, and it can be a real challenge to distinguish between the two,” Dr. Lebwohl says. However, IBS doesn’t damage your digestive tract in the way IBD does, he adds.ulcerative colitis symptoms
“Blood in stool is a much more common symptom in ulcerative colitis, whereas people with Crohn’s might not see any blood in their stool depending on where in the intestinal tract the Crohn’s is active,” Dr. Lebwohl says. Another small difference between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis is that generally Crohn’s disease pain and discomfort happens in between bowel movements whereas ulcerative colitis pain typically happens right around the time of bowel movements, Dr. Higgins says.
. At your first appointment, you’ll have a physical exam so your doctor can check for stomach bloating, tenderness, and signs of Crohn’s disease pain. It’s worth preparing a list of your Crohn's disease symptoms and how often they happen, in addition to thinking about your personal and family medical history, since your doctor should discuss those with you as well.