Occasional stomach problems are normal, but chronic diarrhea and constipation can indicate a more significant health issue. If you feel like your gut needs special attention, the team at Southwest Gastroenterology in Goodyear, Arizona, can help. With expert physicians who treat a wide range of gastrointestinal issues, Southwest Gastroenterology can help you find relief.
Occasional bouts of diarrhea and constipation happen to almost everyone, but you may have an underlying gastrointestinal problem if these issues are chronic and painful. Alternating diarrhea and constipation is called irritable bowel syndrome-A, or IBS-A.
Many different digestive issues can cause diarrhea and constipation, so it’s not always easy to know what’s triggering your symptoms. Some causes may include:
At Southwest Gastroenterology, your physician aims to understand the cause of your symptoms so they can treat it appropriately.
Symptoms of constipation may include:
Symptoms of diarrhea might include:
If you have an underlying gastrointestinal problem such as IBS-A, you might experience alternating symptoms of diarrhea and constipation or periods where you have no symptoms at all.
If you have severely painful bowel movements, pain that lasts longer than three weeks, black stool, or blood in your stool, you should see a physician to get an accurate diagnosis.
Diarrhea and constipation alone aren’t diseases and are usually treatable. If they’re part of an underlying problem, however, you must address this before you can find relief.
Some conventional treatments for diarrhea and constipation are:
To make an appointment with Southwest Gastroenterology today, use the easy online scheduling tool.