Having all three of these symptoms at once narrows down the possible causes to just a few possibilities.
When you’re not feeling well, there’s often more than one thing that’s bothering you. Many medical conditions tend to cause multiple symptoms, and these unique patterns of symptoms help point doctors toward one diagnosis or another.
There are a lot of conditions that might cause you to have blood in your stool. Likewise, there are a number of reasons you might have lower back pain or fatigue.
Let’s take a look at what conditions might cause blood in your stool, lower back pain, and fatigue all at the same time.
While this is not an exhaustive list, you can find several conditions that could cause you to experience all of these symptoms below.
Hemorrhoids
When the veins around your anus or the lower part of your rectum become inflamed, they are called hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are very common, affecting about
Hemorrhoids can be internal (in your lower rectum) or external (under the skin surrounding your anus).
If you have hemorrhoids, you might notice additional symptoms, which include:
Anal fissure
Your rectum is the very end of your colon, and your anal canal is the very end of your rectum. An anal fissure is a tear in this canal.
Anal fissures are somewhat common. Hard, dry, or very frequent bowel movements cause anal fissures. They can also be the result of infection or trauma.
Other possible symptoms of anal fissures include:
- itching
- burning
- visible tears
- sharp pain
- skin tags
Colitis
Colitis is a condition characterized by inflammation in your colon. Your colon is also called your large intestine, and it’s the final section of your digestive tract.
There are many reasons your colon might become inflamed. Some potential causes include:
If you have colitis, other symptoms could include:
- abdominal pain and bloating
- urge to have a bowel moment but nothing comes out (tenesmus)
- unexplained weight loss
- diarrhea
- fever
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a specific type of colitis that falls under the category of inflammatory bowel disease.
Like other types of colitis, it involves inflammation of your colon. But unlike other types of colitis, UC is a chronic disease, meaning you will have it for your entire life.
The exact cause of UC isn’t known yet, but experts believe it may be because of the combination of the following:
- genetics
- autoimmune disorder
- gut microbiome
- environmental factors
Other symptoms of UC can include:
- abdominal cramping or pain
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
- fever
- nausea
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) isn’t one single disease but a group of disorders that cause inflammation throughout your gastrointestinal tract.
The two most common types of IBD are UC — covered above — and Crohn‘s disease, although each has many subtypes.
IBD can be hereditary, but you can still develop IBD even if no one in your family has it.
In addition to bloody stool, lower back pain, and fatigue, IBD might also cause symptoms like:
- persistent diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- bowel obstruction
- weight loss
If you have these symptoms alongside dizziness, they all may have the same cause. It’s also possible that you have more than one condition at the same time.
Only a doctor can give you an official diagnosis, and in some cases only after examinations, laboratory testing, or diagnostic imaging.
Some other possible explanations for your symptoms beyond those described above include:
If you’re unable to manage your symptoms at home, or if they persist or worsen, you may want to consider getting help from a healthcare professional. A doctor can provide a diagnosis and a more targeted treatment plan.
Medical emergencyIf your symptoms are severe, you should treat them as a medical emergency and seek intervention right away. These include:
- excessive bleeding
- intolerable pain
- loss of consciousness
Please do not drive yourself to the emergency room. Either call 911 and request an ambulance or have someone drive for you.
Your treatment will vary depending on the exact cause of your symptoms. Here are some common treatments for conditions that can cause bloody stool, lower back pain, and fatigue.
| Condition | Treatments |
|---|---|
| Hemorrhoids | • high fiber diet • stool softeners • staying hydrated • over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers • sitz bath |
| Anal fissure | • high fiber diet • stool softeners • staying hydrated • OTC pain relievers • sitz bath • botulinum injections • surgery |
| Colitis | • metronidazole • vancomycin • valganciclovir • aminosalicylates (5-ASA) • mesalamine budesonide |
| Ulcerative colitis | • corticosteroids • immunomodulators • targeted drug therapy • biologics |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | • corticosteroids • immunomodulators • targeted drug therapy • biologics • surgery |
There may be many reasons why you might be experiencing bloody stool, lower back pain, and fatigue.
All three symptoms may share a single cause. It’s also possible that you are dealing with multiple conditions at the same time.
If you’re unable to effectively treat the symptoms on your own, consider seeking help from a healthcare professional.
