Sever pain abdomen and blood in stools

Dear Ask The Doctor: My daughter is away at college and yesterday she was taken to the ER.. her symptoms were stomach severe pain and having trouble breathing. they gave her some medicine to drink to help numb the pain inside.. did blood work and then sent her home saying the thought it was stress and anxiety--- It is finals week--- she slept all day yesterday-- has not eaten yesterday or today. woke up this morning with dark maroon color blood in stool.... it was a hard stool.. does she need to go back to the e.r.?? I am 3 hours away and my hands are tied as to helping her.. what can we do

Dear Missy: Pain abdomen and blood in stools could be cause by various conditions like gastroenteritis or appendicitis. There is also the possibility that constipation and the hard stools would have lead to abdominal pain and bleed. If your daughters symptoms are not worsening, there is no need for her to go to the ER. If however, she continues to experience abdominal pain and blood in stool, further investigations such as an ultrasound and stool analysis may be required.