Loose Stools

I am a 59 year old male and have noticed that my stools for several months are loose most of the time and combined with a lot of gas. I typhically have two bowel movements a day (every 12 hours).  I feel fine, have not changed my eating habits and do not have any stress in my life I'm aware of.

I have also noticed that my ability to hold off going to the bathroom once I feel the need to go is very short. I usually must go within a few minutes.

I take 800 mg of vitamin E and 81mg of asprin each day for health maintenance.  I also take 5mg of Terazosin for my prostate and 50mg of Hyzaar (recently changed from Cozaar)for my blood pressure.

I'm very active, maintain my property of several acres including horses, drink about 1 beer a day, drink sodas, eat balanced meals, don't smoke, 6'1'' tall and weigh 178 lbs.

This all may just be part of just getting older. Any advice or opinions?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Any change in bowel habitsi - i.e. several months of loose stools, combined with an age greater than 50 - warrants a colonoscopy.  This would make sure that a colorectal mass is not causing your symptoms.  Even if you didn't have symptoms, it is recommended that an endoscopy be performed (either colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy) over the age of 50.  

There are several reasons for increased gas.  Any type of GI infection, irritable bowel syndrome or malabsorption can cause this.  I would consider these diseases if the evaluation with the colonoscopy is not revealing.  

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.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

join the club - the ye old kidney club!!

[Caird]

PLEASE HELP. My husband had a colonoscopy and it was negative. 2 years later is bleeding badly from the rectum, He was told he has hemorroids (hemorrhoids), they would heal by themselves.

He is going to the bathroom several times a day and the bowl is full of blood.


Any advice would be appreciated he is 49 years old.

Thank you

[johnmcclane]

A related discussion, Why do I have gas pressure and looser stools? was started.

[weezee49]

A related discussion, gas and bowel distress was started.