Everyone goes through periods of stress or illness or poor food choices that result in digestive disorders. These problems, though, should resolve quickly as a normal course of sickness or overwhelm. When digestive symptoms are ongoing and impacting daily life, it’s critical to look deeper with your doctor to discover what’s really going on.
Unusual Bowel Movements
Chronic diarrhea or constipation are signs that something isn’t working correctly with your gastrointestinal system. If either of these complications are accompanied by black, tarry stools or blood in the stool, a serious condition could be to blame. Urgent medical attention is necessary to determine if these are signs of colorectal cancer or a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Abdominal Pain or Gut Pain
It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the source of abdominal pain, from appendicitis to ulcers, fibroids to food allergies. Persistent abdominal pain could be a sign of a more serious condition that requires testing to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Significant Weight Loss
A diagnosis of unexplained weight loss occurs when someone loses weight rapidly without significant changes to their diet, eating habits, or activity levels. This side effect could indicate digestive disorders like IBD or malabsorption.
Excessive Fatigue
When all you want to do is sleep, take a nap, or simply have no energy to do the things you enjoy, there is a good chance a digestive disorder could be to blame. Loss of nutrients from frequent bathroom visits to poor absorption of nutrients because of leaky gut can lead to extreme exhaustion, general malaise, and an overall feeling of being unwell.
Chronic Heartburn
Frequent episodes of heartburn are often an indicator of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux. This chronic problem occurs when acid backs up from the stomach into the esophagus – the opposite of what is supposed to happen with normal digestion. This problem can develop on its own or be an indicator of a larger, more complex digestive disorder.
Nausea and Vomiting
It’s easy to chalk up any nausea and vomiting to a stomach bug, but when these problems are not temporary and continue without reasonable explanation, don’t ignore it. Various conditions can lead to feeling sick and identifying the source of the problem with the help of your doctor is essential to ease discomfort.
Consult Dr. Jon Swetech to Diagnose Digestive Symptoms
When you don’t feel good, when your body is acting in ways that are abnormal for your usual state of being, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Jon Swetech, at Swetech Medical Center in Clinton Township, MI. Together, we will determine what your body is trying to communicate through your symptoms and expedite testing, bloodwork, scans, and other diagnostic measures as needed to find out what’s going on with your health.
Nothing in this blog is official medical advice. See your doctor for customized care.
