What does unintentional weight loss feel like with Crohn's disease?

The change may be gradual, or it may become noticeable during a flare. You might feel drained, eat less because of pain or nausea, or avoid food because you expect bowel symptoms afterwards. Frequent diarrhoea can also make it harder to retain fluids and nutrients. Crohn's disease can cause inflammation anywhere from the mouth to the anus, so symptoms vary and may include mouth ulcers, urgency, or tenderness in the abdomen.

Weight loss has many possible causes. Its presence does not establish Crohn's disease, and a clinician may need to consider other intestinal, hormonal, infectious, medication-related, or emotional causes.

Book an appointment if weight is dropping without a planned change, particularly with ongoing diarrhoea, abdominal pain, blood or mucus in stool, or marked tiredness. Note meals, appetite, stool frequency and appearance, pain, fever, and weight changes to share with the clinician. Keep taking fluids and choose foods you can tolerate while arranging care. Assessment may include blood and stool tests, followed by other investigations when appropriate.

Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen with vomiting, fainting, confusion, severe dehydration, or heavy rectal bleeding. Arrange prompt medical review if you cannot eat or drink, diarrhoea is persistent, fever accompanies bowel symptoms, or weight continues to fall. These signs can indicate a complication or another illness requiring timely treatment.

Could inflammation explain my weight change? Do my bowel symptoms need blood or stool testing? How can I maintain fluids and nutrition while I am being assessed? Which changes require urgent help?