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Hemorrhoids or UC?

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Posted 3/8/2010 4:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone,

 

I have internal hemorrhoids in addition to UC.  I have been in a very minor flare - mostly in the rectum off and on for a few months.  For the last week or so I have been pretty constipated.  I have had quite a bit of bright red blood, sometimes dripping into the toilet, with BM's.  I am also passing some mucus but not tons.  I am not having much urgency and most days only have to go to the bathroom for a BM once or twice.  When I have a BM I have to strain quite a bit and it is not diarrhea.  In fact it is more pebble like so I am sure I am constipated which may be due to UC or may be due to pregnancy. 

 

Canasa and Lialda are not helping the constipation and bleeding.  I am wondering if this is my hemorrhoids bleeding due to the constipation.  Does anyone have any tips for determining the difference between hemorrhoid bleeding and UC rectal bleeding?  I am thinking about calling my OB and asking for cort. suppositories which have helped with my hemmis in the past but don't want to do that if this is actually UC related.  If this is UC bleeding I know I should call my GI instead. 

 

Thoughts or suggestions?

 

Thanks!

Posted 3/8/2010 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
     From your description, it does sound like hemorrhoids.  I have them inside and out also and am sometimes confused as to whether the bleeding is from the hemmies or UC.  Bright red blood indicates the bleeding is from the lower rectal area.  To put your mind at ease, I would call the GI, just for good measure.  Prep H works for my hemmies, as do sitz baths.  Try adding a bit more fiber to your diet and see if it helps the constipation any.  Good luck!
Posted 3/8/2010 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Christine - I think I will call my GI too. I do have a silly question. Can you use Prep H for internal hemorrhoids or do you just use that for your external ones?

Thanks!
Posted 3/8/2010 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I had internal/external hemorrhoids at the same time as steady bleeding from UC. I am not sure that preperation H suppositories didn't make things worse. It contains a vasoconstrictor which interacts with some medications. You can get "natural" products without a vasoconstrictor. There is a device called a proctoscope(a tube with a flashlight basically) which the doctor should be able to look at an internal roid. Good luck getting them to use it.

My hemorrhoids are caused by poor diet(low fiber/high meat fat) usually but loose stools from UC did it also. Canasa has enough lube to provide relief for me. If you are constipated up your fiber, avoid cheese etc. It does sort of sound like hemorrhoids to me. They can steedly bleed just like ulcers.
Posted 3/8/2010 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks AZYooper - I know I have been having a mild UC flare. I often bleed with UC but since the bleeding got much worse this time along with the constipation it made me think hemmis. I may have bleeding hemmis and some bleeding ulcers too. I was hesitant to add prep H because I was not sure if it would interact well with my UC medications so I am glad to know that it could. I am also concerned that if the bleeding is both from the hemorrhoids and from the UC ulcers then something over the counter may not be the greatest. I have never had my doctor use the proctoscope but I would like to know if this is UC, hemorrhoids or both so if he wants to see me I'll ask about that. Thanks again for the info!
Posted 3/8/2010 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Being that you are pregnant, could very well be hemorrhoids. I had them throughout both of my pregnancies & they would bleed
now & again, usually if I had a bout of constipation. Upping your fiber intake will help but also look at your pregnancy multi-vite.
I learned the hard way just how "uncomfortable" some can make you feel! I used the Prep H wipes along with the suppositories.
Big fun...in the 1st 2 trimesters, I was either constipated or perfect but soon as I hit the 3rd...look out!!!

Good LUCK smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/8/2010 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Colleen - it can sure be one of the joys of pregnancy! I actually did change the brand of prenatal vitamins I am taking last week which was around the same time the constipation started. It is so hard to tell sometimes what is UC related, what symptoms are due to another cause and what symptoms may be a combination of UC and another problem. Pregnancy makes it harder to determine too. Hard to distinguish sometimes!

I really appreciate your tip about the vitamins though. I'll try going back to my old brand and see if that helps!

I can't believe you have UC and were pregnant with twins - I am in total awe of you for that!
Posted 3/8/2010 9:22 PM (GMT 0)

These are my symptoms with UC... I personally would think that it is UC related.... I have minor symptoms here and there, and since you see mucus and blood that "drips" i would see my gastro! Good luck!

Posted 3/8/2010 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Kathrynt - I know it is so frustrating - could be UC, could be hemorrhoids - probably is both! Ugh! I upped my Lialda to 4 this weekend. The Canasa seems to be irritating it more so I stopped it...if things don't improve this week I'll call my GI. At least I am not having any significant cramping, urgency or frequency - I am thankful for that. Thanks for your response!
Posted 3/8/2010 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
I really feel like it's hemmie blood. I would argue with the doc during my first flare (he said, hemmie, i said colitis) and sometimes felt like taking a photo of the toilet innards and bringing it in.
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