cronic stomach problem/HELP

[5337]

I am 54 y/o and was constipated most of my life, however now I find myselfm going constantly! Sometimes bouts of diarreah, usually just soft, sometimes watery stools. I don't have PAIN, but burning in my stomach and a feeling of needing to go all the time, usually acompanied with gas. Occasionally I feel nauseated but rarely ever throw up. It almost feels like cramps use to feel when I had periods. I will have insurance in 3 months, but in the meantime, it's causing me a lot of anxiety. From what I've read, it seams to be inflammatory bowel disease, but i am concerned it could be some type of cancer and waiting for the insurance is a mistake. Anyone out there who can identify with these symptoms and give me someinput?????

[Cindee56]

Hi, I am 52 yrs. old and what you wrote could be me exactly.  I was constipated my entire life also and had to take FiberCon to go.  The last 3 yrs. I go every day, a few times a day, especially in the morning.  I get the runs also and a lot of cramping and gas.  I am starting to worry, esp. when the cramping is bad.  I went to my regular doctor and he didn't seem concerned, said it was probably irritable bowel.  He did tell me I should get a colonoscopy, but I'm very scared of that.  

I have hemoroids and acid reflux and thyroid problems.  I'm also overweight.  I don't know if this has anything to do with the bowel problems. A friend of mine said it's menopause, who knows?   I'm thinking of going to a specialist.  By the way, my name is Cindy also.

[5337]

Thanks so much for taking time to respond to my post. I'm relieved to hear colon cancer isn't usually the cause of diarreah. I actually had abdominal xray last summer and was clear. I know I'm not bva==acked up because the constipation was th first m50 years or  so of my life and definately not an issue any more. I am wondering if mmy thyroid med needs adjusting as this was an issue once before and after lowering my dose, problem went away. I think thats the best starting point, and I agree that is affordable enough I should pursue that right away. Yes, I have an extremely stressful life, particularly the last year, and worrying about this only adds to it.
Again, thanks so much for the input.
Cindy

[boron]

Colorectal cancer is really not the likely cause of diarrhea. Cancer ocupies only a small part of the colon, it's usually like a polyp, which doesn't affect absorption or irritate the bowel to cause diarrhea.

From long lasting constipation, you have maybe developed diverticles, pouches from the colonic wall. Stool may be trapped there, and get infected. This would usually go with lower left abdominal pain. If you'll get fever, you have to go to the doc right away.

Any stool color change, like pale, yellow?
Have you been on antibiotics lately, or severely stressed?
Clostridium difficile stool has a branyard smell, and sometimes greenish color (not necessary)

[ggreg]

I have a couple relatives who had colon cancer.  Lots of blood in the toilet is indicative of that kind of cancer, altho not the sole symptom.  As for other growths, you could get an inexpensive plane black & white X-ray at an emergency room of your abdomen, and if there's no large black area where it shouldn't be, I think you can wait for your insurance so your physician can decide what investigations to do.  Or better yet, go ahead and see your doc and get some sort of professional opinion, family doc visits don't cost all that much.  

Now, I had the same symptoms as you, and with your complaint of burning stomach, it might be some medication you're taking.  For me, it was Ativan.  I was some kinda sick, and as soon as I switched to Klonopin, the diahrrea went away.  Also, any change in what you've been eating or drinking might do this to you, like lots of juices, eating out more often, just whatever has been different recently as relates to what goes in your tummy.

But probably what's going on is, your bowels are backed up big-time, especially since you have a tendency to be constipated.  You'll need some enemas to work it loose, and then perhaps some sort of laxative to push the rest out.  Just my two cents.  I'm not a doctor.