Have you ever been told it’s “just IBS”? Or that your gut issues were probably "just stress"?
Meanwhile, deep down, you knew something wasn’t adding up?
Here’s the thing: your body is smarter than you think. When something’s wrong, it waves purple flags, warning signs that it’s more serious than a dodgy takeaway or a little bit of anxiety.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) often starts with subtle symptoms that are easy to brush off. But ignoring those purple flags could mean years of misdiagnosis, avoidable complications, and a much tougher road ahead.
Today, we’re breaking down the 7 purple flags you should never ignore.
What is a Purple Flag?
A Purple Flag is your gut’s way of shouting, “Hey, something’s seriously not right here!”
It’s not like a random bad stomach day or a one-off food reaction. Purple flags are persistent, disruptive symptoms that signal deeper inflammation, and they deserve way more than a "just watch and wait" approach.
The sooner you spot them, the sooner you can get the right tests, the right care, and the right answers.
1. Blood in Your Stool
Let’s be blunt: any blood in your poop is not normal.
Visible blood, blood mixed into the stool, blood on the toilet paper , none of it should ever be brushed off as “probably just haemorrhoids” without proper investigation.
In IBD, inflammation can cause bleeding deep in the intestines. If you see it once? Take note. If it keeps happening? It’s a purple flag.
Ask your doctor for tests like a faecal calprotectin! It’s way more sensitive for detecting gut inflammation than basic blood work.
2. Unexplained Weight Loss
Dropping kilos without even trying? 🚩 (Oops, purple flag!)
IBD can wreck nutrient absorption and ramp up inflammation so aggressively that your body starts burning through reserves.
If you notice the numbers falling on the scale while your diet hasn’t changed or worse, you’re trying to eat more and still losing weight it’s a massive signal to dig deeper.
I like to note on this that for me, I was 50kg so I never ticked this box!
3. Persistent Diarrhoea
We’re not talking about a dodgy dinner or a 24-hour bug here.
If you’ve had ongoing diarrhoea for more than two weeks, especially if it doesn’t settle with basic diet tweaks or stress management, that’s a big purple flag.
IBD diarrhoea often has a mind of its own and doesn’t improve just because you cut out gluten, dairy, or FODMAPs.
4. Nighttime Symptoms
Waking up at 2AM in a cold sweat because you have to race to the bathroom?
That’s a huge purple flag.
With typical IBS, symptoms usually settle when you sleep. But with IBD, inflammation doesn’t clock off when you do. Nighttime urgency, pain, and bathroom runs are classic signs your gut’s not just stressed, it’s under attack!
5. Non-Responsive Anaemia
Struggling with low iron even after supplements? Feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck 24/7?
Chronic gut inflammation from IBD can cause "hidden" blood loss and block iron absorption. If you’ve been told you’re anaemic but you’re not improving, your gut could be the real culprit.
Ask for iron studies and inflammatory markers not just a basic iron panel.
6. Severe Fatigue
This isn’t "I stayed up too late watching Netflix" tired.
This is bone-deep, can’t-get-off-the-couch, every-cell-in-your-body-hurts fatigue.
Even on days when your gut seems quiet, your immune system could still be working overtime inside.
Fatigue is one of the most common and most misunderstood, purple flags of IBD.
7. Family History of IBD
If a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) has IBD, your risk jumps up 8 to 10 times higher than the general population.
It doesn’t mean you’re destined to develop it. But if you’re ticking off symptoms and you have the family link? You need to be taken seriously and seen by a specialist.
Why Ignoring Purple Flags is Risky
IBD doesn’t just magically “go away.”
Delays in diagnosis are linked to worse outcomes like hospital stays, emergency surgeries, permanent damage to your gut, and even stoma surgery.
Spotting purple flags early means:
➔ You get treated sooner
➔ You avoid preventable complications
➔ You give yourself the best shot at a full, badass life not one ruled by bathroom maps and fear
What To Do If You Recognise These Purple Flags
Here’s your next move:
✔️ Start a symptom diary (log bowel habits, blood, fatigue, weight changes)
✔️ Push for specific tests — fecal calprotectin, colonoscopy, inflammatory blood markers
✔️ Use advocacy phrases at appointments:
- “I’m concerned about chronic inflammation, not just functional symptoms.”
- “Could we check inflammatory markers and consider a referral to gastroenterology?”
And remember: you’re not being dramatic. You’re being proactive.
Conclusion
Your body doesn’t lie.
If you’re seeing purple flags, it’s not a coincidence, and it’s not your imagination.
Listening to them and speaking up could save you years of pain, confusion, and gaslighting. You deserve answers, real support, and a health journey that actually works for you.
💬 Seen a few too many purple flags waving in your life?
Follow IBDHub for more real talk, resources, and community that gets it.
You don’t have to figure this sh*t out alone. 💜
