In order to reach a diagnosis for digestive disorders, a thorough and accurate medical history will be taken by your doctor, noting the symptoms you have experienced and any other pertinent information. A physical examination is also done to help assess the problem more completely.
Some patients need to undergo a more extensive diagnostic evaluation, which may include laboratory tests, imaging tests, and/or endoscopic procedures. These tests may include any, or a combination of, the following:
- blood tests to check for anemia or inflammatory markers
- stool tests to check for blood or signs of infectious conditions
- endoscopic tests, such as colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy
- radiology tests, such as an MRI, CT scan or and X-ray