Written by Dr Gareth Parkes, Consultant in Gastroenterology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust and spokesperson for Crohn's and Colitis UK
It’s important to understand what symptoms outside of the gut could indicate something more serious.
The gut is an important organ within our bodies often overlooked and from time to time, some of us will experience issues. If you experience symptoms such as cramping, pain or bloating, this can be an indication that you need to put more care and consideration into your health and wellbeing or it could be a sign that something more serious is going on.
Knowing and understanding your gut and what it is trying to tell you can help you to regain a sense of control with your health and gut wellbeing. If you begin to experience symptoms or your gut feels like something isn’t right, it is important to listen to it and act. It’s also important to understand what symptoms outside of the gut could indicate something more serious.
Here, Dr Gareth Parkes, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Royal London Hospital and spokesperson for Crohn’s & Colitis UK offers insight into the signs that indicate something more serious could be happening within the gut.
If you have constant cramping, bloating and pain in the abdomen
Dr Gareth Parkes says: ‘Abdominal pain, cramping and bloating can be signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Coeliac disease or they can also be indicative of the condition, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, affecting more than 300,000 people in the UK. It can be hard to distinguish between IBS and IBD but the symptoms for the latter are often more severe and can be very debilitating. If you are experiencing chronic pain it would be advised to visit your GP for referral to a specialist consultant.’
You are passing loose stools regularly
Dr Gareth Parkes says: ‘Diarrhoea is defined as passing loose stools at least 3 times a day. This often comes together with a sense of urgency which can be unsettling and stressful when navigating day to day life. Chronic diarrhoea lastly more than four weeks can be due to a number of conditions including Coeliac disease, parasite infection, IBS or you might have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. During this time, you may also experience dehydration, so it is important to consume plenty of fluids and get checked by a doctor as soon as you can. Your GP can perform a simple test on your poo to look for inflammation.’
If you are experiencing an ongoing loss of appetite and have had unintentional, persistent weight loss
Dr Gareth Parkes says: ‘Loss of appetite is not unfamiliar to most but coupled with pain and weight loss, it could be your body telling you something is wrong. Weight loss should never be drastic and sudden; therefore, this could be a sign of something more serious. Not eating the right amount of food in a day paired with diarrhoea can result in being under-nourished and experiencing sudden and dramatic weight loss. Many conditions including cancer, malabsorption and inflammation can cause persistent weight loss Fluctuating weight is something that is commonly seen in people with Crohn’s or Colitis reflecting flare-ups and periods of remissions.’
You feel overwhelmingly tired day-to-day
Dr Gareth Parkes says: ‘If you’re struggling to get through each day due to low energy levels and stomach problems, this could be a sign that your gut issue is much more serious than just IBS or just a stressed tummy. You could be experiencing fatigue - an all-consuming sense of continuing tiredness, lack of energy or feeling of exhaustion that is not relieved after rest or sleep. Although this is an incredibly common condition which can be linked to multiple condition if it is associated with cramping, bloating or other stomach pains could be a sign that you have something such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease.’
If you have blood in your stools
Dr Gareth Parkes says: ‘If you begin to notice recurring blood in your stools, during bouts of diarrhoea or any other given time, it is important you get checked quickly. Blood in the stool can sometimes be harmless, particularly if it is bright red as this can be fresh blood from a haemorrhoid or anal fissures, but if the blood is dark red it is likely to be coming from within the gut which is a cause for concern. Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease and in some cases, Bowel Cancer, can all be a reason for experiencing this, therefore it is important that you are evaluated as soon as possible.’
You have constantly been getting mouth ulcers
Dr Gareth Parkes says: ‘Many people experience mouth ulcers, but these should normally resolve in a few days. If they persist for weeks and are associated with abdominal pain or diarrhoea then these could be a symptom of Crohn’s disease These will normally occur during a ‘flare-up’ and can be due to nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12, iron and folate.’
Crohn’s and Colitis UK is the national charity leading the battle against Crohn’s Disease. Their annual WALK IT events raise funds and vital awareness of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. WORLD IBD Day 19th May 2018. For more information and support please visit Crohn’s & Colitis UK - crohnsandcolitis.org.uk or phone their information line 0300 222 5700.
Tagged in IBS