Gastrointestinal & Buttocks
Pain in your abdomen can be from small things like a virus or food intolerance. But it can also be a sign of a serious issue like appendicitis or a bowel obstruction. Here’s how to figure out what’s causing your pain.
If your stool smells worse than usual, it may simply be due to something you ate. But it may be a sign of something more serious, such as irritable bowel disease.
Regurgitation is when food, liquid, or stomach acid flows back up from the stomach and into the mouth. It can happen from eating too fast. Or if you are overweight or pregnant. If it happens a lot, there may be an underlying issue.
Diarrhea is loose or watery stool, or having a stool at least 3 times in 24 hours. Common causes include viral gastroenteritis, bacterial infection, C. Diff colitis, medications, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease.
What causes rectal pain? Read about the top 9 rectal pain causes and rectal pain relief and treatment options to alleviate your rectal discomfort.
Noticing mucus in diarrhea could be a variation of normal. Mucus is secreted by your intestines and is part of the digestive process. But seeing large amounts may indicate something is off in your digestive tract. Analyzing additional symptoms can help you clue into next steps for diagnosis and treatment.
Projectile vomiting is a forceful type of throwing up that can seem scary. The good news is that many of its causes—such as food poisoning and stomach bugs—aren’t dangerous and are often easy to treat.
The constant urge to pass a stool is also known as tenesmus and may be associated with stomach pain. It is commonly caused by obstruction or contraction within the intestines, a bacterial infection, or a nerve abnormality in the digestive system.
Constipation is when you have less than three bowel movements a week or if it’s incredibly hard to push stool out when you go to the bathroom. There are many causes, including a poor diet, immobility, a side effect of medication, or another underlying medical condition.
See Constipation treatmentsAre you experiencing fatty stools that are hard to flush? Many of us suffer from greasy or fatty stools from time to time. However, persistent oily stool can point to a disorder in the gut, such as pancreatitis, IBS, or gallstones.
You feel a burning sensation in your chest. You sit up, and it seems to get better. But as soon as you lay back down, the pain comes back. You likely have heartburn. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid travels up into your esophagus and burns its lining.
Incomplete evacuation of stool, or even just the sensation of not emptying your bowel, can be frustrating. It may be caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, or an autoimmune disorder like ulcerative colitis. If you feel like you're not passing all the stool, talk to your doctor.
Sometimes the cause is obvious, such as a stomach virus. But a decreased appetite can be a sign of many different conditions, including depression, hypothyroidism, and even cancer.
Swelling in one side of the buttocks may point to several underlying conditions, including a bruised buttocks, cellulitis, and more. Read more below to learn about 4 possible causes of swollen buttocks.
Are you experiencing swelling in your anus? A swollen anus may actually be due to a swollen rectum, since the two parts of the body are so closely related. Anal and rectal swelling range in severity, from common conditions that you can treat at home, such as hemorrhoids, to conditions that require a doctor's care, such as cellulitis. Read more below to learn what may be causing swelling around your anus and rectum, and possible treatments.
Dark brown stool can be normal. But it may mean you’re dehydrated or constipated. If it continues, it could be a sign of a larger issue that needs to be checked with your doctor.
While mucus in the stool is natural for the digestive process, conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease can cause unusual amounts to show up in your stool. Here’s how to tell when it’s worrisome—and how to treat it.
Watery diarrhea is commonly caused by a viral infection or food poisoning from eating undercooked meat or rotten foods. Liquid diarrhea can also be caused by protozoa. If you have watery diarrhea lasting for 3 days or longer, you may have a chronic condition. Read below for more information on causes and how to treat runny diarrhea.
An itchy anus, also known as pruritus ani, is a common condition that has an array of causes. The most common causes for anus itching include hemorrhoids, dermatitis , or irritation from hygienic products.
Blackish or reddish stool may be from too much iron in your diet, or from certain foods. Black stool may also be caused by constipation, which can make stool harder and drier than normal. But sometimes, it’s a sign of internal bleeding and needs immediate attention.
Throwing up dark vomit is usually a sign you have internal bleeding or a serious infection, which are medical emergencies. Here’s what to look out for—and what to do.
Bloody diarrhea is not normal. It may be a symptom of an intestinal infection or parasite. You should seek medical treatment if you have bloody diarrhea, especially when accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or fever.
Butt bumps may be painful, red, or itchy. The most common causes for bumps on the butt include skin conditions like cysts, boils, warts, or skin abscess. Allergens to hygienic products, chemicals, or plants can also cause itchy, red bumps on on the butt.
Experiencing a numb butt can be caused from sitting too long which can feel as if your buttock is "asleep". Other causes of butt numbness include issues with spinal muscles which can also cause numbness in the lower back.
Buttock pain can affect either the right or left cheek, as well as the anus. Butt pain can also occur when walking or sitting. Butt muscle pain can be caused by trauma from an injury that may result in a bruise or pulled muscle, damage to the sciatic nerve, or hemorrhoids.
Throwing up clear liquid is a sign your body wants to get rid of a toxin when there’s no food in your stomach. Usually, it’s a sign of a stomach bug, but it can also be from hormonal changes like morning sickness during pregnancy.
Green poop can be commonly caused by eating certain green foods, an infection that causes diarrhea, bile, or a side effect of medication. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome can cause green poop and stomach pain.
Light grey, or clay-colored stool is a symptom of a lack of bile flow into your digestive system, which may be a sign of an obstruction in a bile duct. You should call your doctor or get medical care right away if you notice pale or grey stool.
If you notice bright, red blood right after a bowel movement, you may have rectal bleeding. A bleeding rectum can be commonly caused by anal fissures, hemorrhoids, or chronic constipation.
While red stool may be caused by ingesting certain foods or medications, red stool can indicate an internal problem. Paying attention to other symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort and discussing your concerns with a doctor in a timely manner is important.
Common causes of stomach cramps include eating foods that can irritate your stomach, constipation, food poisoning, or a stomach bug.
What does anal mucus discharge mean? If you are experiencing this symptom you may have an infection like E. Coli, or an inflammatory condition like Crohn’s disease.
Nausea is that queasy feeling in your stomach that makes you feel like you're going to vomit. Usually, nausea is from an infection, pregnancy, taking certain medication, or acid reflux.
Having a bowel movement can be painful if you’re constipated or have other relatively common problems like hemorrhoids. But it can also be a sign of anal cancer, so shouldn’t be ignored.
Anal pain is discomfort or pain in the anus, where bowel movements leave the body. It may be caused by hemorrhoids or other diseases of your digestive tract.
Several types of infections can make your colon hurt, such as food poisoning and COVID-19. Other causes include lactose intolerance, irritable bowel disease, and diverticulitis.
Everyone experiences bloating sometimes, and it’s usually just a temporary problem. But bloating can be a sign of chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease that need to be treated by your doctor.
Retching, or dry heaving, occurs when you feel the need to vomit but nothing (or very little) comes up. Common causes include stomach infections, heartburn, and morning sickness.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be alarming. Sometimes the reason is as innocent as eating new foods. But stool colors can also be a sign of serious conditions like gastrointestinal bleeding, so it’s important to find out what’s going on.
See Stool treatments