Rectal Bleeding

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• The large intestine, also called the bowel or colon, ends in a section called the rectum. At the end of the rectum is the anus. The anus is the opening where stool, or bowel movements, leave your body. With rectal bleeding, there may be blood found in your rectum, or you may be bleeding out of your anus.
  
  
• Rectal bleeding may be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). With rectal bleeding, you may lose a small or large amount of blood, and the bleeding may be slow or fast. Caregivers may collect blood and stool samples, and do a rectal exam and colonoscopy to find the cause of your bleeding. Your treatment depends on the cause of your bleeding, and can include medicines or surgery. Once caregivers learn what is causing your rectal bleeding, treatments or procedures may be done to make it stop. Signs and symptoms caused by rectal bleeding, such as pain or dizziness, may decrease or go away once the bleeding stops. Treatment can also help prevent anemia and other medical problems.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any other medicines without first talking to your caregiver. This includes blood thinners, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs).
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
  
  
  • Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
    
    
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Iron: If you lose too much blood, you may need to take iron pills. Iron pills help your body make more blood.
  
  
• Stool softeners: If you have hemorrhoids, stool softeners may soften your stool. This medicine may help prevent more hemorrhoids.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may help decrease pain and swelling in your rectum. This medicine may be put in your rectum as a cream, ointment, or lotion. Use this medicine exactly as ordered, and for the amount of time directed by your caregiver.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Drinking liquids:

Adults should drink about 9 to 13 cups of liquid each day. One cup is 8 ounces. Good choices of liquids for most people include water, juice, and milk. Coffee, soup, and fruit may be counted in your daily liquid amount. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should drink each day.

Bathing:

If you have hemorrhoids, your caregiver may suggest having warm tub baths, or using a sitz bath. A sitz bath uses a pan of warm water that fits over the toilet bowl. Taking a sitz bath may help decrease pain and swelling. You may need to do this one or more times each day. Ask your caregiver where and how to get supplies for sitz baths, and how often to take baths.

Contact the following for more information:

• International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
  P.O. Box 170864
  Milwaukee , WI 53217
  Phone: 1- 414 - 964-1799
  Phone: 1- 888 - 964-2001
  Web Address: http://www.iffgd.org
  

• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
  2 Information Way
  Bethesda , MD 20892-3570
  Phone: 1- 800 - 8915389
  Web Address: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You begin to have changes in your stool, such as diarrhea. Diarrhea is when you have frequent, loose, watery stool.
  
  
• You have cramping pain in your abdomen or rectum.
  
  
• You urinate less often than usual.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You cannot control when you are going to have a stool.
  
  
• Your skin and gums look pale (lighter in color) than usual, and you feel very tired.
  
  
• Your skin feels sweaty or clammy (moist) for no reason.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You are confused, or you feel weak, dizzy, or lightheaded.
  
  
• You have a fast heartbeat.
  
  
• You have bleeding from your anus that does not stop.
  
  
• You have diarrhea with blood in it.
  
  
• You have new trouble breathing or you are breathing faster than usual.
  
  
• You see blood in the toilet after trying to have a bowel movement.
  
  
• You urinate very little, or not at all.
  
  
• Your rectal bleeding had stopped for a time, but has started again.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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