3months of loud gurgling and diarrhea

[ucla1981]

Help!   Im an otherwise healthy 47 y/o male.  3 months ago developed pain very low middle and left, hurt getting up or going up stairs.   Went to emergency room, CT scat indicated 'thickening of sigmoid wall,probable diverticulitis". pancreas liver etc unremarkable.  10 days Flagyl 500mg 4x day.  Did nothing, diarrhea 2-3 times a day from water to bits to mud, it changes daily.  The gurgling is so loud everyone can hear it.  No stomach pain.  Saw a gastro doc, put me on Flagyl for 14 more days.  No result.  He ran blood test and stool tests, all normal, only ALT was extreme high end of normal. No Giardia EColi etc.  Had me on Xifaxan 10 days, no result.  No fever, some bloating occasionally, bland diet made no difference either.  Some gas not bad.  Colonoscopy is next. Scared to death. Goin on 4 months of nonstop diarrhea and gurgling.  Even Immodium helps for 2 hours then diarrhea back. What the hell is or could be wrong with me?  They are missing something....

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Typically, Cipro is prescribed in addition to Flagyl for diverticulitis.  This should be considered if the symptoms continue.  

I agree with the colonoscopy as the next step.  Stool tests to check for fat malabsorption and C Difficile, as well as blood tests looking for celiac disease should be considered as well.  

These options can be discussed with your GI physician.

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_

[ucla1981]

All blood tests were normal (including C-diff) and stool tests were normal.   I went and had the colonoscopy.   There is no cancer, no polyps, and he said the diverticuli weren't infected!  So was I on all that flagyl for no reason (and I didn't respond to it anyway), and why would I be having these lower left pains occasionally if no diverticulitis?

Anyway, the colonoscopy did reveal "red patches" (Whatever that means).  They were biopsied, awaiting the results.

What could these patches mean, if all other tests were negative?