What does blood in the stool mean?

Blood with stool...what does it mean?

• This is going to sound gross but I'm really freaked out and don't know what to do. Earlier today I went to the bathroom and noticed that while I was going some blood came out. And by some blood I mean a good amount. Later today I went to the bathroom again and more blood appeared, except this time it was a HEAVY amount. I am not over exaggerating.. it was A LOT of blood The thing is it wasnt MIXED in my stool.. it was there on it's own seperate from it. The color is just a normal red.

• Answer:

  Bleeding is from the lower GI tract if it's red....it looks black if it's from higher up (meaning a bleeding ulcer). That's the good news, if you can call it that. If it's not mixed with stool, my best guess (since I've dealt with it myself) is a ruptured hemorrhoid. Often you don't know if you have internal hemorrhoids until something happens, if they are high enough they don't have a nerve supply so they do not cause pain. If one "bursts," it can cause a LOT of bleeding (mine sure did!). There really isn't anything you can or need to do about them, though. If bleeding persists, or is accompanied by abdominal pain, call your doctor ASAP.