digestive help...

[primetime83]

About 3 months ago I was experiencing abdominal cramps with pretty bad diarrhea. This was on a Thursday, on Friday I went to may family Dr. And he said it would pass. By Saturday it calmed down, and the Sunday all seemed 100% fine. On Monday I was having very soft and mushy BMs, but not diarrhea and regularly spaced for my schedule. This persisted for a few weeks with maybe 1 or 2 regular days. I returned to my Dr. And he did blood work which turned up nothing, and suggested I lay off dairy, so I did. I returned after 2 weeks to seem him again with no change, and he ordered a stool test, which again turned up nothing. Also said dairy isn't the problem. Since then I have been having fluffy, mushy stools with undigested food, mainly fruits, or flat stools almost regularly. I have been back to my Dr again also to have him examine my left abdomen as my wife seems to think it may have minor swelling, but again the Dr dismissed it, saying he had no concern, and that it isn't swollen. I have now since been on metamucil these last 2 days, and have been taking a prebiotic from the health food store. I occasionally also take digestive enzymes as well. It has now been probably over 2 months with a regular looking BM and I'm not quite sure what's wrong or what my next step should be. The only other symptoms I seemed to have were extra gas occasionally and excessive gurgling in my stomach which comes and goes...any advice would help. thanks.

[primetime83]

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[primetime83]

So it has been 2 months now since my last post. Throughout December I was off the metamucil and felt pretty good, but later in the month my stools had been returning flat again. I have since started back up on the metamucil for the last week. I definitely notice with the metamucil that my stools bulk back up. I really don't understand though is if there were a growth or polyp, would the fiber actually bulk the stool back up? Shouldn't it be flat regardless of fiber intake if it were due to a growth? I know stress can be a contributing factor to these types of things, and recently I have been thinking about it all the time. I'm not sure though it this 1 symptom warrants a colonoscopy, when I have no other symptoms of anything.

[cnoevl21]

I'd continue taking the metamucil indefinitely. Its good that it is helping, but stopping it may cause a relapse of symptoms, so just keep taking it. If at some point the stool becomes too loose or you get diarrhea, then just lower your daily dose, until stool is regular.

[primetime83]

Just thought I'd give an update as to how I'm feeling. After speaking to my Dr. and my wife's cousin who is currently in med school, they seem to agree on the I.B.S. The interesting thing that my wife's cousin told me is that with I.B.S. Comes both diarrhea and constipation, and what can happen is that with the constipation there can be a buildup against your colon wall. Also, the left side of your upper abdomen is where your intestines take the sharpest turn, and is a common spot for a buildup. So I have since done a 4 day cleanse, with just water, vegetables, whole grains and low sugar fruits, and have been taking metamucil for the last month, and have noticed a significant difference. Also it would appear that my abdomen is not swollen anymore. I feel after I eat it does still swell a bit, so I am sticking on the metamucil for a bit longer. But other than that I am feeling 100% better.

[cnoevl21]

Ditto on seeing a GI specialist. Regular doctors are pretty much worthless when it comes to the digestive system. My guess is that they will want to do an endoscopy and/or colonoscopy. Check for UC, chrons, celiac, etc.

[mammo]

You need to see a Gastroenterologist for a complete evaluation.  This is their specialty and your regular doctor doesn't care enough to refer you to someone who may know what is wrong or via testing find out.  Sadly, too often we have to take matters into our own hands when it comers to our health.  Best wishes and keep us posted on how you're doing.

[primetime83]

Also, I have family history of ulcerative colitis and colon cancer. But again my Dr is not concerned that that is the issue right now, as I have had no symptoms. I did have 1 BM in the 3 month span where I had mucus tho.

[primetime83]

Correction: proboitic and has been over 2 months without a regular looking BM.