Answer box: Blood in stool has many causes. Piles and fissure are the commonest, but ulcers, colitis, polyps and cancer can bleed too, so you should not guess. Dr Raman Garg, a leading surgical gastroenterologist at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Bathinda, Punjab, India, finds where the blood comes from with scope tests and treats the cause.
What does blood in stool mean? (Potty me khoon kyun aata hai?)
Seeing blood in the toilet is frightening. Many people hide it for months because they feel shy or hope it will go away. Please do not wait. Most causes can be treated well, and the earlier they are found, the simpler the treatment.
The colour tells a story:
- Bright red blood on the paper, on the stool or dripping into the toilet usually comes from the last part of the bowel or the back passage. Piles and fissure are common reasons.
- Dark red or maroon blood mixed with stool can come from higher up in the large bowel.
- Black, sticky, foul-smelling stool (melena) usually means bleeding from the stomach or food pipe, such as an ulcer. The blood is digested on its way down.
- Hidden blood you cannot see, found only on a stool test, can cause slow anaemia and tiredness.
A surgical gastroenterologist is a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. For bleeding, this matters: he can scope the gut to find the source and, if surgery is needed, operate himself.
Symptoms and when to worry
Bleeding often comes with other clues. Notice which ones you have:
- Pain or burning when passing stool (fissure)
- A lump or swelling at the back passage (piles)
- Itching or mucus discharge
- Loose stool, urgency and belly cramps (colitis, infection)
- Change in habit: new constipation or loose motions lasting weeks
- Weight loss, weakness, pale face, breathlessness on climbing stairs
- Burning in the stomach, vomiting, black stools (ulcer)
Get checked within a few days if you see blood even once, more so if you are above 40, if it returns, or if you have any clue above. Blood once in a while from piles is common, but you should confirm it, not assume it.
Red flags, same-day hospital care: Go to a hospital the same day if you pass a large amount of blood or clots, feel dizzy or faint, have a racing heartbeat, vomit blood or coffee-ground material, pass black tarry stools with weakness, or have severe belly pain with blood. Heavy bleeding can drop your blood pressure quickly. Call +91 82641-60001 for emergency care support, 24/7. See gastro emergency Bathinda.
Causes and risk factors
A 38 year old truck driver from Giddarbaha sits long hours, eats dhaba food and rarely drinks enough water. For two weeks he sees bright red blood after stool and thinks it is just piles. When he is finally examined, he does have piles, but a scope also shows an extra problem that was not obvious. This is why checking matters.
| Cause | Typical clue |
|---|---|
| Piles (bawasir, khooni bawasir) | Painless bright red blood, a lump, after hard stool. See piles treatment |
| Anal fissure (kat or chira) | Sharp pain during stool, a few drops of bright blood. See fissure treatment |
| Fistula or abscess | Pus, swelling, pain near the back passage. See fistula treatment |
| Colitis, Crohn's disease | Loose stool with blood and mucus, cramps. See ulcerative colitis and Crohn's treatment |
| Polyps in the colon | Often no symptoms; sometimes small bleeding |
| Colon or rectal cancer | Dark blood, change in habit, weight loss, anaemia. See colon cancer surgery |
| Stomach or duodenal ulcer | Black stools, burning, pain. See stomach ulcer treatment |
| Infection | Loose motions with blood and fever |
| Medicines | Painkiller tablets, blood thinners |
Risk goes up with age over 45, long constipation, a low-fibre diet, long hours of sitting, smoking, alcohol, painkiller use and a family history of bowel cancer or polyps.
How Dr Raman Garg diagnoses it
Dr Raman Garg begins with your history: colour of blood, how long, how much, any pain, change in stool, medicines, weight and family history. He then examines the belly and the back passage gently and in privacy, which often shows piles, a fissure or a fistula in minutes.
Tests are chosen by what the history suggests:
- Blood tests (in-house laboratory): Haemoglobin and pre-operative blood tests when needed
- Stool routine test: Looks for blood, pus and infection
- Upper GI endoscopy: For black stools or burning, to look at the food pipe, stomach and first part of the intestine. See endoscopy in Bathinda.
- Colonoscopy: A thin flexible tube with a camera looks at the whole large bowel. It finds polyps, colitis, growths and bleeding spots, and polyps can be removed or a biopsy taken in the same sitting. See colonoscopy in Bathinda.
- Biopsy (histopathology): A tiny sample sent for a lab report when something looks unusual
- CEA tumour marker: Used with other findings when cancer is suspected
- CT scan abdomen: Arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda; Dr Raman Garg reviews the report the same day
| Test | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Stool routine test | 100 | 150 | 300 |
| Pre-operative blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray | 1,500 | 2,500 | 4,000 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy) | 2,000 | 3,200 | 5,000 |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 4,500 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy or polyp removal | 7,000 | 10,000 | 18,000 |
| Biopsy report (histopathology), per sample | 800 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
| CEA tumour marker | 500 | 650 | 1,000 |
| CT scan abdomen | 3,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the number of tests needed, whether a biopsy or polyp removal is done during the scope and your health.
Published ranges from Mohali and Chandigarh hospitals put colonoscopy at about Rs 4,000 to 10,000. Metro hospitals often charge more.
Treatment options: medicines, procedure or surgery
Treatment follows the cause. Dr Raman Garg does not give a one-size plan.
1. Piles. Early piles often settle with softer stool, fibre, water, a short course of medicines and sitz baths (sitting in warm water). Piles that keep bleeding or hang out may need a procedure or surgery, chosen to suit the grade. See piles treatment.
2. Fissure. Soft stool, an ointment and warm water soaks heal many fissures. A fissure that stays more than 6 to 8 weeks may need minor surgery. See fissure treatment.
3. Fistula or abscess. Needs surgical care, as medicines alone do not close a fistula. See fistula treatment.
4. Colitis or Crohn's disease. Needs long-term medicine and follow-up, and Dr Raman Garg guides you.
5. Ulcer bleeding. Treated with stomach medicines, H pylori treatment where found, and, if bleeding is heavy, emergency care. See H pylori treatment.
6. Polyps. Many can be removed during colonoscopy. Removal is important because some polyps can turn into cancer over the years.
7. Colon or rectal cancer. Found early, surgery can treat it well in many patients. Dr Raman Garg plans the operation, often by keyhole technique, and explains next steps. Chemotherapy or radiation, where needed, is planned separately. See GI cancer surgery and the blog early signs of colon cancer.
Habits that help in nearly every case: 25 to 30 grams of fibre a day, 2.5 to 3 litres of water, a fixed toilet time, no straining, no more than 5 to 10 minutes on the toilet, walking daily, no painkiller tablets without advice. See constipation treatment.
Before and after: what to expect
Before a colonoscopy (if advised):
- A light diet for 1 to 2 days, then clear liquids the day before
- A bowel-cleaning solution as written for you, taken in two parts
- Tell us about blood thinners (stop only as advised), diabetes tablets and allergies
- Bring an adult to take you home if you have sedation
Day timeline for most patients:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Morning | Arrive at BGCI, check-up, sedation if advised |
| About 30 to 45 minutes | Colonoscopy, with biopsy or polyp removal if needed |
| After the test | Rest, tea and light food as advised |
| Same day | Dr Raman Garg explains what he saw and begins the plan |
| Few days later | Biopsy reports reviewed |
| 1 to 4 weeks | Follow-up by phone, video or OPD |
After treatment, for most patients:
| Stage | What most patients notice |
|---|---|
| After colonoscopy | Mild bloating for a few hours; most go home the same day |
| After minor piles or fissure care | Return to desk work within days as advised |
| After keyhole bowel surgery | Walking the same day; discharge within 24 hours may be possible for some keyhole surgeries, depending on the operation |
Risks and how they are handled
Colonoscopy and endoscopy are routine tests in experienced hands. Mild bloating or cramps for a few hours is common. Rare problems such as bleeding after biopsy or polyp removal, or a small tear, are explained before the test and managed by the team. Surgery for piles, fissure or bowel disease has its own risks, which Dr Raman Garg explains in simple words before you decide. The larger risk is waiting: ignoring blood in stool can let a treatable problem grow.
Cost of treatment in Bathinda
The cost depends on the cause. Typical Punjab figures for common treatments are below.
| Treatment | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piles surgery (stapler, open or ligation, as suited) | 35,000 | 55,000 | 85,000 |
| Anal fissure surgery (lateral sphincterotomy) | 28,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 |
| Fistula surgery | 35,000 | 55,000 | 85,000 |
| Emergency surgery for perforation or bleeding ulcer | 70,000 | 1,10,000 | 1,80,000 |
| Colon cancer surgery (laparoscopic or open) | 1,00,000 | 1,80,000 | 3,00,000 |
Cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy, radiation) is not included in surgery figures.
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the cause found, stage of disease, the type of procedure chosen and your health.
OPD consultation Rs 500 to 1,000. Piles surgery in published Mohali and Chandigarh ranges is about Rs 35,000 to 85,000. See the cost page.
Insurance and cashless treatment
BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs for cashless treatment, including Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Digit Insurance, Care Health Insurance, Vidal Health TPA, ICICI Lombard, Raksha TPA, Future Generali, SBI General Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Liberty General Insurance, IFFCO Tokio, Cholamandalam MS, Medi Assist TPA, and almost all other major insurers and TPAs.
- WhatsApp your insurance card and reports to +91 82641-60001.
- Our insurance desk checks your cover.
- The desk arranges pre-authorisation with your insurer or TPA.
- After treatment, the desk completes the claim paperwork.
Ayushman Bharat: Call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used. See cashless insurance.
Facilities at BGCI
- Advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite for upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy
- Fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory for blood, stool, CEA and biopsy work
- Modern laparoscopic operation theatre
- Comfortable patient rooms
- 24/7 emergency care support on +91 82641-60001
- Cashless insurance desk
- Stitchless laparoscopic technique with skin glue; same-day walking and discharge within 24 hours for most keyhole surgeries
- One surgeon from consultation to follow-up
- Online pre-arrival consultation for out-of-town and NRI patients: share reports on WhatsApp
- Follow-up by phone or video
- CT, MRI and similar scans arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, reports reviewed by Dr Raman Garg the same day
Why patients choose Dr Raman Garg
Dr Raman Garg is a Surgical Gastroenterologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon with 20+ years of experience and 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries, including 1,000+ laparoscopic hernia repairs. He holds an MBBS from Government Medical College, Patiala, an MS in General Surgery from Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, and a DNB in Surgical Gastroenterology from Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. He is the first surgical gastroenterologist in the Malwa belt of Punjab. See his profile.
For a patient with bleeding, the benefit is simple: one doctor who can examine you, scope you, remove a polyp, treat piles or fissure and, if ever needed, operate. You do not get passed between three doctors.
Patients we see from your area
Patients come from Mansa (50 km, 1 hr), Kotkapura (50 km, 1 hr), Faridkot (65 km, 1 hr 20 min), Giddarbaha (45 km, 1 hr) and many other towns. See areas we serve.
How to book
- Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 or +91 99885-03800. Heavy bleeding: go to the nearest emergency room first, then call us.
- Send old reports, haemoglobin results and your medicine list on WhatsApp.
- Visit OPD Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Sunday is emergency only.
- Dr Raman Garg examines you in privacy, advises tests and sets the plan the same day.
Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India. Email: bgcibathinda@gmail.com. See also book an appointment.
Related pages
Piles treatment | Fissure treatment | Fistula treatment | Colonoscopy | IBS treatment | Constipation treatment | All gastro treatments. Blogs: Blood in stool: causes and when to worry and Early signs of colon cancer.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.