Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

The most common and medically significant cause of these three symptoms together is inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; chronic gut inflammation leads to diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, and fatigue from anemia and poor nutrient absorption. Other conditions like infectious or ischemic colitis, colorectal cancer, celiac disease, and hemorrhoids can also present this way. There are several factors to consider; see below for key warning signs, how doctors diagnose it, and treatment options that can guide your next steps.

Gut pain with anemia is usually due to a problem in the digestive tract; common causes include slow GI bleeding from ulcers or gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, H. pylori infection, colon polyps or colorectal cancer, parasitic infections, and other malabsorption conditions. There are several factors to consider. See below for key warning signs that need urgent care, how doctors find the source, and the treatments that can help.

IBS attacks often feel like cramping abdominal pain that may improve after a bowel movement, with bloating and gas, and sudden changes in bowel habits including diarrhea, constipation, urgency, and a sense of incomplete emptying. There are several factors to consider, such as fatigue, nausea, and stress or food triggers, typical flares lasting hours to days, and red flags like bleeding, fever, weight loss, or pain that wakes you which require medical evaluation; see below to understand more.

A mild ulcerative colitis flare typically feels like looser, more frequent stools with urgency, mild lower belly cramps, small streaks of bright red blood or mucus, tenesmus, and subtle fatigue or bloating, while daily activities are still possible. There are several factors to consider; see below for triggers, expected duration, and red flags like heavy bleeding, fever, severe or constant pain, more than six watery stools a day, or dehydration that indicate you should contact a doctor or seek urgent care.

Bowel inflammation, often from inflammatory bowel disease, damages the intestinal lining and disrupts normal digestive function, leading to poor nutrient absorption, altered motility with diarrhea and urgency, abdominal pain, bleeding, dehydration, weight loss, and fatigue. There are several factors to consider, including whole body effects, differences between IBD and IBS, potential complications like strictures, fistulas, and increased colon cancer risk, and when to seek care and how it is diagnosed and treated. See the complete answer below to understand key warning signs and next steps that could affect your health decisions.

Early Crohn’s often feels like recurring, subtle digestive trouble with cramping or aching belly pain (often lower right), on and off diarrhea or urgency, bloating and gas, out of proportion fatigue, and sometimes reduced appetite, unintentional weight loss, low grade fever, joint aches, or mouth sores. There are several factors to consider: red flags that merit medical attention include symptoms lasting more than a few weeks, nighttime symptoms that wake you, blood or mucus in stool, and weight loss or persistent fatigue; see the complete details below to understand differences from IBS and which next steps might be right for you.

Persistent stomach pain for more than 2 to 3 weeks usually means your body needs a closer look, with common causes ranging from gastritis, ulcers, reflux, IBS and constipation to food intolerances, lingering infections like H. pylori, inflammatory conditions such as IBD, gallbladder or pancreas problems, and the effects of stress. There are several factors to consider and some red flags that need urgent care, like weight loss, persistent vomiting, blood in or black stools, severe night pain, fever, trouble swallowing, or yellowing skin or eyes; see the complete guidance on what to do next, what to track, and which tests doctors use below.

Serious abdominal pain often feels sharp, crushing, or stabbing, persists or worsens over hours, is focused in a specific spot, and can be disabling or worse with movement or touch. Warning signs include fever, relentless nausea or vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, black or tarry stools, a hard swollen belly, dizziness or fainting, or inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement, which warrant urgent care. There are several factors and location-specific clues to consider, including special situations like pregnancy, children, and older adults; see the complete guidance below.

Foods that often aggravate IBD during flares include insoluble high fiber foods like raw vegetables, popcorn, nuts and seeds, fatty or fried foods, dairy if lactose intolerant, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, sugary foods and sugar alcohols, ultra-processed foods, and red or processed meats. Triggers vary by person and diet changes do not replace medical care, so there are several factors to consider; see the complete guidance below for safer swaps during flares, how to log and identify your own triggers, and when to contact a doctor.

Conditions most often mistaken for IBD include IBS, infectious colitis, celiac disease, lactose or other food intolerances, diverticular disease, microscopic colitis, colon cancer and other cancers, endometriosis, and medication side effects. There are several factors to consider. See below for the key differences, red flags, and tests that can guide the right next steps and treatment plan.

During a bowel flare-up in IBD, the immune system overreacts and inflames the intestinal lining, causing swelling and sometimes ulcers that disrupt absorption and motility. This leads to urgent diarrhea, cramping or pain, and often blood or mucus in the stool. Whole-body effects like fatigue, low appetite, fever, and weight loss can appear, and severity ranges from mild to serious with risks like dehydration or ongoing bleeding. There are several factors to consider, including triggers, red flags, and treatments that can change your next steps; see below to understand more.

Untreated IBS does not damage the intestines or increase colon cancer risk, but symptoms often persist or worsen, undermining daily activities and mental health and sometimes prompting restrictive eating or unhelpful self-treatment. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Evaluation helps rule out other causes and catch red flag symptoms like unexplained weight loss or blood in the stool, and early, tailored management can reduce flares and improve quality of life.

Pain, diarrhea, and weakness together most often point to a digestive cause, with inflammatory bowel disease being a key concern, but IBS, short term infections, celiac disease, medication effects, and other inflammatory or systemic conditions can also do this. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like blood in stool, weight loss, fever, severe pain, dehydration, or symptoms lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, and what tests help tell these apart; see below for the complete answer and guidance on next steps.

Red flags include severe or worsening pain, fever, persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down, blood in stool or vomit, chest pain or shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite, jaundice, and any severe pain during pregnancy. There are several factors to consider, including higher risk in older adults, people with weakened immunity, cancer history, or known organ disease. See below for important details that can guide whether to call your doctor now or seek urgent care.

Recurring abdominal pain linked to changes in bowel habits is the biggest and most defining symptom of IBS, often changing with or after a bowel movement. There are several factors to consider that can affect diagnosis and next steps, including the specific stool pattern, other common symptoms, and red flags that require medical attention; see below for the complete answer.

The biggest trigger for IBS is stress acting through the brain gut connection, which heightens gut sensitivity and can speed up or slow down bowel movements. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand how foods, hormones, and past infections can amplify flares, plus practical ways to manage symptoms and the red flags that mean you should see a doctor.

Stomach pains you should never ignore include sudden severe pain or pain that worsens, and pain with red flags like fever, persistent vomiting, blood in or black stools, chest pain or shortness of breath, right lower abdominal pain suggesting appendicitis, upper right pain after fatty meals suggesting gallbladder problems, pain that wakes you at night, unintended weight loss, or severe one sided pain in pregnancy especially with bleeding. These signs can point to emergencies or serious conditions that need prompt medical evaluation. There are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below for important details and clear next steps on when to call a doctor versus go to urgent or emergency care.

During a flare, most people with IBD do best with a low-residue approach focused on simple, well-cooked, low-fiber foods and ample hydration. Choose refined grains, lean proteins like eggs, fish, or tofu, cooked peeled vegetables and low-fiber fruits, and consider lactose-free dairy; avoid raw high-fiber foods, nuts and seeds, greasy or spicy dishes, sugar alcohols, caffeine, and alcohol. There are several factors to consider; see below for guidance on electrolytes, potential nutrient deficiencies, how to reintroduce foods safely, when special medical diets are needed, and red flags that mean you should seek care, as these details may affect your next steps.

To soothe an inflamed bowel, choose soft, low fiber, easy to digest foods such as white rice or plain pasta, skinless chicken or fish, eggs or tofu, and well cooked vegetables and fruits like carrots, peeled zucchini, bananas, and unsweetened applesauce, and sip water, broths, or oral rehydration solutions. Limit raw salads, nuts and seeds, popcorn, spicy or fried foods, processed meats, alcohol, caffeine, and high sugar items; small amounts of yogurt with live cultures or lactose free kefir may help when symptoms are mild. There are several factors to consider, including how IBD differs from IBS, how and when to reintroduce fiber, and when to seek care for red flag symptoms, so see the complete guidance below.

Choose gentle, easy-to-digest foods: well-cooked low fiber vegetables, bananas or applesauce, refined grains like white rice or well-cooked oatmeal, and lean proteins such as eggs, fish, tofu, or skinless poultry, with small amounts of healthy fats; limit raw high fiber foods, spicy items, alcohol, caffeine, fried or highly processed foods, and excess sugar. There are several factors to consider, including what to do during flares versus remission, how dairy or probiotics may affect you, whether symptoms suggest IBS or IBD, and red flags that need medical care; see the complete guidance below to decide safe next steps.

Ulcerative colitis pain is typically crampy, aching discomfort in the lower abdomen, often on the lower left, that comes in waves with urgency and may ease after a bowel movement; gas pressure and bloating can also occur, especially during flares. Severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever, abdominal swelling, or pain that feels different can signal complications and needs prompt medical care; there are several factors to consider, so see below for key details on pain patterns, red flags, and the right next steps.

Abdominal pain with bleeding should be checked for IBD when it lasts more than two to three weeks, keeps returning or is getting worse, or occurs with bowel changes such as persistent diarrhea, urgency, or a feeling of incomplete emptying, especially with weight loss, fatigue, fever, or anemia. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Seek urgent care right away for severe or worsening pain, heavy or continuous bleeding, black tar-like stools, vomiting blood, dizziness or fainting, or fever with abdominal tenderness, and find next steps and full details below.

Most often in the lower right abdomen, where the terminal ileum is located; pain can also appear in the lower left abdomen, around the belly button, the upper abdomen, or the rectal and anal area, depending on which part of the GI tract is inflamed. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand how pain location changes during flares, when symptoms signal an urgent problem, and which details can guide your next steps and a discussion with your doctor.

IBD pain is usually felt in the abdomen and varies by what part of the gut is inflamed: Crohn’s most often causes lower right abdominal pain but can be diffuse, upper abdominal, or perianal, while ulcerative colitis typically causes lower left abdominal and rectal pain with cramping. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand how pain can shift during flares, when symptoms outside the abdomen can occur, and which warning signs should prompt urgent medical care.

Mucus with blood in stool usually points to irritation or inflammation in the lower gut, often from hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but it can also come from infections, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, or less commonly colon polyps or cancer; the blood’s color and any accompanying symptoms are key clues. There are several factors to consider, including when to seek urgent care or talk to a doctor if bleeding is persistent, heavy, black or tarry, or accompanied by pain, fever, dizziness, or weight loss; see below for important details, tests doctors may use, and immediate steps you can take.

Bowel symptoms often flare around menstruation because hormone shifts and prostaglandins change gut motility and sensitivity, causing constipation before a period and diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and gas during bleeding; the gut-brain axis and temporary inflammation add to this, and IBS can make everything feel worse. There are several factors to consider, including red-flag symptoms and other possible causes like endometriosis, IBD, or celiac disease; see below for complete details that could shape your next steps and when to speak with a clinician.

There are several factors to consider, from a normal vasovagal response and straining to dehydration or electrolyte loss, blood sugar dips, stress via the gut brain axis, and IBS; see below to understand more. More serious causes like IBD and anemia from GI bleeding can also do this, so if the fatigue is persistent or paired with red flags such as blood or black stools, weight loss, fever, severe abdominal pain, or weeks of diarrhea or constipation, contact a clinician; key warning signs, practical steps, and how to tell IBS from IBD are covered below.

Abdominal pain with diarrhea is most often due to temporary causes like infection, food intolerance, or IBS, but if it keeps coming back, lasts more than 2 to 3 weeks, or is severe, it could be inflammatory bowel disease. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like blood in stool, weight loss, fever, or nighttime diarrhea; see below for key differences between IBS and IBD, how IBD is diagnosed, and the next steps to take.

There are several factors to consider. Daily stomach pain with loose stools most commonly comes from IBS, food intolerances, stress related gut changes, medication side effects, or lingering infections and gut imbalances, with less common but important causes like inflammatory bowel disease and gallbladder or pancreatic issues. See the complete answer below for key warning signs and next steps, and seek prompt care if you notice blood or black stools, fever, unintended weight loss, severe or night time pain, or signs of dehydration.

Abdominal pain often worsens right before a period because estrogen and progesterone drop, prostaglandins rise and trigger stronger uterine contractions, and hormone related digestive changes like bloating or constipation increase pressure and pain sensitivity; it often eases once bleeding begins as prostaglandins fall. There are several factors to consider, including pressure on nearby organs, stress related muscle tension, and conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, IBS, or primary dysmenorrhea, plus red flags such as sudden severe pain, fever, vomiting, fainting, or heavy bleeding that need medical care; see below for details, home relief options, and when to seek help.