Fiber Menace by Monastyrsky Konstantin

Author:Monastyrsky, Konstantin [Monastyrsky, Konstantin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ageless Press
Published: 2011-01-13T16:00:00+00:00

Taking care of bloody business

Bleeding specific to hemorrhoidal disease isn’t from the thrombosed veins (another popular misconception), but from the abrasions, cuts, fissures, fistulas, or ulcerations of the mucosal membrane that lines the anal canal. The bright red color of the blood indicates its arterial, rather than venous, nature.

Hemorrhoidal bleedings are distinguished by crimson streaks of fresh blood on the passing stools. The stool itself doesn’t change color, because there was no prior contact between it and the wound. At times, the bleeding may be profuse, but it usually stops when defecation is completed. In any event, it is best to see a doctor, and get checked out for this or any other source of bleeding.

The mucosal membrane that lines the anal canal is quite resilient and infection-proof. It quickly heals, and will not bleed again as long as stools remain soft and small (BSF type 5 or 6). If the stools remain type 1 to 4 (lumpy, large, hard), or you strain while relieving yourself, the bleeding may continue and get worse. In those instances, an initial small abrasion may turn into a fissure (split that won’t heal), a fistula (duct from anus into perianal region), or an abscess (encapsulated pus)—conditions which, considering the location and “traffic,” are extremely painful, infection-prone, and hard to treat and heal.

If the stool’s appearance is tar-like, it may mean that there is internal bleeding at some point upstream, beginning from the esophagus. The color changes to tar after coagulated blood mixes with feces.

Keep this important point in mind: if blood emanates from upper intestinal tract organs (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine), the bleeding may have started at least three to four days before you see first signs of it. That’s how long it normally takes for chyme to turn into stool and reach the toilet bowl. For people who are severely constipated it may take even longer. This means that by the time the blood in stools is detected, its loss may be considerable.

Certain food (beets, blueberries, black licorice), supplements (dietary iron), antacids (Pepto-Bismol), or a sudden release of conjugated billiary salts[4] may also give stools a tar-like appearance. Instead of panicking, don’t flush the toilet, and run to the nearest drugstore to purchase a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) kit. To regain your piece of mind, follow the instructions provided with the kit—usually a strip of paper that you’ll drop into the toilet—to observe changes. (The occult in the test name means hidden, not mystic. )

If the test is positive, and your pulse rate happens to be high, your blood pressure low, your appearance pale, and you find that you’re short of breath, fatigued, or dizzy, these are the symptoms of serious blood loss and you should call 911 at once. If you still feel fine, get to the nearest emergency room ASAP, and advise the triage nurse that you’ve just had a positive FOBT. They’ll know what to look for next. And don’t waste precious time seeing your local doctor, because

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