Symptoms that warrant a doctor visit
Dr. Robert Madoff, M.D.
It is not always clear which symptoms, or combination of symptoms, require the attention of your health care provider. Often, symptoms come and go, which makes the decision to see a physician more complicated. A Get Your Rear in Gear reader submitted her symptoms to the Ask the Doctor panel to find out if she should make an appointment with her physician.
Get Your Rear in Gear reader: For the past couple months I’ve had the following symptoms and don’t know if I should act upon them or not. The symptoms include: daily headaches, frequent migraines, chronic fatigue, and bowel problems including frequent change in consistency (from completely round, solid, and lumpy to pencil thin and runny), pain when passing bowels, pain after passing my bowels (for about an hour after passing), abdominal pain/cramping, and lower back pain.
Dr. Madoff: Thanks for contacting Ask the Doctor. You appear to have significant symptoms that deserve evaluation. You should start by seeing your primary care provider.
Get Your Rear in Gear: Readers may also use the Education page at GetYourRearinGear.com to find resources about symptoms. There are also links to other websites which provide helpful tips and advice for managing your health.
Robert Madoff, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Minnesota, and holds the Stanley M. Goldberg, MD Chair in Colon and Rectal Surgery. He is Editor-in-Chief of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, and has served as a Co-Editor of the journal from 2001-2007
