IBS, Absorption Problem or ??

Posted By Steph on June 15, 1998 at 17:04:04:







I'm a 32 year-old healthy female who began experiencing diarrhea
about two months ago.  I lost 7 lbs in 2 months, despite trying to
eat enough to maintain my weight.  After numerous tests, including
stool tests for bacteria and parasites, blood tests for thyroid,
celiac sprue, and HIV, and a colonoscopy -- which all came back
negative--my doctor said that I probably had a parasite that didn't
show up on the tests and put me on Flagyl for 10 days.  It's now
one month since I stopped the Flagyl, and while the diarrhea
subsided, I am still having unusual bowel movements:  they are
more frequent than usual for me (2-3x day), and I usually have
a bm right when I wake up in the morning.  In addition, they are
soft, and disintegrate in the toilet.  I often notice bits
of undigested material in them.  I have no abdominal pain and
the only other symptoms that have continued are a bit more burping
and flatulence than normal and ongoing anxiety.  Immodium seems
to help firm my bm somewhat.  The only dairy I eat is yogurt and
I was not even eating that when the diarrhea began.  I've added
quite a bit of fat back into my diet, but I don't seem to be
gaining weight.  Does this sound like Irritable Bowel or an
Absorption problem?  Would you suggest any more tests?  Thanks
for any suggestions.