Rectal Bleeding

Rectal Bleeding services offered in Houston, TX

Blood in your stool is unnerving but usually not caused by a serious medical condition. However, Daniel Lee Howell, Jr., MD, FACS and Terah Isaacson, MD, FACS, of Bayou City Surgical Specialists in Houston, Texas, recommend scheduling a consultation when you have rectal bleeding to make sure the cause is benign. Rectal bleeding is one of the symptoms of colon cancer and not a symptom to ignore. For a surgical consultation for rectal bleeding, call today or use the online booking button to schedule an appointment. The practice is transparent about pricing, so you know the cost of care before surgery.

What does rectal bleeding look like?

Rectal bleeding may look like bright red blood on your stool or a smear of blood on the toilet paper after wiping. The bleeding may also turn the toilet water pink. Sometimes the blood is black and tarry.

The appearance of the blood can help determine the source of the bleeding. Fresh blood usually means the cause is a condition affecting the anus or lower part of the rectum. Maroon-colored blood may mean the bleeding is coming from the upper part of the large intestine or small intestine.

Black or tarry stool is a sign of bleeding in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine.

What causes rectal bleeding?

Rectal bleeding can occur from many causes, some more serious than others. Common causes of rectal bleeding include:

Hemorrhoids
Constipation
Anal fissure
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Diverticulitis
Colon polyps
Proctitis (inflammation of the rectal lining)
Ulcerations in the colon or small intestine
Stomach ulcer

The most concerning cause is colon cancer, which is why you need to schedule a visit with your doctor when having rectal bleeding.

What happens during an evaluation for rectal bleeding?

You can expect a patient-focused exam for rectal bleeding at Bayou City Surgical Specialists. Your doctor reviews your symptoms, medical history, and family history. They also ask about diet and bowel habits to determine if constipation may contribute to your bleeding.

The doctor does a physical and rectal exam. They may run blood work and order endoscopic tests of the gastrointestinal tract to confirm or rule out the source of your bleeding.

What are the treatments for rectal bleeding?

Treatment for rectal bleeding depends on the cause. In some cases, only changes to diet and bowel habits may resolve the bleeding.

However, if your bleeding is persistent or from a serious cause like colon cancer, you may need surgery to treat the condition.

Bayou City Surgical Specialists performs gastrointestinal surgeries when necessary, including hemorrhoidectomies, sphincterotomy for anal fissures, or colectomy to remove some or all of the colon in cases of severe disease like colon cancer.

The surgical practice is transparent about pricing, so you know the cost of all recommended treatments before proceeding.

Don’t ignore your rectal bleeding. Call Bayou City Surgical Specialists today or schedule a consultation online.