About a year ago, just after my only son was born, I was just about to doze off in bed one night when I got this labor-like pain ripping through my lower abdominal area as though I had a really bad gas pain. I got up to go to the bathroom and had watery diarrhea. it actually really scared me because having diarrhea is something that until then had been sooo rare for me. Ever since I believe I've had IBS, I Went on a diet and started exercising and was able to deal with it pretty well. The worst part of it then was mostly mental, being afriad to go out just in case i couldn't get to a bathroom, etc.. I've only had watery diarrhea like that a few times. 3 or 4 maximum.
Lately, since my husband and I have moved to a new house I noticed I'm having more loose stools, especially around my period. I decided I'd start taking Culturelle and see if that helped me out at all.
After taking it, I had a couple days with no bowel movements at all, than I started to go again, but the stool was dark colored and soft, every time I went I felt like I wasn't finished going, but couldn't go anymore. it got to the point where I had 3-4 movements like this in one day, which was very abnormal for me. I stopped taking Culturelle. Ever since than I've had a horrible time of things. Even worse than before. I'm even more afraid to leave my house. I have looser stools, worse stomach cramping. Never outright watery diarrhea, but not normal solid stools either. What could possibly be causing this?
Some other helpful info might be:
Every time I had diarrhea in this past year I would take Imodium AD and it would stop. The only time I've ever been constipated is after taking that. Afterwards my movements went back to normal for a while. I even had a period of a couple months with no stomach problems.
A couple more things I've noticed different since after I've had the baby: I haven't gotten a canker sore in my mouth since I was a kid and all of a sudden I've gotten a few. I just turned 26 today. Also especially when it was cold, I had severe dry skin. Like, alligator dry. This is nothing I've ever had trouble with before. Now that it's not cold, it's not as bad, but I still occasionally get it on my shoulders, elbows..
Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm making an appointment to see a gastroenterologist soon and am pretty nervous.