Hi.
I'm 24 years old and have been experiencing on/off rectal bleeding for a few months now. I first experienced bleeding whilst at university a couple of years ago. After I had passed a stool, the toilet/paper was bloody but the bleeding soon stopped after a couple of days and I displayed no other symptoms so thought nothing of it. In August 2020, I had some constipation and passed bloody stools/was bleeding when I wiped but again my bowels went back to normal and I didn't pass any bloody stools for a while. However since January, I have had on/off rectal bleeding - some days my stools will be bloody (small streaks/spots of blood) and it will be bloody when I wipe but some days there's no bleeding (or at least I can't see any blood!). The rectal bleeding starts again the week before my period is due and then after my period it will stop (that's what I've been noticing the last couple of months). In terms of bowel habits, normally I will pass one stool every day or every couple of days but sometimes I can pass two stools in one day. I've had constipation a couple of times but I haven't had diarrhea as such and my stools look relativley normal (aside from the bleeding).
I've had other symptoms as well including occassional trapped wind, lower back pain, itchiness around the bottom and occasional pain when passing a stool. Some days I feel tired but usually I put this down to work and often tiredness is relieved by rest. My apetite has been ok however there were a few days recently where I couldn't eat/wouldn't feel hungry first thing in the morning but during the day I would start feeling hungry again but when I came to eat would feel full but my appetite has now come back.
Sorry for the gory details but I'm bit concerned as to what is causing this. I'm really hoping it isn't cancer but I can't help but worry. I did think it could be piles, irritable bowel syndrome or a vein or something like that but the bleeding has been on/off for a while now which is worrying but I am going to visit my doctor.
Has anyone else had symptoms similar to mine at all?
Hoping it's nothing too serious!
