Blood In Your Stool Bleeding From The Rectum And/or Change In The Appearance Of The Stool
One of the most disturbing symptoms of colon cancer can be bleeding from the rectum or blood in the toilet. Conditions such as hemorrhoids or fissures can also cause small amounts of blood, so if you notice blood, contact your physician and be sure to explain any other symptoms that you may be experiencing at the same time. A large amount of blood may warrant a visit to the emergency room.
The way that your stool looks can be a good indicator of what is going on inside your body. Small, hard stool is an indicator of constipation. But if you notice one of these other changes, contact your physician.
- Change in Shape. If your stool becomes thin, narrow or ribbon-like this could be an indication of changes inside your colon. Contact your health care provider to have the condition evaluated.
- Change in Color. If you notice blood in the stool, or darkened, or tarry stool this could also be an indication of changes inside the colon. Your physician can help you to determine the cause.
Whenyour Back Pain Could Be A More Serious Medical Problem
There are a few ways to tellthe difference between spinal stenosis and something more serious:
- Pain that gets worse when going uphill is more common with peripheral arterial disease, a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels leading to the your limbs.
- Arterial disease patients dont get relief from the grocery cart position.
- If your symptoms are worse at night but better with exercise, neuropathy may be to blame.
- In younger people, morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes and gets worse with stillness may be a sign of inflammatory arthritis, such as ankylosing spondylitis.
- Other unexplained symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue may be signs of a cancerous growth very rare, but absolutely worth looking into.
Serious issues such asmalignancies or abdominal aortic aneurysms rarely present with spine symptoms,Dr. Khalaf says, but sometimes they do. Theyre serious enough that rulingthem out is important.
Heartburn Or Acid Reflux
Similarly, heartburn is more often related to conditions like acid reflux and GERD but can also signify stomach cancer. The bacteria H. pyloriis not only linked to GERD and peptic ulcers but significantly increases the risk of stomach cancer.
On the flip side, chronic acid reflux can lead to a condition called Barrett’s esophagitis which, in turn, increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
You May Like: Chest Pain Headaches And Fatigue
Unexplained Weight Loss Loss Of Appetite And Feeling Weak
Losing weight, losing your appetite or feeling weak are all possible signs of colon or rectal cancer along with many other unrelated conditions. In patients with colon or rectal cancer, these symptoms are usually related. Persistent diarrhea can cause weight loss. Stomach pain and nausea can reduce your appetite so that you dont consume enough food to maintain your weight. All these issues, as well as anemia, can lead to weakness.
Third Trimester Care And Changes
Exercise: There are several exercise programs for expecting and post delivery mothers. Your doctor can suggest some, but youll need to know your own limitations. This is not the time to start an exercise program if you have never exercised before. Try walking.
Diet: A balanced diet is still key. Frequent, smaller meals will make you feel more comfortable. After your baby drops, you will experience less stomach discomfort. Before labor begins, many mothers actually lose weight or stop gaining.
Sexual relations: If you have a normal pregnancy you can have sex, but you may have to look for a more comfortable position. Its normal to lose temporary interest in sex. If you have risk factors for premature labor, have any bleeding or are carrying multiples, sex may be restricted. Check with your doctor.
Regular activities: Continue with your activities of daily living, as long you do not tire. Take rest periods throughout the day. Get off your feet, raise your legs, listen to relaxing music or take a nap. Slowly decrease the amount of bending, lifting, stooping and pushing you do as your pregnancy advances. Avoid carrying heavy laundry baskets and groceries, especially in your last trimester. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids, especially in warmer weather. By taking care of yourself you are taking good care of your baby.
You May Like: Does Colon Cancer Cause Fatigue
Read Also: Anti Fatigue Mat That Chair Can Roll On
Abdominal Pain And Bloating
Stomach bloating, distention, cramps or pain in the abdominal or bowel region can be symptoms of colon or rectal cancer. These are common issues that can also be caused by a number of conditions, including diet-related gastrointestinal distress, Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. See your doctor if you experience frequent abdominal pain and bloating that does not have an obvious cause.
Clinical Manifestations And Complications Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The major symptoms of UC are diarrhea, gross blood in stool, tenesmus, and crampy abdominal pain. The clinical manifestations of CD are influenced by the location of disease, which include the following: in ileocolitis: site of inflammation in the terminal ileum, pain and diarrhea, a palpable mass, fever, and leukocytosis, postprandial pain, bowel spasm in jejunoileitis: site of inflammation in the jejunum, malabsorption, and steatorrhea and diarrhea and in colitis: site of inflammation in the colon, fevers, malaise, diarrhea, and crampy abdominal pain.
Moreover, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and weight loss are other symptoms and signs of IBD. Complications of IBD include intestinal obstruction and perforation, massive hemorrhage, malabsorption, fistulas, abscesses severe perianal disease, and megacolon and rupture of the intestine. Complications occur more commonly in CD however, megacolon usually happens in UC. On average, 30% of IBD patients experience one of the manifestations of extraintestinal disease that includes dermatitis, rheumatological disorders, ocular complications, hepatobiliary complications, osteopenia and osteoporosis, and increased risk of thrombosis.7,8
Read Also: Most Common Causes Of Extreme Fatigue
How Is Rectal Bleeding Diagnosed
When you see a doctor for rectal bleeding, youll be asked a series of questions to help identify the cause. These can include when the rectal bleeding began, any foods you ate prior to the onset of symptoms, if you were constipated, and if you were straining during your bowel movement.
Your doctor will also perform a medical exam and take your medical history.
Tests that may help determine the cause of rectal bleeding include:
- Colonoscopy, in which a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on its tip is inserted into the rectum. This allows your doctor to view the inside of the entire colon and look for any abnormalities, notes the Mayo Clinic.
- Sigmoidoscopy, in which a healthcare provider uses a sigmoidoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera, to view the lower part of your colon and rectum. This test can help diagnose bowel disorders and cancer, per the Cleveland Clinic.
- Fecal occult blood test, which is a lab test to detect hidden, or occult, blood in stool. The test can be done in a few ways, either by the patient collecting stool samples and returning them to their doctor or a lab or by using a flushable pad or tissue that changes color when blood is present, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Risks And Causes Of Bowel Cancer
Your risk of developing bowel cancer depends on many things including age, genetics and lifestyle factors.
Anything that can increase your risk of cancer is called a risk factor. Those that lower the risk are called protective factors.
Having one or more risk factors doesnt mean that you will definitely get bowel cancer. Risk factors for bowel cancer include:
Read Also: How To Manage Ms Fatigue
What Tests Are Used To Find The Cause Of Blood In Stools
Your doctor will talk to you, examine you, and should arrange some tests to investigate the cause. The doctor will choose the right test for you based on your age, symptoms and medical history. Possible tests include:
- sigmoidoscopy a procedure where your doctor uses a camera to check inside your rectum and most of your lower large intestine
- colonoscopy a physician uses a camera that sits within a tube to examine your entire colon
- gastroscopy a tube is inserted through the mouth to look at the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine
Some of these tests are done under sedation and anaesthetic. Ask your doctor for more information.
Bacterial Infection Caused By Clostridium Difficile
Antibiotic use can disrupt the normal microorganisms that inhabit the human digestive tract, and a bacterium called Clostridium difficile can grow out of control in the intestines. Though relatively rare compared to other bacterial infections, C. Difficile is one of the leading causes of infectious diarrhea in the United States.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: abdominal pain , abdominal cramps , being severely ill, fever, watery diarrhea
Urgency: In-person visit
Don’t Miss: Can Prostate Cancer Cause Fatigue
Diagnosing A Bowel Obstruction
Your doctor will examine you and ask you questions. They will then arrange some tests and investigations. These might include blood and urine tests.
You may also have an abdominal x-ray. Or you might have a barium enema to find out exactly where the obstruction is in your bowel.
When Should I See A Doctor
As well as blood in your stool, you might have other symptoms that could indicate something more serious is going on.
If you have blood in your stool and you feel faint, dizzy or light-headed, this may be an emergency. Go to the nearest emergency department as soon as possible or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance.
If you are losing weight and have blood in your stool, this suggests an illness that needs treatment. See your doctor as soon as possible.
If you received some trauma to the area, you might have an injury or a foreign object in the area. Seek an examination from your doctor as soon as possible.
Also Check: Is Fatigue A Sign Of Liver Problems
Lower Back Pain And Blood In Stool: Causes Simplified
Lower back pain and blood in the stool can be a sign of painful analoororectal conditions such as analofissures, Rectall inflammation or ulcers, Inflammatory bowel disease. or colorectal cancer.
Always consult your doctor if you are not sure about the cause of blood in stool and back pain.
Here is a breakdown of the 9 causes of bloody stools and lower back pain.
Use Our Symptoms Diary To Record Changes To Your Health
Keeping track of your symptoms in our diary can help you describe them to your doctor, as it can be tricky to remember or explain what you’ve been experiencing during a short appointment. This will give a good indication to your doctor whether you need further tests.
Our symptoms diary was pioneered by one of our supporters Beth Purvis, who sadly passed away in 2021, and is supported by Coloplast and formally endorsed by the Royal College of GPs.
Don’t Miss: Best Exercise For Adrenal Fatigue
Diagnosis Of Blood In Stool
A primary care doctor should evaluate you if you find blood in your stool. During a physical exam, your physician will ask a series of questions to try and determine the location of the bleeding. If the blood is bright red or maroon-colored, it could indicate a digestive tract issue such as hemorrhoids. If the blood is black or tarry, it could indicate an ulcer or other upper GI condition.
To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may order a series of diagnostics including:
Can You Die From Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis usually isnt fatal, according to the Mayo Clinic. But it can cause severe and even life-threatening complications.
This means that ulcerative colitis is considered a serious illness, and you should treat its management and treatment with a similar seriousness.
Getting the right treatments for ulcerative colitis can cause a dramatic reduction in symptoms and possibly lead to lasting remission.
Additional reporting by Jordan M. Davidson
Read Also: Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Disorder
Change In Bowel Habits
While it is common for people to experience a change in their bowel habits from time to time, there are some changes that should be evaluated by a physician if they persist. If you notice any of these changes to your bowel habits, take note of when the changes began to occur and any other lifestyle changes may have occurred at the same time. This information will help your physician determine the cause.
- Diarrhea. Loose stool and diarrhea are common occurrences. The condition can be caused by intolerance to certain foods, medication, stress, or exposure to bacteria . Most people will get at least a mild case of diarrhea several times per year. In most cases, the condition will resolve itself within two to three days. Your health care provider should investigate diarrhea that lasts more than three days.
- Constipation. Constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements in a week, and it is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. Having constipation, however, does not mean you have colon cancer. A change in your diet, poor nutritional habits, stress, dehydration or lack of physical activity can also cause constipation. Physicians generally recommend that if you have constipation for more than two weeks, you should see your doctor so a cause can be determined.
Lower Back Pain And Diarrhea Treatment
There are several medical and at-home treatments for lower back pain and diarrhea, depending on the cause.
General back pain and diarrhea that are unrelated can often be relieved using home remedies. If a medical condition is causing your symptoms, your doctor will need to treat the underlying cause of your lower back pain and diarrhea.
Recommended Reading: 5 Stages Of Compassion Fatigue
You May Like: Shortness Of Breath Dizziness Fatigue
Changes In Bowel Habits
Changes in bowel habits that can indicate colon or rectal cancer include the following:
-
New-onset constipation or diarrhea
-
Changes in frequency or size and caliber of bowel movements
-
A bowel that doesnt seem to empty completely
-
Stool that is narrower than normal
Occasional bowel changes can be caused by a dietary change, disagreeable food or a viral/bacterial infection. However, if you are experiencing something new and unexplainedand it lasts more than a couple of dayssee your doctor.
Is Blood In Your Stools Serious
Often, blood in stool is a sign of hemorrhoids or piles. In some cases, however, it can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as bowel cancer or internal bleeding.
It is always best to check with a doctor if you notice blood in your stool. If you do not have blood in your stool, but there is a family history of bowel cancer, ask about screening.
Don’t Miss: Why Do Radiation Treatments Cause Fatigue
Campylobacter Small Intestine Infection
Infection with the Campylobacter bacterium is one of the leading causes of acute diarrhea worldwide. The risk for this infection is increased in people with HIV/AIDS.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal cramps , general abdominal pain, fever, severe diarrhea
Symptoms that always occur with campylobacter small intestine infection: diarrhea
Urgency: Primary care doctor
What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms
If you have jaundice, go to your GP or A& E straight away.
If you have any of the other symptoms, you dont know why you have them, and they last four weeks or more, go to your GP.
Give your GP a good description of your symptoms. Mention anything unusual, even if you are not sure if it is relevant. If your GP asks you to come back and see them at a later date, make sure you do. Read more about visiting your GP, and our tips for helping you talk to your GP.
If you have symptoms of pancreatic cancer, its really important that you contact your GP, despite the current situation with coronavirus. Dont worry about your GP or the NHS being too busy at the moment, or it being unsafe.
You May Like: Best Medicine For Depression And Fatigue
Can Physical Therapy Help Lower Back Pain
Physical therapy is one of the best ways to treat lower back pain, and if your bowel problems are related to back pain, it will ease those symptoms as well. Physical therapy will help ease lower back pain and help you find relief in motion. If you are struggling with this, it is best to seek physical therapy as soon as possible. This will help prevent any need for an operation down the line. In the worst cases, if you do need surgery, our team will be by your side every step of the way helping you recover.
To learn more about the link between lower back pain and constipation, or other bowel problems, call ProFysio Physical Therapy at 812-5200 or contact us online.
Categories
What Foods Can Cause Blood In Stool
Only foods that contain a large amount of blood , foods that contain large amounts of heme , or foods that cause laceration to the bowel cause blood in the stool. Sharp items that are not food glass, stones, metal can lacerate the bowel causing blood in the stool. Other foods can cause ulcers in the GI tract. Foods that are very high in acid, or foods that cause “metaplasia” or changing of the structure of cells can over the long term, can lead to bleeding.
Read Also: Can Allergies Cause Nausea And Fatigue
Not Having Any Symptoms At All
Keep in mind, that many people who are diagnosed with colon cancer report having no symptoms prior to their diagnosis. Over 45? Family history of colorectal cancer? Dont wait for symptoms to occur before you get screened. Talk to your physician or primary care provider to get more information about screening options.
