Please help!! This diarrhea is ruling my life

[jackiebear1533]

Hi! I have had diarrhea for almost three years now (in October will be three years). When it first started I gained approximately 50 pounds in 1-1/2 months. The doctor told me this was physically impossible--but obviously it isn't. My diet and excercise habits did not change at all, and even increasing exercise and going on diets have not taken any of the weight down. I am not used to this cause I have always been very slim. Then the diarrhea started. After it lasted for approximately 1 month straight, I went to see a doctor. The doctor ran blood work and took x-rays of my abdomen. Everything came back fine. She prescribed me antibiotics and the diarrhea went away for approximately 2 weeks. Then it started back up again full force. It got worse in the sense that when the urge hit me to relieve myself, I had about 90 seconds to find a bathroom, or I was going to have an accident. I recently saw a gastroenterologist in December, who also took bloodwork, gave me a CT scan of my abdomen, and performed an colonoscopy. All of these tests came back clear as well. The doctor diagnosed me with IBS (which is a disease that is diagnosed when they can't find anything else wrong with you)and prescribed me a medicine (don't know the name of it) to help with the diarrhea. I took this medicine for over 6 months and have had no change in my diarrhea problem. I probably have on average 3-4 diarrhea episodes a day. I have noticed that pizza, alcohol, and pickles especially trigger the episodes. However, spicy foods have no effect. I have not had a single regular bowel movement in over 2 years. Also, I don't know if this symptom is related, but I will include it just in case. I have not had a menstrual period for 4 months now, and am not pregnant. If you have any ideas on what this condition is or how to help relieve it, please let me know. It has become a burden on my life, where I don't even feel comfortable leaving my house. Please help!!

[crumy]

Not for nothing, but i dont think you should wait 6 months to get checked out by your gyno, i think you need to explain to them what is going on and that you really need to get tested (possibly by internal ultrasound) to see what is going on and to rule out anything female, they then should be able to get you in earlier.  let me know how you make out.

crumy

[jackiebear1533]

Thanks for your advice.  I have made an appointment with my gyno, but unfortunately it takes 6 months to get in.  So I am patiently waiting!  I will make sure to inform yall of any updates.  Thanks for the help.

Jackie

[crumy]

I am sorry to hear about what you have been going through, I have IBS-D, but not really diarrhea, just loose stools alot and when im nervous which is almost always, then i tend to go to the bathroom alot.  I think because you said that you have had testing done, ct scans, colonoscopy, x-rays, blood work, and have not had your period in months, that maybe you should see your gyno doctor, maybe you might have a cyst or some growth on your ovaries or somewhere else that might be interferring with your bowels, there has to be a specific reason why you are having diarrhea all the time, it is not normal and do whatever you need to do, bug the doctors, go to new ones, check all info on line, talk to other people, to help find out what is wrong.  there has to be a good answer.  let us know how you are doing.

crumy