Six months ago, I started having fresh, red blood on the toilet paper, and in small clumps in and on the poo. Doc said it was a 'roid... it's still there, but there's still no -- nor has there ever been -- any pain or discomfort. Now I'm experiencing anal leakage when passing gas. My diet is fine (no olestra or junk food), I'm only 38, I excerise regurlarly and consider myself a healthy guy. Any ideas?

Dear Leaky Joe,

Anal leakage is usually caused by some type of obstruction in the anal canal. Could be that your 'roid is a biggy, and is making it impossible for the muscles around it to completely close your hole just right. Or you could have a small impaction of feces in the rectum that is allowing liquids to seep out around it.

Internal hemorrhoids are usually not painful like the external butt berries are, but do bleed quite often as a result of stool scraping past them.

You could try an enema at home to see if you remove any impacted fecal matter, and get some of those hemorrhoid pads that you tuck between your butt cheeks--even if only to slow the flow of your sharts. After that, I suggest you go back to your doctor for a follow-up.

Thanks for asking Motherload!

Motherload is a Certified Nurse Assistant as well as an IBS sufferer, which means she knows a lot about poop. Got a question for her? Ask it here. [1]