Quantifying blood loss in a flare

Hi thanks in advance for any help - this forum has helped me a lot over the last few years!

I'm currently having a flare up and having bloody bowel movements up to 10 times a day. I have an appointment to see my doctor/GI nurse in a couple of weeks and usually at these appointments I am asked to describe my symptoms. One of the questions they usually ask is 'how much blood?' I never know how to answer this question - I've read that you only lose about a teaspoon of blood (in one movement or over the course of a day??) so this has been the answer I've given in the past. However I'm not sure whether this actually helps them understand how severe the blood loss I'm experiencing is. I also don't want to misrepresent the symptoms of my flare which obviously affects the treatment plan they will advise.

Obviously the water in the toilet makes it appear much more severe than it probably is but quite often it will pour out of me, almost as if urinating, and I can tell it's not just a teaspoon...

Has anyone ever measured the amount that they lose? Or any suggestions on how to do so (in a not totally messy way!) My only other thought was to start photographing the toilet bowl and show this to my nurse - is this really gross/unnecessary?

Thanks quincy - those are all really good suggestions I hadn't thought of to describe it in that way.

And yeah, haven't done a signature yet but I'm on 4x1200mg mezavant, 2g salofalk enema, 5mg pred suppositories and 2mg pred foam. I had a flare earlier in the year and finished a 40mg pred taper in June. Really hoping I don't have to go back on the steroids

Not quite - I've been taking the salofalk enemas about once a week since my last flare was completely over. Then I started taking them daily as soon as I saw blood/the next flare started which was about 6-8 weeks ago. I've been taking the pred foam and suppositories for about a month now as well.

Dear Watermelon,

I take photos of the bleeding I experience (which like you is occasionally squirting out of me) and did so that if anyone doubted me I could show them - and I've offered to show the photos to two doctors that I've seen (ashamed to say I have a collection of about 50 photos on my phone): the first wasn't interested in looking - the second said 'Yeah let me have a look' - and made a note of it in is notes, but was otherwise unmoved. In a weird way I found this reassuring and you may too.

Quantity-wise is tricky - I've bled to the point that it is still dripping out of me a good five minutes after the BM and to even stand up I've had to plug it with some toilet paper - but on reflection I think it's difficult to say and unlikely that I lost more than e.g., 50ML. Loads of variables I suppose.

I will say though that I've lost any reservation in documenting stuff, getting my hands dirty, or anything so even if you're capturing it 'grossly' who cares (?) - catch it and measure it - it's not going to be precise but it will give you a sketchy estimate, and as you get better put a patent on the method - I'll be the first to buy

All the best,

Will