Tenesmus

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Lower digestive anatomy

Pain - passing stool; Painful stools; Difficulty passing stool

If you feel that you are constipated, try to increase your fluid and fiber intake.

Contact your health care provider if you continue to have symptoms of tenesmus that are constant or come and go.

Also call if you have:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the stool
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

These symptoms could be a sign of a disease that might be causing the problem.

The doctor will examine you and ask questions such as:

• Time pattern
  • Did this develop recently?
  • Is it the first time you have had tenesmus?
  • Does the feeling come and go, or is it constant?
• Symptom history
  • Do you have a constant need to empty the bowels?
  • Do you have abdominal pain?
  • Do you have cramping?
  • Do you have a persistent feeling of straining?
  • Do you have diarrhea or vomiting?
  • What other symptoms do you have (such as blood in stool, fever)?
• Dietary history
  • Have you eaten anything unusual or uncooked?
  • Have you been at a picnic, gathering, or similar event recently?
• Other
  • Have you had any medical problems in the past?
  • Have any other people in your family or social group experienced similar problems?

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The physical examination may include a detailed abdominal examination. A rectal examination is performed in most cases.

Tests that may be done include:

• Colonoscopy to look at the colon and rectum
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• CT scan of the abdomen (in rare cases)
• Electrolytes
• Stool cultures
• X-rays of the abdomen

Review Date: 07/07/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).