How to Treat Rectal Bleeding and Diarrhea

Diarrhea for more than three days is warning sign to go see your doctor. There are many reasons why you could also pass blood in your stool or why you wipe and your toilet paper is bloody. In order to get the best treatment for both rectal bleeding and diarrhea, you need to see your doctor. Serious conditions like Crohne's Disease include bleeding and diarrhea in their symptoms.

Note what color of the blood you are passing. Is it bright red or almost black? If bright red, go on to Step Two. If not, go to Step Three.

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Take a bath or shower to be sure the bleeding isn't from hemorrhoids (piles) that have flared up due to your constant wiping. You'll feel a terrible burning around your rectum. The blood should be noticeably less after the bath. An over the counter hemorrhoid cream can help with the bleeding. If you don't feel any pain but still have bright red blood coming from your rectum, then you may have an internal hemorrhoid.

Note if you have any other symptoms, such as severe cramping, mucus in the stools, fever or dizziness. If home treatments or over the counter medications for diarrhea are not working, you must see the doctor, even if you don't have the other symptoms. If you are still bleeding and are over 50 or if you know that someone in your family had cancer anywhere in their digestive tract, please see the doctor as soon as possible.

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Make a list of all of the medications you are taking and their dosages. Include vitamins and supplements as well, because sometimes these clash and can cause irritation of the digestive tract, causing both rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Take these with you when you see your doctor.

Get a gastrointestinal endoscopy in case your doctor can't quickly determine what is wrong. Sometimes these can be done in a doctor's office, but usually you have to go to the hospital for this test.

Tips

Please be honest with your doctor about how much you drink alcohol or use recreational drugs. Rectal bleeding and loose stools are a chronic problem with alcoholics and heroin users. Go to your doctor if your bright red blood suddenly changes to tar-like loose stools. Some foods like beets, black pudding or even food with a lot red dye can turn your stools a brick red or darker. Be sure to drink a lot of water to help stay hydrated or thinned-out sports drinks to help keep from becoming dangerously dehydrated.

Warnings

Please don't use this article in the place of your doctor's diagnosis. Don't ignore these symptoms. They will not go away on their own and are often indications of a much worse condition.