Hemorrhoid Blood Guide 101: What to do When You Have Bloody Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid blood can be scary. Is there blood in your stool?  Use this guide to answer the question that plagues millions of Americans each day.  Blood in the stool after a bowel movement is much more common than you think, and the answer could be because you have hemorrhoids.

I Have Blood in My Stool from Hemorrhoids

This is normal to experience if you have hemorrhoids.  Internal hemorrhoids, located inside of your rectum and beneath the lining of the mucous membrane, become inflamed and swollen. 

These irritated veins disrupt the lining, and a hard stool in which you are trying to pass can graze against the lining’s surface. 

This scrape, like any other you might accumulate on your body, produces blood, and that’s why you may see some blood after a bowel movement, maybe even in your stool. 

One way to prevent this is to work to soften your stools by including more fiber in your diet.

Also, our #1 selling hemorrhoid pills called HemRid can help.

Click the image below to learn more about how HemRid can fight your hemorrhoids.

My Hemorrhoids Have Bright Red Blood

Bleeding after a bowel movement is normal and you shouldn’t panic.  Hard stools are often the cause of the bright red blood left behind after a bowel movement. 

You may see this bright red blood on your stool or on the toilet paper after wiping or dripping directly into the bowl of the toilet after a bowel movement. 

Fortunately, internal hemorrhoids are painless.  The nerves in the lower rectum don’t sense pain like the other nerve endings in our body. Hemorrhoid bleeding is widespread with internal hemorrhoids.

Is Blood in Stool Hemorrhoids or Cancer? 

Rectal bleeding is usually the sign of the general ailment of hemorrhoids.  Hemorrhoids are so common that nearly half of American adults over the age of 50 have hemorrhoids or have previously experienced them. 

However, consulting with a physician or hemorrhoid doctor is very important and something we recommend. 

The truth is, we all have hemorrhoids, as they are the veins in the lower region of the rectum. The problem arises when they become swollen, damaged, or inflamed. 

Having hemorrhoids is not necessarily life-threatening, and hemorrhoids typically go away on their own after just a few days.  Maintaining a healthy and fibrous diet can prevent hemorrhoid flare-ups. 

Colon cancer, on the other hand, typically comes with a slew of other symptoms, and these symptoms will arise suspicion. 

Vomiting, sudden weight loss, change in your daily bowel habits, abdominal pain—all of these symptoms usually accompany the rectal bleeding and should help you realize that something is amiss. 

Of course, rectal bleeding may indicate other lower intestinal issues like IBS, be sure to let your doctor know all of the symptoms you are experiencing.

Regardless of whether or not your rectal bleeding is from the typical issue of hemorrhoids, you should tell your doctor.  Depending on your age and other hereditary and genetic factors, rectal bleeding could be a sign of something more serious than hemorrhoids. 

Your doctor may want to do additional examinations only to be sure.

How Much Blood From Hemorrhoids is Normal?

Bleeding brought on by hemorrhoids is not usually very much.  Bright red blood will typically cover all or part of a stool, and you may see blood after wiping. 

Sometimes, a few drops of blood will end up in the bowl of the toilet after a strained bowel movement. 

If you find that your rectal bleeding is more than this, or you want to be sure, consult your doctor and describe the amount of blood you are experiencing. 

Rectal bleeding from hemorrhoids is a common symptom, and luckily it is painless. 

However, rectal bleeding that produces an abnormal or significant amount of blood may be an indication of a more severe problem.

The Scoop on Blood Thinners and Hemorrhoids

For those on blood thinners that have experienced anal bleeding, it is best to contact your doctor within the next day or so to let them know. 

While hemorrhoids themselves are not a serious problem and usually clear up within one or two days, even without treatment, people on blood thinners should note any other symptoms that may seem out of the ordinary. 

These symptoms include rectal bleeding or any other abnormal anal activity or signs. 

Blood thinners and bleeding disorders may mean another separate issue from hemorrhoids. 

If you are taking blood thinners and have a bleeding condition, rectal bleeding may be a sign of an intestinal, abdominal, or rectal disorder. 

Some blood thinner medications may prolong or worsen hemorrhoid symptoms. 

Talk to your doctor about how your prescribed blood thinners affect your hemorrhoids. 

Hemorrhoid Blood Clot Tips 

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are the product of a blood clot forming inside of a external hemorrhoid. 

External hemorrhoids can be painful and uncomfortable, and the formation of a blood clot inside of them certainly does not make it any better.  

One of the most important things to remember is that a clot will usually go away on its own. 

Don’t try to pop a thrombosed hemorrhoid yourself, as you could develop an infection. 

Instead, use wipes with witch hazel or creams designed for hemorrhoid relief to reduce swelling and discomfort. 

Gently soak in a warm bath or a sitz bath for twenty minutes to alleviate the pain of a blood clot. 

The best method of dealing with a blood clot is to see your physician or medical care provider. 

Your blood clot may need to be lanced and drained, which is best left to a medical professional.  Blood clots can leave behind a skin tag, and this can irritate through friction. 

A proctologist or gastroenterologist should be able to help remove the blood clot safely and efficiently.

The most common procedures for removal of bloody hemorrhoids include:

• Rubber Band Ligation (Banding)
• Hemorrhoidectomy
• Infrared Coagulation
• Sclerotherapy
• CHR Oregan System
• Laser Hemorrhoid Surgery