What are red flag symptoms?

Red flag symptoms can suggest that something other than IBS is happening in the body. These symptoms need to be investigated beyond the usual IBS tests to rule out any serious underlying health issues. Conditions such as Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliacs disease and cancer can share symptoms that overlap with those of IBS. If one or more of these symptoms apply to you it does not automatically mean you have an underlying medical condition but it does mean you should speak to your doctor. 

Red flag symptoms include:

• Unintentional or unexplained weight loss
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Needing to empty the bowels in the night or waking with a sense of urgency and pain
• Fever
• Palpable masses in the abdomen and or lymph nodes
• Patients aged 50 or over who are experiencing IBS for the first time
• Patients with a family history of bowel cancer, ovarian cancer, coeliacs disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
• Anaemia or abnormal blood tests

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What happens if I have red flag symptoms?

You may be required to have further tests, in addition to those typical for IBS. These tests may be more involved and slightly more invasive. Your doctor will advise you on which tests are necessary, based on the symptoms you're experiencing.

Do you suspect you may have IBS? Could you do with some support as you navigate your tests, doctors appointments and diagnosis? We break it all down into easy to manage steps in these posts.

Do you experience any red flag symptoms? Share as much detail as you're comfortable with in the comments below.