total frustration

I have had diarrhea for 13 months 2-4 times a day after having a cold with sinus infection. I was rx'd amoxicillin & a cough med to be taken for normal duration. A colonoscopy, endoscopy with biopsies are normal. One stool sample came back showing an excessive amount of calcium.  I do not take calcium supplements or vitamins & none of my other meds contain calcium. The only milk I use is in 2 cups of morning coffee and an occassional glass of milk(maybe once a month).  I have lost 25 pounds, fatigue has set in, am having to wear depends and becoming very depressed. I guess my doctor didn't hear me when I told him I didn't take calcium supplements etc. because he told me to stop taking them and any other meds that might contain calcium.
Is there anything else that could cause an excessive amount of calcium to show up in stool samples?
Any idea what might have triggered the chronic diarrhea?
It is my understanding that calcium is constipating.
Thank you

[ggreg]

On the excess calcium you got in one of your stool samples, your doctor needs to draw blood and do some panels on your thyroid and parathyroid glands and your adrenal glands, sometimes a problem with those can cause too much calcium.  Also, one cause of diarrhea like you got is sometimes from certain medications, so review side effects, and if any cause "dry mouth" or gastro problems, change kinds.  The drug Ativan did that to me for six months.  

Also, I'm supposing since you've seen a doc, that he has made sure you don't have some sort of intestinal bacteria going on, but he could doublecheck that for you.  One more thing that is less likely is, when you took the antibiotics, sometimes they can upset the flora in your intestines, because they kill both good and bad bacteria, so try drinking Acidophilus milk (just a little in your cereal) or eating Activia yogurt for a week or so, they contain probiotics that help get digestion back under control...but usually the body does this naturally over time.  I know, they have calcium in it, but if it helps, a week or two of it shouldn't bother you too much if it helps an imbalance in your digestive tract.

One more thing, when he draws blood to check your glands, he could check your entire vitamin and mineral numbers to see if lacking one particular thing (like potassium) might be causing your calcium levels to go up, and also to see if indeed calcium is in the middle of this.  I assume you do know that lots of antacids and anti-diarrheals have calcium in them, so that might be all it was that he saw that particular time.  In addition, he should look for anything in your blood that might suggest other diseases at work here, like anemia and and other serious blood problems.

[mammo]

I totally agree with the above post, see an Endocrinologist and get a good check-up.  There are various things that can cause excessive calcium, and you needn't be suffering like this.  An Endo can check your entire endocrine system and get to the root of the problem.  Take care...

[Lindy62]

Thank you for your input.
I didn't think about the thyroid. 12 years ago I had a right thyroidectomy and have been on levothyroxin (levothyroxine). The Dr. has been checking my thyroid levels and for the past 4 months he keeps lowering it. I started at 138 and am now taking 75 - another quandry!
Oh, well, pressing on regardless!!!
Thanks again for your input - it really helped.