Chronic loose / green stool.

[coast builder]

A little background first. My wife is about 50 and her condition has been getting steadily worse over the last 10 years. Her symptoms are loose stools (almost liquid now and since the last operation and corses of antibiotics green in color) , allergic reactions to several foods (most supplements are not well tolerated) and bad looking skin with some breakouts. She has had multiple courses of antibiotics and, earlier in her history, was diagnosed with lupus and treated with steroids. She also has cluster migraine headaches which she takes Motrin for.
In my research over the years I currently believe that she has advanced Candida (systemic), problems with the small intestine (perforations?) which allow food particles to pass through causing the allergic reactions. From time to time she has been tested and found to have blood in the stool. She has been blood tested several time for any sign of cancer and they always come back negative in that regard, she has also been tested recently for parasites, also negitave. The latest tests indicated very low b12 for which she took shots and a low thyroid function for which she was given an enzyme?.
So

[coast builder]

Thanks for the info MyProblem,
My wife has been retested for Lupis agian and the tests have come back negative, we were told she in in remission. Who knows, it is hard to tell with all the different input we have been given. Right now we are trying different diets to see if any will produce some improvement.

[myproblem]

I have to agree with the Dr. about the concept of Systemic Candida overgrowth. My older sister went to a "naturopathic doctor", and was told she had systemic candida. She followed his advice, and took the "prescribed" treatments of herbs etc. She got worse, and worse over a period of months until she couldn't even walk. Finally she decided he was wrong, and at least got well enough to function. Lupus, as I'm sure you know, is an autoimmune disease. The body's own immune system is malfunctioning, and attacking tissues that would otherwise be healthy. In this case is has affected her digestive tract. Does she take any medication to control her Lupus? There are many drugs available that slow the progress of the disease, and many people's organs begin to heal upon long term therapy. This class of drugs is known as DMARD's (disease modifying anti-rheumatic agents). Many of the medications used for rheumatoid arthritis also work for other autoimmune diseases. Plaquenil is the oldest, cheapest, and safest, and is effective for many people. Arava, and other newer drugs are more expensive, but work for a higher percentage of people. She should be seeing a rheumatologist, and a gastroenterologist. This could also be Crohn's disease, which is another autoimmune disease that mainly affects the digestive system. You said she was given an enzyme for low thyroid. She should be taking Synthroid, or another similar thyroid replacement drug. Also, if you go to medscape.com, and look up IBS, ther is a list of different drugs that treat chronic diaharrea. Even if it doesn't seem like IBS, the meds would probably help since they treat specific symptoms as opposed to a specific disease. Also, if she has had a lot of antibiotics, eating yogurt with live cultures will help replace the good bacteria that are supposed to be in her digestive tract. Antibiotics tend to kill all bacteria, not just the bad. Good luck, and keep us posted.

[coast builder]

Thank you for your answer.
I am not familiar whith the test for fat malabsorption but she has had the blood test for celiac disease and it was negitave. We plan to due further tests but due to the recient surgery a colonoscopy is going to be several months out.

Is there a diet that is recomended for someone with the symptoms of the rapid movement of food through the small intestine? 30 minuits or less. The alergic reaction to the 2 oral antibiotics has made this much worse.

Thanks

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The theory of leaky bowel and Candida overgrowth is a favorite of alternative medicine practitioners.  There is no consensus data to support this hypothesis as a cause for the symptoms.  

If the diarrhea continues, you can consider further evaluation with a colonoscopy, stool samples looking for fat malabsorption, or blood tests for celiac disease.  Ruling out infection, inflammatory bowel disease or malabsorption should all be done with the aforementioned tests.  

If negative, irritable bowel syndrome can be considered.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a gastroenterologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b