bright red blood on TP - hemorrhoid, fissure, or just IBD?

I'm just wondering how to tell if bright red blood on TP is a sign of hemorrhoids, fissures, or just plain IBD?

For the past several months, I had been passing too much blood in the toilet to notice any small amounts on the TP. After wayyy too much Prednisone, I now have a lot of mucous on my stool and some blood on the TP. I can't tell if these are new symptoms or not. Also, I've been having a mixture of hard (like, very hard) stools and diarrhea. I've had rectal pressure and sometimes pain since I don't know when - I just assumed it was normal IBD pain. Now I have a tiny bit of burning (that I wouldn't have noticed over the old rectal pressure) on one side.

My understanding is that hemorrhoids and fissures are rather painful? Can anybody shed light on how these feel and how do you distinguish the symptoms from plain old UC? Are hemorrhoids and fissures always painful?

The rectal discomfort I've generally felt has always been "up inside" and this new slight burning is closer to the outside. I guess I'm just worried about having a fissure. I'm wondering if I should bring it up with the surgeon before I go under later this week.

Thanks. I don't think I'm in enough discomfort for a fissure. They definitely sound evil!

I can tell you beyond all shadow of a doubt, it was an anal fissure you WILL NOT have to guess. They hurt *bad*, passing tacks that what I always called it.

My fissure that I rip open doesn't hurt often...just when it's accompanied by the external hemmie do I pay more attention.

q