this isn't very nice, but is worrying.  After a bowel movement I noticed that what looked like blood was appearing around the contents of the loo (sorry!).  No sign of blood on the tissue, or visible to naked eye. I did panic a bit, then remembered I had eaten some beetroot the day before. Maybe it was because of that?  Was careful not to eat any more beetroot, but the next day the same happened.  The longer I left it before flushing, the more red appeared.  Seems to have stopped now, but I don't know if it is actually blood, or because of the beetroot in some way.  I have no piles, fissures that I know of, and no sign of blood anywhere else.  Any ideas?  How long does beetroot hang around in your system for?  I didn't have very much at all!

Phew!  Many thanks, again.  I know I worry, but I do actually know 2 people with terminal bowel cancer, so obviously that was very much on my mind.  I had never noticed this sort of thing before, so it was a bit of a shock.  Thank you very much!
Rosekay