or small intestine; the presence of infected pockets in the colon (diverculitis); hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids; intestinal inflammation; infection; injury; or the presence of objects trapped in the lower digestive tract
Step 3. Consider the possibility of an object other than blood in the stool, such as something you ate
- If the stool is black, some options that might contaminate it are black liquorice, iron pills, beetroot, and blueberries.
- If the stool is red, it could be beetroot or tomato root.
- If you're not sure about the condition of your stool, the best thing you can do is to submit a sample to your doctor for a more accurate diagnosis.
Step 4. Identify possible bleeding due to the medications you are taking
In fact, even over-the-counter drugs can cause bleeding if consumed in large quantities continuously. If a similar situation may happen to you, immediately consult the drugs that are being consumed to the doctor. Some types of drugs to watch out for are:
- Blood-thinning medications such as aspirin, warfarin, and clopidogrel
- Several types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
Part 2 of 3: Carrying out a Medical Examination
Step 1. Provide as much information as the doctor needs
Most likely, the doctor will ask the following questions:
- How much blood volume is out?
- When did you first experience symptoms?
- Could the cause of your bleeding be an injury?
- Have you been choking lately?
- Are you experiencing weight loss?
- Are you experiencing symptoms of infection such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea?
Step 2. Get ready for a rectal exam
While it may feel strange and/or uncomfortable, understand that this physical examination procedure is likely necessary.
- In this procedure, the doctor will insert his hand, which has been wrapped in a medical glove, into your rectum.
- Do not worry. This examination can generally be done quickly and painlessly.
Step 3. Perform additional checks to identify the problem more accurately
If your doctor suspects a specific cause of bleeding, you may be asked to do one or more of the following additional tests:
- Blood test.
- angiography. In this procedure, the doctor will inject a colored fluid, then use X-rays to scan your body and observe the condition of the arteries.
- A barium test that requires you to swallow barium. After that, the doctor will perform an X-ray scan and the barium will serve as a guide to observe the condition of your digestive tract.
- Colonoscopy.
- EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor will insert a special instrument into your throat to observe the condition of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.
- Capsule endoscopy which requires you to swallow pills containing a recording camera.
- Balloon-assisted enteroscopy, which allows doctors to observe hard-to-reach areas of the small intestine.
- Endoscopic ultrasound. In this procedure, the doctor will perform a scan using sound waves on an ultrasound machine connected to an endoscope. Sound waves that will produce images as a diagnostic tool.
- ERCP or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography which uses an endoscope and X-rays to observe the condition of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.
- Multiphase CT enterography to observe the condition of the intestinal wall.
Part 3 of 3: Stopping the Bleeding
Step 1. Allow minor medical problems to resolve on their own
In general, minor medical disorders that can be cured without needing treatment are:
- Hemorrhoids, also known as hemorrhoids or piles, may cause swelling or itching in the anus.
- Anal fissures or small tears in the skin around the anus. The disorder is usually painful and takes several weeks to heal.
- A viral or bacterial infection, called gastroenteritis, will generally go away on its own as long as the body is properly hydrated.
- A low-fiber diet can force the body to strain during bowel movements. Therefore, try to eat more fiber to reduce the likelihood of straining and ease your bowel movements.
Step 2. Treat the infection with antibiotics
Generally, this method is necessary to treat diverculitis.
- Antibiotics can help clear bacteria from pockets and bumps in the intestines.
- Chances are, your doctor will ask you to only drink fluids for a few days to reduce the volume of stool your digestive tract has to process.
Step 3. Treat ulcers, abnormal blood vessels, and other tissue problems with various preventive methods
In fact, there are several methods that generally involve endoscopic procedures and are commonly used to treat damaged tissue:
- Endoscopic thermal probe that uses heat to stop bleeding, especially those caused by ulcers.
- Endoscopic cryotherapy to clot abnormal blood vessels.
- Endoscopic clips to close open wounds.
- Endoscopic intracranial cyanoacrylate injection which uses a type of glue to seal bleeding blood vessels.
Step 4. Perform the operative procedure if the bleeding returns or is severe enough
Some types of conditions that are commonly treated with surgery are:
- Anal fistula is a condition where a small channel forms between the end of the large intestine and the skin around the anus. Generally, this condition is a reaction to a ruptured abscess and can only be cured with the help of surgery.
- Recurrent diverticulitis.
- Intestinal polyps. Bowel polyps are small lumps that generally won't develop into cancer although they usually need to be removed.
Step 5. Consult the possibility of taking histamine 2 blocking drugs and omeprazole
If the bleeding is due to ulcers or gastritis, these medications should help address the underlying problem. Therefore, try to consult the suitability of these drugs with your condition to your doctor.
Step 6. Take iron supplements to treat anemia
Very severe rectal bleeding can make the body lose too much blood. As a result, the risk of anemia will lurk! If you suddenly feel dizzy, tired, dizzy, or too weak, immediately see a doctor to confirm a diagnosis of anemia. Don't worry, most mild anemia can be treated by taking iron supplements.
Step 7. Fight colon cancer with more aggressive methods
Indeed, the method of cancer treatment is very dependent on the location of the cancer and its severity. However, some commonly recommended options are:
- Operation
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Use of drugs
