Symptom: Fecal straining

Introduction: Fecal straining

Fecal straining during a bowel movement can be a symptom of various conditions (and is also dangerous causing various possible complications just from straining). Bowel straining may also be associated with either constipation or diarrhea, and some conditions causing fecal straining may be listed under constipation or diarrhea.

» Review Causes of Fecal straining: full list

Causes of Fecal straining:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Fecal straining. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Constipation
• Tenesmus
• See also causes of constipation

See full list of 16 causes of Fecal straining

» Review Causes of Fecal straining: full list

Causes of Types of Fecal straining:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Fecal straining:

• Tenesmus (39 causes)

More types of Fecal straining

Fecal straining: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Fecal straining, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Fecal straining: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Fecal straining and Anal symptoms (14 causes)
• Fecal straining and Bowel movements (14 causes)
• Fecal straining and Constipation (14 causes)
• Fecal straining and Digestive symptoms (14 causes)
• Fecal straining and Tenesmus (14 causes)
• Fecal straining and Abdominal symptoms (13 causes)
• Fecal straining and Nerve symptoms (13 causes)
• Fecal straining and Pain (13 causes)
• Fecal straining and Sensations (13 causes)
• Fecal straining and Abdominal pain (12 causes)
• Fecal straining and Bowel problems (10 causes)
• Fecal straining and Stool symptoms (10 causes)
• Fecal straining and Bleeding symptoms (8 causes)
• Fecal straining and Bowel incontinence (8 causes)
• Fecal straining and Diarrhea (8 causes)
• Fecal straining and Bloody stool (7 causes)
• Fecal straining and Buttock bleeding (7 causes)
• Fecal straining and Stool color (7 causes)
• Fecal straining and Body symptoms (6 causes)
• Fecal straining and Weight loss (6 causes)

See full list of 190 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Fecal straining

Home Diagnostic Testing and Fecal straining

Home medical tests possibly related to Fecal straining:

• Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Tests
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Digestive symptoms (2165 causes)
• Constipation (371 causes)
• Bowel movements (699 causes)
• Stool symptoms (768 causes)
• Bowel problems (824 causes)
• Abdominal symptoms (1358 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Fecal straining

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Fecal straining:

• Constipation (371 causes)
• Bowel obstruction (31 causes)
• Stool symptoms (768 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Fecal straining

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Fecal straining from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Fecal straining. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Fecal straining

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Fecal straining

Chronic digestive conditions often misdiagnosed: When diagnosing chronic symptoms of the digestive tract, there are a variety of conditions that may be misdiagnosed. The best known, irritable bowel syndrome, is over-diagnosed, whereas other causes...read more »

Intestinal bacteria disorder may be hidden cause: One of the lesser known causes of diarrhea is an imbalance of bacterial in the gut, sometimes called ...read more »

Antibiotics often causes diarrhea: The use of antibiotics are very likely to cause some level of diarrhea in patients. The reason is that antibiotics kill off not only "bad" bacteria, but can also kill the "good" bacteria in the gut...read more »

Food poisoning may actually be an infectious disease: Many people who come down with "stomach symptoms" like diarrhea assume that it's "something I ate" (i.e. food...read more »

Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal pain, it can be over...read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of leg...read more »

Celiac disease often fails to be diagnosed cause of chronic digestive symptoms: One of the most common chronic digestive conditions is celiac disease, a malabsorption disorder with a variety of symptoms (see symptoms of celiac disease...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin B12...read more »

Chronic digestive diseases hard to diagnose: There is an inherent difficulty in diagnosing the various types of chronic digestive diseases. Some of the better known possibilities are peptic ulcer, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, or GERD....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Fecal straining

Diagnostic tests for Fecal straining:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Fecal straining. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspection of external anus looking for disease that may cause constipation e.g. anal fissure; or pathology that may be a result of constipation and fecal straining e.g. hemorrhoids, anal fissure
  • Digital rectal examination - if there are symptoms of intestinal obstruction and the rectum is empty it may suggest complete intestinal obstruction but if there are some feces in the rectum there may be an incomplete intestinal obstruction; if rectal mass is found it suggests colon cancer.
  • Test perianal sensation and the anal reflex to support neurological cause of bowel infrequency
  • Abdominal examination for tenderness, a mass, fecal loading, abdominal distension or a irregular liver edge e.g. a mass in the right lower abdomen may suggest bowel cancer or diverticulitis; a mass on right, left or upper abdomen may also suggest bowel cancer; tenderness in the left lower abdomen, with or without a significant mass may suggest ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis or irritable bowel syndrome

See full list of 25 diagnostic tests for Fecal straining

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Fecal straining. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• What is the nature of fecal straining? - e.g. fecal straining during a bowel movement may be associated with either constipation or diarrhea.
• When did the fecal straining start? - to determine if acute or chronic e.g. if acute and associated with constipation may suggest intestinal obstruction or bowel cancer. If chronic fecal straining associated with constipation need to investigate the dietary history, emotional status and toilet habits. If acute and associated with diarrhea is likely to be infectious in nature e.g. staphylococcal toxin food poisoning, giardiasis, traveler's diarrhea, a virus or contaminated food.
• Frequency and consistency of bowel movements? - to establish if true constipation (i.e. less than 3 stools per week or stools that are hard to evacuate) or true diarrhea (more than 3 per day or loose or watery consistency).
• Dietary history? - to determine if lack of fiber may be the cause of constipation and thus fecal straining e.g. fast food is usually devoid of fiber; weight loss diets may be low in fiber; lack of dietary fiber such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal products.
• Toilet habits over the life span? - e.g. a common cause of chronic constipation is the habitual neglect of the impulse to defecate leading to accumulation of large, dry faecal masses which causes constant rectal distension from feces and consequent reduced awareness of rectal fullness.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Fecal straining (23 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Fecal straining) may include:

• Tenesmus ( painful straining with the feeling of incomplete evacuation)? - may indicate irritable bowel syndrome, rectal tumor or proctitis (inflammation of the rectum).
• Bloody stool with painful evacuation? - if constipated may suggest hemorrhoids or anal fissure. If defecation is painful it may cause you to delay moving your bowels due to fear of the pain which may further perpetuate the problem.
• Bloody stool with painless evacuation? - If constipated, may suggest colon cancer or diverticulitis. If acute bloody diarrhea, may suggest Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni, ulcerative colitis and amebic dysentery. If chronic bloody diarrhea, may suggest ulcerative colitis, bowel cancer, diverticulitis, amoebiasis, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
• Blood and mucous in the stool? - may suggest inflammatory bowel disease which may be associated with either constipation or diarrhea.
• Fever? - With diarrhea, may suggest Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni and ulcerative colitis, severe amoebic dysentery or pseudomembranous colitis. May get a low grade temperature with traveler's diarrhea and toxic staphylococcal gastroenteritis.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Fecal straining (23 listings)

Stories from Users for Fecal straining

Real-life user stories relating to Fecal straining:

• ACL Strain - Please help !
• 17 yo with bowel troubles... in need of help
• Strained Ligament??? Please help

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Videos for Fecal straining

Patient Surveys for Fecal straining

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Organs affected by Fecal straining:

The list of organs typically affected by Fecal straining may include, but is not limited to:

• Anus
• Large bowel
• Rectum

Detailed list of causes of Fecal straining

The list below shows some of the causes of Fecal straining mentioned in various sources:

• Anal Cancer - Tenesmus
• Anal conditions - Tenesmus
• Anorectal disorders - Tenesmus
• Bowel conditions - Tenesmus
• Carbamate insecticide poisoning - tenesmus

See full list of 16 causes of Fecal straining

How Common are these Causes of Fecal straining?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Fecal straining. Of the 16 causes of Fecal straining that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 0 causes are "very common" diseases
• 1 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 2 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 15 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 16 causes of Fecal straining

Conditions listing symptoms: Fecal straining:

The following list of conditions have 'Fecal straining' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Fecal straining Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Fecal straining based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: