Can dietary changes, fiber supplements, and exercise relieve constipation?

Question

Hello doctor,

About five weeks ago, I experienced some light bleeding in the stool for about five days. A rectal exam revealed an external hemorrhoid. I also had a Qfit (quantitative fecal immunochemical) test done, with levels slightly raised at 14. My general practitioner said he would not be overly worried. I have been struggling with chronic constipation for almost two years since entering perimenopause. I had a colonoscopy and a CT (computed tomography) scan of the pelvic area last year, both of which showed everything was fine.

Last week, I was very constipated, passing only pellet-like, hard stools. After taking a laxative, I had a massive bowel movement, huge, with some bright red blood. The doctor attributed it to severe constipation. After passing this large stool, I experienced looser stools with no blood. There were some spots of blood in the stool. Again, I was constipated over the weekend, passing a lot of hard stools, causing pain and some blood, which is understandable.

Today, I had some hard stools and some soft ones. The first hard stool I passed had no blood, but there was a spot or two in the second one. Do you think there is anything worrisome here? Could it be due to constipation? They are going to refer me for a virtual colonoscopy to double-check. My complete blood count is normal. Do you think there is anything to worry about?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query, and I can understand your concern.

Based on the information you provided, it is possible that the light bleeding you have been experiencing could be related to chronic constipation. Constipation can lead to hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass, causing rectal bleeding and pain, known as rectal fissures or anal fissures. However, it is important to note that you had a rectal exam, and an external hemorrhoid was found, which could potentially be causing some of the bleeding. Additionally, your Qfit test results suggest that you may have some inflammation in your colon, contributing to the bleeding.

Given the complexity of your symptoms and the potential for underlying conditions, I recommend consulting with a healthcare provider for further evaluation and management. They can help determine the cause of your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan based on your circumstances. In the meantime, it may be helpful to continue managing your constipation with dietary changes, fiber supplements, and regular exercise. Additionally, consider increasing your fluid intake to help soften your stools and prevent further constipation-related bleeding.

I hope your queries are resolved, and any further queries are welcome.

Thank you.