Many other symptoms may be present as well, and the pain may affect different areas of the digestive system, depending on the disease. Your specific set of symptoms can help your healthcare provider determine whether you have IBD and, if so, which type.
Frequent Symptoms
IBD is a painful condition and some of its symptoms can be worrisome. While there’s a fair amount of overlap between the different types of IBD, each has its own potential set of symptoms.
IC is diagnosed when it’s not clear whether the condition is Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis because the disease does not fit the whole picture of each disease, so any combination of symptoms can be seen in IC.
Blood in the stool is a common symptom of UC and IC. It’s less frequent in Crohn’s disease. There are times when it can be a serious concern, leading to significant blood loss.
Mucus in the Stool
Mucus is a normal part of stool, but it usually isn’t obviously visible. and it is not always a cause for alarm. If you have enough mucus in the stool that you’re aware of it, there could be several reasons why.
People with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease sometimes pass visible amounts of mucus in their stool, either as a result of ulcers in the colon or possibly due to a fissure.
People who have had surgery for ulcerative colitis and have a j-pouch (ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, or IPAA) may also pass mucus, which could be a sign of a condition called pouchitis.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain (usually described as stomach pain) can be a symptom of many different diseases.
People with ulcerative colitis tend to have cramp-like pain that is located in the lower-left portion of the abdomen. People with Crohn’s disease tend to have pain in the middle or lower-right abdomen (although pain could show up in other parts of the abdomen, too).
Not everyone with IBD has pain, and the pain may come and go, sometimes occurring after a meal or relieved by having a bowel movement.
Persistent Diarrhea
Diarrhea has many causes, and even healthy adults may have diarrhea a few times a year. Often, diarrhea resolves on its own, and the cause may go undiscovered. Persistent diarrhea lasting more than three days can be a sign of a problem that might need treatment.
People with IBD often have episodes of “explosive diarrhea” several times a day. This type of diarrhea is just as the name implies—rapid, sudden, and severe. This could be anywhere from three up to 10 or even 20 watery bowel movements daily.
Unintended Weight Loss
Losing weight without restricting calories or exercising is usually a sign of a medical issue.
Diarrhea, lack of appetite, and active inflammation resulting in protein-losing enteropathy can result in unintended weight loss.
Your healthcare providers might recommend that you gain weight while in remission from IBD. Make sure to do this in a healthy way, by eating fresh, nutrient rich food that’s not processed,
Rare Symptoms
In rare cases, some people with IBD may also present with:
FeversFatigueJoint painSkin rashesVision changesRed eyeIncreased menstrual symptomsFlare-ups of IBD symptoms before or during a menstrual period
Your medical team should be able to help you manage these symptoms.
Complications
IBD is hard on your intestines and various systems in your body. Over time, and especially if treatment is delayed or inadequate, some people develop serious complications.
Potential complications of IBD include:
Bowel obstructionBowel perforationIntestinal abscessesIntestinal fistulasIntestinal fissuresToxic megacolonColorectal cancer
Some complications that may strike outside of the digestive system include:
Delayed growth (in children)Eye diseaseArthritis (especially seronegative spondyloarthropathy)OsteoporosisIncreased risk of gallstonesIncreased risk of kidney stonesNeurological symptoms, which can be severeAnemiaBlood and circulatory problemsMouth ulcersDifficulty getting pregnant
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you’re experiencing ongoing or severe digestive symptoms, you should see your primary care physician. Due to the difficulties involved in the diagnosis, you may be referred to a gastroenterologist.
Significant abdominal pain could mean many things and should be checked out by a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Don’t assume this is due to IBD. If it’s accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and fever, it could be a sign of a bowel obstruction, which requires immediate medical care. Any blood in the stool should always be checked out by a medical professional right away. The blood loss of UC and IC can be significant. If it continues or is accompanied by diarrhea, pain, or vomiting, see a practitioner immediately. If the mucus in stool is accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea, see a healthcare provider right away to get it checked out. Suddenly losing weight unexpectedly is a reason to talk to a practitioner, especially if there is also ongoing diarrhea, vomiting, or a lack of appetite. If diarrhea doesn’t resolve on its own and is also accompanied by abdominal pain, blood in the stool, weight loss, fever, or other symptoms, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
If abdominal pain is severe or rectal bleeding is substantial, you may have a serious condition that needs emergency medical treatment.
A Word From Verywell
IBD symptoms can be scary and a proper diagnosis can take some time. That may be frustrating, but each IBD requires different treatments, so it’s important to work with your healthcare provider to figure out exactly what’s going on in your digestive system and get started with the right course for you. Doing so can help minimize the effects of the disease on your daily life.
Severe abdominal pain that lasts for more than one hour Significant or new rectal bleeding Persistent vomiting, especially if you’ve stopped having bowel movements Drastic changes in bowel movements without any passing of gas High temperature, especially if taking corticosteroids or other medications that might be affecting your immune system
Abdominal painAbdominal crampingDiarrheaPoor appetiteBloody stoolsRectal bleedingWeight loss
Intestines: bowel perforation, toxic megacolonKidneys: kidney stonesLiver: pericholangitisGallbladder: GallstonesJoints: ankylosing spondylitis, sacroiliitis, axial arthritis, peripheral arthritisEyes: episcleritis, scleritis, iritis, uveitisSkin: erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum
There was an error. Please try again.
