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Hemorrhoids are associated with pain, itching, discomfort and bleeding. One of the major diagnoses of the same includes the stool test for hemorrhoids. In this blog, we will discuss all the stool test for hemorrhoids and the causes of rectal bleeding. Also what diet rules you have to abide by before such tests.
Sometimes, internal hemorrhoids cannot be detected with naked eyes until the symptoms start to show. To know the severity of such hemorrhoids or their advanced form which could be cancerous later, there is a stool test done. This is done in order to test blood in the stool which is otherwise not seen with the naked eye. Spotting blood in your stool could be frightening and might project some serious health problems. But sometimes it is just a petty reason that doesn’t need serious concerns. However, you should go for the stool test as directed by your physician and let your physician conclude the condition.
Table of Contents
What makes blood appear in stool?
The reason for spotting blood in the stool could be a minor one mostly. But you should definitely see a doctor and go through stool test to corroborate that. Stool passes from the anal passage and hence that passage is also a gateway for blood to pass if you have some tear or rupture in sphincter or varicose muscles. Hence, you might observe little blood in the stool or some bright red bloodstains on tissue post wiping. Bright red blood covering the stool might be an indication of some inflammation in the lower rectum. This happens due to IBD or a rectal tumor. So basically any rupture or tear internally might make blood come out with stool too. (Also read: Things Stool say about your Health)
Your doctor can suggest you local treatment methods like a sitz bath, hemorrhoidal creams, stool softeners if the bleeding is of a very minor nature not depicting serious concern. Or sometimes some surgical measures might opt for several conditions. Let your physician decide that! (Also read: Ointment for piles)
Fecal occult blood test and its preparation:
Some other names of stool tests are Fecal occult blood test and stool occult blood test. This test will be run when blood in the stool cannot be spotted with naked eyes and you complain of some rectal pain or infection. Bleeding in the digestive tract is depicted by blood in the stool. This can be due to various reasons that can come out as certain results after tests are fully run.
Various chemicals are used to conduct a fecal blood test to find if there is blood in the stool or not. Negative test result means your report is normal. Positive test results might indicate further treatments including hemorrhoids treatment, fissures treatment or colonoscopy to determine more related causes for the bleeding. By colonoscopy, your physician can exactly find out the extent, cause and location of the bleeding.
How is this stool blood test done?
- Your physician or lab person will give you a kit or small pouch like the thing to collect your stool sample from three bowel movements.
- You will have to collect 1 stool sample in a dry container. Take care that urine doesn’t mix with it.
- You then need to put a small smear of stool on a slide that the lab person will give you.
- With the help of a wooden applicator, put it on a slide and flush the rest of the stool down the toilet.
- You need to seal the sample and write your name and date on it.
- As per further instructions, you need to repeat this process for the next 2 stools too.
What do you need to follow before the test? What to eat before a stool test?
For a few days, your doctor might ask you to restrict consuming certain foods that might impact your stool test results. The foods that you need to limit or completely quit a few days before stool test are:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen before a week before the test. Also, talk to your doctor before quitting some regular dosage of medicine.
- Do not eat red meat including beef, lamb, liver and pork for 3 days before testing.
- Tell your doctor about all allopathic, herbal, or natural drugs if you are consuming any.
- Do not take vitamin C supplements including all fruits and juices for 7 days before the test.
How accurate are stool tests?
Though medical science has advanced to an unimaginable extent still we should know that no test is 100% accurate. There could be discrepancies. The accuracy of stool tests detecting cancer could be as high as 70 percent. Although the occult test does not detect colorectal polyps.
How is stool test different from colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is an exam that lets your doctor detect the changes or abnormalities in your colon (large intestine) and rectum. In this procedure, a long flexible tube is inserted through the anus. It has a CCD camera or a fiber-optic camera that determines and examines the symptoms of colon infection and colon cancer.
The stool test or Fecal Occult test has a broader perspective. It might find the hidden blood in your stool which otherwise is not visible through naked eyes. And thereafter, if any abnormalities or abnormal DNA is detected further tests are conducted to find the cause. (Also read: Right time for colonoscopy)
Some other conditions apart from piles that might pertain to blood in stool test
- Polyps or cancer: These can start with very minor growths and can lead to colon cancer later. It often causes bleeding which you cannot know about without undergoing a test.
- Anal fissures: At times, an anal fissure can be quite deep to expose any muscle tissue. These are small cuts or tears in anus lining leading to bloody stool.
- Constipation: Passing hard dry stool can be very difficult and might lead to minor bleeding sometimes.
- Anal cancer: This can be due to the development of abnormal cells in the body. These can be benign or really dangerous to become cancerous later. These tumors can be determined with some minor bleeding in stool in initial stages.
- Peptic ulcers: These can be a result of long term use of any anti-inflammatory drugs. It is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or upper end of the small intestine often leading to blood in the stool.
- Angiodysplasia: A condition where feeble or abnormal blood vessels start to bleed.
- Colitis: This is an inflammatory reaction in the colon which can be often autoimmune or infectious.
- Diverticular disease: These are the small pouch-like structures on the colon wall. They might get infected sometimes and bleed.
- Esophageal problems: Some problems with varicose veins of the esophagus or tears in the esophagus might lead to blood loss via stool.
Take Away
So, this was all about the stool test for piles. Piles can be detected with the help of Fecal Occult Blood Test. And many more symptoms and infections could be traced with this test. You need to assume anything once your test results are out. You just need to talk to your physician before concluding anything by yourself. Sometimes, it could be a minor small infection and you can think the worst. So, sit back, know it all about this stool test and follow instructions and guidelines to be followed before such tests as your doctor says.
