Aa
mystery ailment again--IBS?
I am following up to a message I posted in mid-June. For the last 7 months, I have been plagued by overly-frequent bowel movements, anywhere from 5-15/day. After being treated 3 times with cipro for food poisoning (the condition set in the day after eating lobster--although my partner and I shared it, and she was never sick), my general doctor referred me to a gastroenterologist. The condition responded to cipro, but less so with each round, and the problem would always come back a few days or weeks later. I also experience dizziness, fatigue, extreme acid reflux (I am now taking Nexium and Zantac for that) and hot sweats. I have now had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and a variety of other tests, including those for carcinoid tumors, malabsorption (although the lab bothched one of them) and parasites, and as far as my doctor and I can tell, I am healthy as a lark except that I produce 3x more stool than I should. Back in May, I asked my doctor if we were just whittling our way down to an IBS diagnosis, but he told me he wasn't considering IBS because I don't have any lower abdominal cramps or pain, which is the cornerstone of the diagnostic criteria for IBS. Now he's changed his tune and says it is IBS, even though he still admits I don't meet the diagnostic criteria. Should I be looking for another doctor/2nd opinion? Any ideas what this could be? I have been following the IBS diet for 2 months now with no change and have taken probiotics for 3 weeks, also with no change. Thanks for your input and ideas.
I have been dealing with extreme bouts of diarrhea for over ten years i have learned so much trew my experiance with medication and dozens of top GI doctors and fially sergy (out of desperation}Did you say you tried Cipero antibiotic and it did help somwhat? If you had a colonostamy and bio's done and they were nagative, IBS is hard to detect when your colon is preped for the scope . it would not be a bad idea to as your docter to try some LEVSIN or BENTAL 30 minutes before meals to slow your system down . Also in my life, the extreme preasures from just having embarrasing diarrhea is anuff to make your insides spasm.Hope is my help.
You mentioned you were on antibiotics for a long period...it might have upset your good bacteria in your bowels and intestines and now you may have an over growth of bad bacteria.
Also studies have shown that Proton Pump Inhibitors such as Nexium stop your stomach acid which is not always a good thing. It makes for a great breeding ground for the bad bacteria and you also need stomach acid to absorb important vitamins such as B12 for your nervous system. Long term use of PPI's can lead to damage of your nervous system and you will start to experience tingling in your fingers and toes. Go to the drug store and get yourself some Probiotics (good bacteria)..I take one everyday as my doctor told me it would promote normal bowel movements.
Here is a cut and paste..alittle more info for you..I truly hope you can get your system back to normal.
Without acid, the body has a difficult time digesting
food. The chief function of stomach acid is the initiation
of protein digestion. Without it, proteins putrefy in the
intestines which means the bacteria wind up decomposing the
protein and producing foul-smelling compounds like hydrogen
sulfide gas, cadaverine (what does a name like that tell
you?).
Acid secretion is also of fundamental importance in the
assimilation of many minerals, and of vitamin B12. Before
looking to hormone replacement therapy for prevention of
osteoporosis, check your stomach acid. As well as looking to
vitamin B12 shots for pernicious anemia, check your stomach
acid.
Another important function of hydrochloric acid is the
stimulation of pancreatic enzyme and bile release into the
small intestine. Without enough pancreatic enzymes and bile,
the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins,
fats, and vitamins A and E, is severely compromised,
inadvertently causing undernutrition even with an excellent
diet.
Hydrochloric acid is also primarily responsible for
keeping the three pounds of bacteria that live in the colon
from translocating up into the small intestines. (This is a
very important immune function.) Without a potent amount of
hydrochloric acid, undesirable strains of bacteria and
yeast can take hold and multiply, and interfere with
digestion and absorption. They can also inflame the
intestines, cause them to become permeable to undigested
foods and thus the individual becomes allergic to healthful
foods. Do you know that the total absorptive area of the
inside wall of the small intestine of an average person is
about the same as a standard football field, and every square
inch of this surface can be covered with mucus in which
bacteria are imbedded and growing? Imagine the negative
impact from odd strains of bacteria.
One can begin to see why, if allowed to continue for
many years without treatment, many diseases can ensue from
hypochlorhydria. Some associated with it are: asthma,
celiac disease, chronic autoimmune disorders, diabetes,
eczema, food allergies, gall bladder disease, gastric cancer,
gastritis, lupus, osteoporosis, pernicious anemia,
psoriasis, and acne rosacea
Also studies have shown that Proton Pump Inhibitors such as Nexium stop your stomach acid which is not always a good thing. It makes for a great breeding ground for the bad bacteria and you also need stomach acid to absorb important vitamins such as B12 for your nervous system. Long term use of PPI's can lead to damage of your nervous system and you will start to experience tingling in your fingers and toes. Go to the drug store and get yourself some Probiotics (good bacteria)..I take one everyday as my doctor told me it would promote normal bowel movements.
Here is a cut and paste..alittle more info for you..I truly hope you can get your system back to normal.
Without acid, the body has a difficult time digesting
food. The chief function of stomach acid is the initiation
of protein digestion. Without it, proteins putrefy in the
intestines which means the bacteria wind up decomposing the
protein and producing foul-smelling compounds like hydrogen
sulfide gas, cadaverine (what does a name like that tell
you?).
Acid secretion is also of fundamental importance in the
assimilation of many minerals, and of vitamin B12. Before
looking to hormone replacement therapy for prevention of
osteoporosis, check your stomach acid. As well as looking to
vitamin B12 shots for pernicious anemia, check your stomach
acid.
Another important function of hydrochloric acid is the
stimulation of pancreatic enzyme and bile release into the
small intestine. Without enough pancreatic enzymes and bile,
the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins,
fats, and vitamins A and E, is severely compromised,
inadvertently causing undernutrition even with an excellent
diet.
Hydrochloric acid is also primarily responsible for
keeping the three pounds of bacteria that live in the colon
from translocating up into the small intestines. (This is a
very important immune function.) Without a potent amount of
hydrochloric acid, undesirable strains of bacteria and
yeast can take hold and multiply, and interfere with
digestion and absorption. They can also inflame the
intestines, cause them to become permeable to undigested
foods and thus the individual becomes allergic to healthful
foods. Do you know that the total absorptive area of the
inside wall of the small intestine of an average person is
about the same as a standard football field, and every square
inch of this surface can be covered with mucus in which
bacteria are imbedded and growing? Imagine the negative
impact from odd strains of bacteria.
One can begin to see why, if allowed to continue for
many years without treatment, many diseases can ensue from
hypochlorhydria. Some associated with it are: asthma,
celiac disease, chronic autoimmune disorders, diabetes,
eczema, food allergies, gall bladder disease, gastric cancer,
gastritis, lupus, osteoporosis, pernicious anemia,
psoriasis, and acne rosacea
hi .. i, too, have had chronic diarrhea for going on 3 months..and i don't have cramping with it. but i have a history of IBS so GI says its IBS. if i stop drinking beer and other carbonated drinks it ceases, plus i take citrucel every night. i also had negative stool. luckily i don't have acid reflux but i have lost about 5 lbs due to diarrhea and have been consistently weak.
someone on this forum suggested aloe vera juice twice a day (like 3 tablespoons 2 x per day). i am going to try it and will let you know how it turns out. also, don't expect any "miracle" cures...it will take time for your system to get back to normal..
someone on this forum suggested aloe vera juice twice a day (like 3 tablespoons 2 x per day). i am going to try it and will let you know how it turns out. also, don't expect any "miracle" cures...it will take time for your system to get back to normal..
In response to Abbey's question, they do use stool samples to test for parasites and other funny stuff like giardia. The giardia is a three-day stool collection, and I also did and acid fast stain test (if you suspect a parasitic problem, you may need to ask your doctor for this test as it is not part of the standard lab work up--my doc had me do it because I travel in the developing world), which is just a one-day stool collection that is then used for some kind of smear test.
I have been following the IBS diet (I can't recall the author's name, but the website is www.eatingforibs.com), which calls for lots of soluble fiber and avoidance of fats, dairy, insoluble fibers, caffeine, etc., but it hasn't made a lick of difference. I wish it did! I lieterally only ate white rice for an entire month back in March in a desperate attempt to get my digestion back on track, and even that didn't help.
I have heard before about the mind-gut connection, but even that seems unlikely in my case. I am not a generally anxious person, and the last year has actually been the most stress-free one I have had in years. I practice yoga, work out 3-4 times per week, sleep 7-8 hours a night--I feel like I am doing everything I am supposed to, but nothing helps. The biggest thing stressing me out is this illness! I am going to go ahead and start treating it as one would IBS (my doc is prescribing a low-dose antidepressant whose name I can't remember--Doxymotin?), but in the absence of lower ab cramps, an IBS diagnosis doesn't really stick, right?
I have been following the IBS diet (I can't recall the author's name, but the website is www.eatingforibs.com), which calls for lots of soluble fiber and avoidance of fats, dairy, insoluble fibers, caffeine, etc., but it hasn't made a lick of difference. I wish it did! I lieterally only ate white rice for an entire month back in March in a desperate attempt to get my digestion back on track, and even that didn't help.
I have heard before about the mind-gut connection, but even that seems unlikely in my case. I am not a generally anxious person, and the last year has actually been the most stress-free one I have had in years. I practice yoga, work out 3-4 times per week, sleep 7-8 hours a night--I feel like I am doing everything I am supposed to, but nothing helps. The biggest thing stressing me out is this illness! I am going to go ahead and start treating it as one would IBS (my doc is prescribing a low-dose antidepressant whose name I can't remember--Doxymotin?), but in the absence of lower ab cramps, an IBS diagnosis doesn't really stick, right?
I believe they test for parasites by stool sample Abbey.
Also I was talking to the woman who runs the Health Food Store
down the road from me...she told me..which I have never heard of
before..that eating unshelled Pumpkin Seeds ...they have to be soaked in water first...will kill Parasites.
Also I was talking to the woman who runs the Health Food Store
down the road from me...she told me..which I have never heard of
before..that eating unshelled Pumpkin Seeds ...they have to be soaked in water first...will kill Parasites.
Do you eat a lot of fatty foods? Also you might want to try a form of soluable fiber...it coats your colon with a slime which allows food to pass through it and not cause spasms which can cause diahrea...it also absorbs excess water in your colon which in turn forms a more solid bowel movement. I take a teaspoon mixed with water every morning.
Here is a cut and paste from the IBS page,
Why may fiber be helpful?
Fiber can be helpful because it improves how the intestines work. There are 2 types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. (Soluble means it dissolves in liquid.) Soluble fiber helps both diarrhea and constipation. Insoluble fiber may make diarrhea worse.
Insoluble fiber is in fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals. Psyllium (a natural vegetable fiber) and oat bran are soluble fibers. You can buy psyllium (some brand names: Fiberall, Metamucil, Perdiem) at the store. Oat bran is in some cereals, bread or muffins. You can also add it to other foods.
Increase the fiber in your diet slowly. Some people feel bloated and have gas if they increase how much fiber they eat too quickly
Here is a cut and paste from the IBS page,
Why may fiber be helpful?
Fiber can be helpful because it improves how the intestines work. There are 2 types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. (Soluble means it dissolves in liquid.) Soluble fiber helps both diarrhea and constipation. Insoluble fiber may make diarrhea worse.
Insoluble fiber is in fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals. Psyllium (a natural vegetable fiber) and oat bran are soluble fibers. You can buy psyllium (some brand names: Fiberall, Metamucil, Perdiem) at the store. Oat bran is in some cereals, bread or muffins. You can also add it to other foods.
Increase the fiber in your diet slowly. Some people feel bloated and have gas if they increase how much fiber they eat too quickly
I was just curious. What type of test were you given for parasites?
Sounds simliar to me, I ate/drank something that made me get sick also. Had to go to the bathroom all the time. I got dizziness, fatigue, extreme acid reflux. Had the same tests as you. They said I had Acid Reflux also but this all happened after the illness. I'll admit that now Im plagued by Acid reflux but I also think I had so much stress in my life that the illness just brought evrything to a head. Stress/anxiety can cause all your symptoms and no, I didn't believe it either. Ask your doctor for some form of pill to relax you preferrablly not a Benzo like ativan because its addictive but something to try out and see if your symptoms get relieved. Mine did but only after the Ativan non of the SSRI's worked for me only made it worse. Goodluck...
Check this information ,i suffered IBS for years after taking Antibiotics for absences in turn caused by undiagnosed diabetes.
the info on these sites undoubtedly saved my life. The condition is very common. The most used forum on the net is the one listed at the bottom of the page .[panix.com] good luck
http://www.drcranton.com/CFIDS.htm
http://www.panix.com./~candida/
Have you had your Thyroid tested for Hyperthyroidism?
Here is a cut and paste and it can cause frequent bowel movement
because this condition puts your metabolism in over drive.
Thyroid disease is one of the most common hormonal diseases found in our society today. The most prevalent thyroid gland disorders are hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules.
Hyperthyroidism means there is an excess of thyroid hormone which causes your metabolism to speed up. In many ways it is like the body is stuck in "overdrive". The heart rate increases, muscles can become weak and hands can begin to shake with a tremor. Bowel movements can be more frequent and many people feel a sense of agitation or anxiety
Here is a cut and paste and it can cause frequent bowel movement
because this condition puts your metabolism in over drive.
Thyroid disease is one of the most common hormonal diseases found in our society today. The most prevalent thyroid gland disorders are hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules.
Hyperthyroidism means there is an excess of thyroid hormone which causes your metabolism to speed up. In many ways it is like the body is stuck in "overdrive". The heart rate increases, muscles can become weak and hands can begin to shake with a tremor. Bowel movements can be more frequent and many people feel a sense of agitation or anxiety
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