Symptoms:

Common symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramping and bloating
• Leakage of liquid or sudden episodes of watery diarrhea in someone who has chronic constipation
• Rectal bleeding
• Small, semi-formed stools
• Straining when trying to pass stools

Other possible symptoms include:

• Bladder pressure or loss of bladder control
• Lower back pain
• Rapid heartbeat or light-headedness from straining to pass stool

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will examine your stomach area and rectum. The rectal exam will reveal a hard mass of stool in the rectum.

If there has been a recent change in your bowel habits, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to evaluate for colon or rectal cancer.