very confused

hi my name is steven im 19 i developed chronic diarrhea after i was on ibuprofen800mg and some times took it on an empty stomach or some times had a drink or 2 wile on it well it started with stomach pains back in febreuary but it when away with emoprozal so i guess i just had gastritis.and my bowel movements back then where normal... this diarrhea started all after the ibuprofen so im guessing if im suposed to have chronic diarrhea is it really chronic because some times i get normal hard solid bowel movements but then are followed by diarrhea this has been going on for about 4 months now so im just asking for help and to help me know what i have or close to it and ive gotten stool bloo all types of tests hiv hepetatis tuberculosis all that and all have come out negative they even checked for malabsortion since ive lost so much wheight about 40 pounds so what isit that i have????? is it really a stomach problem or just stress and anxiety witchi have allot but please dont focuse on the anxiety and stress because doctors havent even done a upper gi series of teh barium and all that because as soon as i mention i suffer fromm anxiety they take the easy way out and put it all on the its all mental  BS sorry for my language so any one please help   THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

[boron]

Hi.

If the blood in the stool is RED, it comes from the point bellow your stomach - small or large intestine. Existance of blood is done by STOOL BLOOD TEST, at the same time, they can check your stool for bacteria, but with other stool test.

Loosing 40 pounds is probably from malabsorption and may come from:
- IBD - inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis). Diagnosis is with COLONOSCOPY
- celiac disease. Diagnosis is with GASTRODUODENOSCOPY + blood test.
- lactose intolerance (diarrhea after eating milk products) Dg is by MILK-FREE DIET TRIAL
- bacterial overgrowth BREATH TEST
- you might be allergic to ibuprophen or to some other medication or food. SKINT TEST for ibuprophen.

What to do?
It is GASTROENTEROLOGIST who should do tests:
1. STOOL TEST
2. BREATH TEST
3. MILK DIET TEST
4. BARIUM ENEMA UPPER and LOWER X-ray
5. COLONOSCOPY
6. UPPER ENDOSCOPY

I orered test from easiest to more demanding, not necessary to do them in this order.

You don't need to emphasize anxiety, but mention:
- ibuprophen
- blood in stool
- weight loss

Don't let them to give you diagnosis of IBS - this never goes with weight loss or bleeding. Stick with gastro specialist, only skin test is done by...well, ask.

[ggreg]

Dear Steven,
I had what you have, turned out to be some Ativan I was taking.  So, review your medications.  Whatever matches with the diarrhea, get rid of it.  Hope this helps.
GG

[boron]

Dropping drugs (if appropriate) is a good point. It is possible that drugs severely derrange gut flora (intestinal bactreria), so you'll have diarrhea even after dropping drugs. How to re-establish gut flora (if this is the case), the GI can say.

[girlvet]

actually newer studies are providing insight into lower seratonin levels directly contributing to IBS, especially post infection IBS.  Lower seratonin would be a physical cause of situational anxiety/depression, and could possibly be a direct link to symptoms.  Just something to consider, and it beats the usual dismissal we sometimes get of "just being stressed out".  I found it interesting anyway....

[shado]

Hi, your story sounds like mine. I started having diarrhea in May after taking antibiotic Omnicef. I have been thru h----. Now going thru test  not celiac disease, IBS. or chr. I have only  lost 15 # but I am so tired of it I could scream. cry I have. Now they think I may have a parasite. funny, they never ordered a stool specimen on me.
go to a gastroenterologist. I didn't, just family Dr. blood tests normal, no blood in stood so who in the world knows the answer. good luck
shado

[shado]

Hi, your story sounds like mine. I started having diarrhea in May after taking antibiotic Omnicef. I have been thru h----. Now going thru test  not celiac disease, IBS. or chr. I have only  lost 15 # but I am so tired of it I could scream. cry I have. Now they think I may have a parasite. funny, they never ordered a stool specimen on me.
go to a gastroenterologist. I didn't, just family Dr. blood tests normal, no blood in stood so who in the world knows the answer. good luck
shado

[girlvet]

Did they do a stool test for Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff)?  May be worth googling symptoms, as you've recently had an "offending" antibiotic.  Best of luck to you.

[aligirl85]

I was prescribed Omniceff for my post nasal drip on a saturday, I started the medicatio on a sunday, and I had severe diarrhea on wednesday until friday, I assumed it was a side effect from the antibiotic so I stopped taking it (I know your not suppose to stop but I had to I was in pain). I then took some Immodium, and I had diarrhea on saturday morning (1 week after prescribed the antibiotic). The rest of the day I had severe cramping everytime I ate or moved around alot. All day sunday I could not go to the bathroom, until late sunday night but the stools were still loose, bu not diarrhea., I still have some cramping and my abdomen is hard and I feel sore in my stomach area. If anyone can tell me if I should seek any further medical care please let me know. Thank you...