IBS, Leaky Gut, something else?

[ChiM21]

I had suffered from IBS-C in highschool for a few years but it went away after I started a low-carb diet for a month and graduated.  I'm unaware if it was the lack of stress due to graduating or the low carb diet, but I was able to eat whatever I wanted, and whenever I wanted for the past 3 years with no problems at all.  I went on a service trip with my college this past april, and on the last day we were there I had a horrible bout of Diarrhea, which was possibly caused by my period. I had to hold it for a good hour because we were in a meeting that I was not allowed to leave. The gas and pain that morning were so unbearable that I was sweating and my eyes were tearing.  I was finally able to get to a bathroom after an hour and after I went, I was ok the rest of the day.  However, ever since that day, I have had extreme gas and diarrhea with everything I eat. I had to drop out of my last quarter of school of my junior year because I couldn't even sit in a quiet classroom with having loud gas pains and running to the bathroom.  It has gotten progressively worse and it is to the point where I can barely eat anything. The only thing I can keep in me with getting gas and pains is yogurt, but even then I get a little gas and d. I barely leave my house anymore.  I used to be a social butterfly and constantly working or volunteering, but I can't even make an eye appointment because I know I'll sit there embarrased with loud gas and pain. It starts as soon as I get up in the morning and never subsides. I've lost 15lbs and I can't lose anymore since I'm only 5'1 and at 100lbs. I keep getting the IBS-D diagnosis but I don't know if thats it.  What can cause extreme (emphasis on extreme) gas like this? The only thing I've found is leaky gut syndrome.  Could it be possible I got a parasite while on the service trip? Could I have damaged my digestive system or intestines by holding it in that morning? I need any help you can give me.  I just want my old life back.

[ChiM21]

I forgot to add that for the past 2 weeks I've been on Levsin, florastor, questran, and probiotic yogurt and have gotten increasingly worse.  I'm going to quit with the levsin and questran because they aren't helping and I feel like they made things worse.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Chronic diarrhea and bowel habit changes need to be further evaluated before settling in an IBD diagnosis.

Sending the stool off for culture and analysis should be done.  Malabsorption and infections should be excluded with the stool studies as well.  I would also obtain blood tests to exclude celiac disease.

A colonoscopy should also be considered.  This can exclude anatomical abnormalities and inflammatory bowel disease.

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

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com