Diarrhea For 5-6 weeks.

[cosmopolite]

I have had diarrhea that has lasted for about 6 weeks now.  Around the 3rd or 4th week, I went to my doctor.  He prescribed a week's worth of metronidazole.  After a few days of taking this medication, I began to have normal stools.  When I stopped the medication, my diarrhea, or loose stools slowly started returning to the current state it is in now.  This has lead me to believe that I possibly have an infection which wasn't totally wiped out by the antibiotics.

I went back to the doctor and had some blood tests / stool tests done.  Everything came back to me normal.  I suggested to him that I should be back on the antibiotics because my stool returned to normal on them and that maybe the antibiotics didn't get everything.  He told me that the antibiotics would of killed everything and that it might just be indigestion. I'm not sure I believe him!

All of my bowel movements have been pretty normal. I have no headaches, fever, no blood in the stool, no pain.  The only symptoms that I did have were when I first started to have some bloating / stomach upsetness after possibly eating or drinking something funky. Since then I've had the diarrhea but no serious bloating or stomach issues.  At times my bowels have felt slightly inflamed- and the gas / stool that I have has a putrid smell.

I have an appointment with a GI specialist tomorrow, but I just would like some more advice on what the next step should be.  Could a worm, ringworm or parasites sneak by my test results and escape antibiotic treatment? I'd like to try all of my options before having a colonoscopy.

[katie m]

i am wondering  what you mean when you say it took 8 months to get back to normal?
i have been having problems for almost 5 months now.................stool for o&p were negative but bloating  responded to flagy, stools aren't as frequentl! it's been a month and i'm somewhat better but still continue with weird abdominal symptoms, occasional low grade fever. i have gained a few pounds back and am eating again!   i'm hoping this is just  going to disappear..................can you fill me in on your prolonged recovery......i need hope!

[rec3973]

I had similar symptoms as you, all tests came back negative for bacteria, but the doctor still put me on metronidazole for a week. My bowel issues got better for that week, then they returned. I have no clue what to do next. It is so frustrating not knowing what is wrong with you. Did you come to some sort of conclusion?

[reasonable hope]

giardia gets better with metronidazole, but the spores of the parasite are able to reinfect you for 6 months if they are sitting around.  Plain soap and water don't kill it off, and you discharge millions of spores when you have it, and it only takes 4-6 to get sick again. So if you didn't boil and chlorine the heck out of all your bathroom supplies ...well, then you could reinfect.  Also, even when you don't get 're-infected' giardia leaves a lasting problem for months for some people (I know too well)  My doctors did not get this one right  They tested me as normal.  At the health food store they told me that was probably it and then I had my son tested (no symptoms except stinky poop) Once his was positive, suddently relooking at mine was a little more thorough.  They said its easy to miss if you turn in a normal stool, easier to find if you choose a loose stool to submit.  Many people go back and forth from normal to even constipation to diarrhea from it.
After I took the metronidazole it took me 8 months to return to normal.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Testing the stool should be done, looking for parasites that can be causing the diarrhea.  At this point, I would also test the stool for C Difficile - a bacteria that can lead to marked diarrhea.  

A CT scan can be considered to look for inflammation that may suggest colitis.

However, if the symptoms continue, and the tests continue to be non-revealing, I agree with the colonoscopy being the next step.  Non-infectious causes like inflammatory bowel disease can lead to prolonged diarrhea.  The colonoscopy would be the best test to rule this out.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a gastroenterologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[Rick S.]

I know you are awaiting the doctor's response.  The bottom line is that all tests are not perfect and all western medicines do not always have the answers.   If you really suspect that this condition was caused by a parasite or food infection, you can go to the health food store and buy anti-parasitic herbal medicine (to be taken before eating for about a month).   These are all natural herbs like Black Walnut, Thyme, Quassia, etc....any good health food stores will have an anti-parasitic formula....you will know if it is working after 1 week....your bowel movements will improve and your energy should increase...if it is due to a parasite or other bacterial infection.

Feel better.