Constant diarrhea, now with mucus(?) discharge?

[query4u]

Okay, so I've had diarrhea pretty much every day for the past 4 years. Terrible, I know, but I thought it was due to anxiety with my work/life situation. It started pretty soon after I finished college and took an extremely stressful job. My diet and eating habits hadn't changed; I've always been a healthy eater. I'm a bit underweight and always have been.

Now, normally I've just been dealing with a loose bowel movement every day. It was less than ideal, but I didn't feel like there was an "emergency," just that my daily bowel movement would range from entirely liquid (at worst) to narrow and wet (at best). It was that way for a long time, and I was just dealing with it.

Over the past week or two I've been having multiple episodes a day of completely liquid bowel movements, and this time some of them are more or less feeling like an emergency. I have time to make it home and get to the restroom, but it is much more urgent than it was before. In addition to the increased number of times I need to go per day, I've started noticing that while I have nearly entirely liquid movements, after it starts I feel like I'm straining and constipated. I've also noticed a clear-ish discharge in the stool as well.

Are there any ideas as to what could be causing this? I definitely plan to see a doctor soon, but I have lousy insurance and don't want to run a ton of unnecessary tests. I'm just hoping I can get an idea of what's going on with my body or that someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

[lovemycats]

  Hello again!  If it is crohns, I am sure they will want a colonoscopy. The test is really very easy and painless. The bad part is the stuff you drink to clear yourself out. Im sure you have probably looked on the internet for how the test is done. Which ever the disease, there are a lot of medications to help. There is also dietary regimens. It is however trial and error,as everyone is different. Do you get cramping or spasms? Here is a list of meds. I have taken that has worked for me. Lialda(mesalamine)
                                                   Hyoscyamine(capsule,@sublingual)
                                                    Prednisone(works for me, but do not reccommend)
                                                    Protonix(gas @ bloating)
You should probably start keeping a food diary journal now.Thats how we try to find the foods that trigger our symptoms. There are some foods that are triggers for most of us. Red meat, chocolate, caffiene sodas, nuts, and seeds. Fruits containing seeds.I really miss my strawberries, and candy bars! LOL There is a lot of work to taking care of these problems, but it CAN be done. Please keep us posted, @ hope everyone is having a pain free day!!!  Linda

[jake75]

IBD can be several diseases with the colon. its uncurable but can be treated with medications these are just some medications.

Aminosalicylates.
Corticosteroids .
Immunomodulators .
Antibiotics .
Biologic therapies.

[query4u]

Thanks for the replies. I don't have a gastro, just a general practitioner. I'm in a small town without any specialists. I'll be moving soon into a larger city where I'm hoping to find a specialist to work with. I'm 24; never had a colonoscopy before. I didn't know there was a blood test for IBD, so that sounds like a good way to start. What would I do if I have IBD? Is there medication for it, or would I need a change of diet or something like that? I'm new to all this and I'm not sure what to expect!

[lovemycats]

   Good morning. These symptoms can be related to crohns disease as well as IBS. They are very closely related. I have both. The crohns was discovered with a colonoscopy and a blood test for IBD. Have you had a colonoscopy? Do you have a gastro? If you have bad insurance I would see if I could get the blood test for IBD first. There are a lot of gastro docs around, but you need one you feel comfortable with. I saw several before I found the right one for me. Both diseases are difficult and I think the docs get as exasperated as we do sometimes, but there is help out there. Please keep us posted! Hope everyone is having a pain free day!!  Linda

[jake75]

That kinda sounds like (IBS) irritable bowel syrdrome. try added more fiber into your diet. the mucus could be caused by several things like  ulcerative colitis (UC),  anal fissure,  or a bowel obstruction but most common in IBS. depending on how long it has been going on a colonoscopy would be somthing to consider.

try looking at this https://health.google.com/health/ref/Irritable+bowel+syndrome