Bloody stool and IBS
Finding blood in your stool can be alarming and it’s important that you don’t ignore it, hoping it will just go away. You should inform your doctor immediately so that the cause of the blood can be investigated. Blood in the stool can be bright red indicating that the source of the bleeding is either in or around the rectum and anal passage whereas black tarry stools means that there could be bleeding somewhere higher up in the digestive tract. Sometimes the quantity of blood is so small it cannot be detected by the eye but it can still be picked up in tests.
What can cause blood in the stools?
There are several reasons why this might occur, some of them more serious than others. For example, severe constipation and straining can cause a little tear in the delicate skin around the rectum leading to bleeding. Haemorrhoids can also cause bleeding. Other causes can include Crohn’s disease, ulcers, other conditions of the digestive tract and both benign and malignant growths.
It’s important to note that blood in the stool is not classed a symptom of IBS so if you experience this you should inform your doctor regardless of the type of bleeding.
How IBS is diagnosed and are there any tests?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a test or scan that can diagnose IBS. IBS is a complex disorder affecting people in different ways. If you have bowel movements that are happening too often or not often enough and if the consistency of the stools is too loose or too hard and you have abdominal pain and bloating that is relieved by performing a bowel movement then it is possible that you could have IBS.
Your doctor will ask you a number of questions and will try to identify if there is any other condition that could be causing your symptoms. You may be asked to undergo certain tests and these include the following:
- A full blood count could be taken to check whether you are anaemic. The presence of anaemia can also indicate the possibility that you have bleeding in your digestive tract
- Blood tests performed to identify the possibility of other conditions that may be the cause of your symptoms
- Hydrogen breath-test, which can reveal if you have intolerance to certain kinds of food such as those containing lactose for example
- Stools examined to identify infection and the presence of any blood in the stools
- Scans which can reveal any abnormality or damage within the digestive tract
These tests are not designed to detect IBS, but to identify other conditions of the digestive tract. Only when no other cause can be found for your symptoms are you likely to be diagnosed with IBS.
IBS is now the most common complaint seen by gastroenterologists today and yet we know very little about the cause as there would appear to be a number of causes or triggers of IBS including an imbalance of bacteria in the gut, food intolerances, hormonal and environmental influences and sometimes there is no apparent cause whatsoever. What is known is that stress and anxiety make IBS much worse so it’s important to deal with any underlying problems, worries or anxieties as part of any treatment plan for IBS.
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