Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How to Identify a Possible Bleeding Site
• Part 2 of 3: When to Seek Medical Help
• Part 3 of 3: How to Stop Bleeding

How to treat a bloody stool problem depends on what caused it. There can be many possible reasons, so it is important to see a doctor for it to be determined. Bloody stools can be caused by both minor and serious illnesses.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How to Identify a Possible Bleeding Site

1. 1 Look at your stool if it is black or looks like it contains tar. It may be disgusting for someone to look at the color of their feces, but this will provide valuable information. Chances are, the doctor you see will also want to know what you saw.
   • Dark-colored stools are called melena. This means that blood comes from the esophagus, stomach, or the beginning of the small intestine.
   • Possible causes: problems with blood vessels, ruptured esophagus, stomach ulcer, inflammation of the stomach lining, insufficient blood supply to part of the intestine, trauma or an object stuck in the digestive tract, an abnormal change in the veins in the esophagus or stomach called varicose veins.
2. 2 Note if the stool is red. This is called hematokesia (bloody stools). This means that the bleeding is from the lower digestive tract.Possible reasons include:
   • Problems with blood vessels or insufficient blood supply to the small, colon, rectum, or anus, ruptured anus, polyps in the colon or small intestine, cancer of the colon or small intestine, infection of a colon diverticulum called diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, infection, trauma or an object stuck in the lower digestive tract.
3. 3 Consider if there might be something else in the stool instead of blood. For example, something you ate.
   • Possible causes of black stools include black liquorice, iron tablets, Pepto-Bismol, and blueberries.
   • Red stools can be due to eaten beets or tomatoes.
   • If you are not sure, then it is better to donate feces for analysis so that the doctor can determine whether it is really blood or not.
4. 4 Consider if you are taking medications that can cause bleeding in your digestive tract. If this is possible in your case, see your doctor to replace your medications. Medicines that can cause bleeding:
   • Blood thinners: aspirin, warfarin, and clopidogrel
   • Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen or naproxen
   • Even over-the-counter drugs can cause bleeding if taken in large quantities or over a long period of time.

Part 2 of 3: When to Seek Medical Help

1. 1 Give your doctor as much information as possible. The doctor will be interested in the following:
   • How much blood?
   • When did it start?
   • Could trauma be the cause?
   • Have you choked on something recently?
   • Are you trying to lose weight?
   • Do you have any symptoms of an infection, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea?
2. 2 Expect a doctor to examine the rectum. Although you may feel uncomfortable, this is likely to be a necessary measure.
   • During the rectal examination, the doctor will feel the inside of the rectum with a gloved finger.
   • It is a quick and painless procedure.
3. 3 Do additional research to pinpoint the problem. Depending on the reason for which the doctor is inclined, he may recommend to undergo the following body testing:
   • Angiography - The doctor injects the dye and then examines the condition of the arteries using X-rays.
   • Barium test - barium is swallowed, which is then x-rayed to allow the doctor to see the condition of the digestive tract.
   • Colonoscopy.
   • EGDS or esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The doctor will use an endoscope to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.
   • Capsule endoscopy - a tablet containing a video camera is swallowed.
   • Balloon-assisted enteroscopy - using this method, the doctor can examine hard-to-reach areas of the small intestine.
   • Endoscopic ultrasound (Endoscopic ultrasound) - uses an endoscope to which an ultrasound device is attached. With the help of ultrasound - high-frequency sound waves - the desired image is obtained.
   • ERCP (or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) - with the help of an endoscope and X-ray, the condition of the gallbladder, liver and pancreas can be examined.
   • Multiphase CT enterography is used to look at the intestinal wall.

Part 3 of 3: How to Stop Bleeding

1. 1 Allow time for minor disturbances to heal naturally. Disorders that often recover without any intervention include:
   • Hemorrhoids, or hemorrhoids, which can become swollen and itchy.
   • Anal fissure, which is a small tear in the skin around the anus. It is painful and it may take several weeks for the crack to heal.
   • A viral or bacterial infection called gastroenteritis often clears up on its own if you drink enough water and allow your body to fight it off.
2. 2 Take antibiotics to treat infections that persist. This is often necessary for diverticulitis.
   • Antibiotics will help kill bacteria that are found in the saccular protrusions and bulges of the intestine.
   • Your doctor may recommend that you eat only liquid foods for a few days to reduce the amount of stool produced in your digestive tract.
3. 3 Treat ulcers, abnormal blood vessels, and other tissue problems with a variety of treatments. There are several treatments for damaged tissue associated with the use of endoscopy:
   • Endoscopic heat probe - use heat to stop bleeding, especially in the case of an ulcer.
   • Endoscopic cryotherapy - freezes abnormal blood vessels.
   • Endoscopic clamps close the open wound.
   • Endoscopic intracranial cyanoacrylate injection - using a special glue, a bleeding blood vessel is tightly closed.
4. 4 Consider surgery if the bleeding is heavy or repetitive. Conditions in which surgery is often used:
   • An anal fistula is a canal that arises between the intestine and the skin near the anus. This often happens after the abscess bursts. It usually does not heal without surgery.
   • Periodic diverticulitis.
   • Intestinal polyps. These are small bumps, usually not cancerous, but usually need to be removed.
5. 5 Fight bowel cancer aggressively. Treatment methods depend on its location and stage. Possible treatment options:
   • Surgery
   • Chemotherapy
   • Irradiation
   • Drug therapy