Occasional diarrhea, dull abdominal pain, itchy palms/soles

[paravantis]

49 yo male, borderline hypertensive (no medications), mild mitral valve prolapse (no regurgitation). Gallbladder removed 2 years ago (small stones). Have been eating well and moving stool regularly since. For the last 3 months, taking two LOFTYL 300 mg pills (buflomedile hydrochloride) daily, due to ear concussion in April.

2 weeks ago, right after family lunch (concluded w/ ice cream), felt sudden intense abdominal pain. Lied down for short while & got severe itch in palms and soles! Pain subsided after 5 min, itch went away after 20 min. 1 week ago, had another family lunch (& ice cream) - a few minutes after that more diarrhea and foul smelling stool. 4 days after that, after eating home-made pasta w/ red sauce & grated cheese, again foul smelling watery stool.

In between these episodes bowel movement normal. Very careful with my diet now - have been passing rather soft-looking light brown stool. GI specialist (will see him tomorrow) asked me to stop taking LOFTYL, put me on DUSPATALIN 200 mg (mebeverine hydrochrolide) for 2 weeks and mentioned the possibility of a colonoscopy IF symptoms persist.

Your take on my rather unusual set of symptoms? Should I have more test BEFORE I take the colonoscopy (e.g. blood tests, barium, orthoscopy)? Is there a substantial possibility of colon cancer (no family history)?

Thank you,
John P.
Greece

[paravantis]

If it is lactose intolerance, well, it has just developed! I love milk and have been drinking it daily despite my mid years...

One thought though: in the last 2 years, I have preferred lactose free milk because it tastes better (slightly sweeter). Could it be that I have gotten my bower weaned off lactose?

(I doubt it - just a though.)

Best wishes and many thanks!

[carl_graf]

I noticed that you mention eating ice cream, ice cream again and grated cheese before these episodes.  Do you eat other milk products and not have reactions?  I am just wondering if it is lactose intolerance.  A friend of  mine eats some milk products with no symptoms afterwards and sometimes quickly has to get to a bathroom.  Just a thought . . . Godspeed.

[paravantis]

Great point, thank you!

Since I have had my gallbladder removed, it is a given fact that I am not processing fats properly. Although I did not have a change in bowel habits after the gallbladder removal, it is a really good idea to check.

The itchy palms/soles incident only happened once so it could be attributed to a temporary food allergy but I will check any way.

Much indebted for your kind concern and valuable input!
JP

[CalGal]

John you may want to ask the doc to run your liver and pancreatic enzyme levels. The change in bowel habits and the itchy hands could suggest you're not processing fats the way you previously did or that you may not be delivering bile to the small intestine in a 'co-ordinated' manner.

In the meantime, you may want to cut back on fatty foods.