Changes in bowel movement pattern
- Has your bowel movement pattern changed (more or less frequent bowel movements)?
Further questions: How frequent were your bowel movements before? How about now? When was the last time you had a bowel movement?
- Can you describe the faeces in terms of quantity, consistency and colour? Does the faeces contain blood or mucus?
- Do you have pain or itching around the anus? Do you experience pain during a bowel movement? Do you feel a false urge to empty your bowels or a painful urge during a bowel movement (tenesmus)?
Changes in the bowel movement pattern should always be taken seriously.
Blood found on the faeces suggests that the cause is located in the lower gastrointestinal tract (anus, rectum, sigmoid). Blood mixed in the faeces often suggests that the cause is located in the colon. Inflammation of the small intestine rarely causes blood loss, but can often result in mucous or pus in the faces.
Dark or black faeces indicate blood loss in the upper gastro-intestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum). Light-coloured or pale faeces suggest a biliary duct obstruction. This can be accompanied by signs of jaundice (icterus), and the urine is usually very dark.
