Gas & thinner stools what causes this?

[Micheller1995]

Hi, I am a 45 year old healthy woman--I eat a very well balanced diet & drink upwards of 60 + ounces of water everyday. I weigh 144 lbs. & am about 5' 6" tall. When I was 33 (about 12 years ago) years old I was experiencing a pain in my lower right side (I thought it was my ovary) the pain was as bad as a labor pain. This had been going on for about a year, I went to my OBGYN & he did an exam, ultra sound & after a couple of visits decided we should do a laporascopy which we did & I had my tubes tied at the same time. (We have 2 children) There was nothing wrong--the same pain continued just periodically for the next 10 or so years. I did have a colonoscopy about 7 years ago & was told that everything looked good but I had a distended colon, not too bad though. In the last year & a half I have had more problems with the same pain on the right side, I have had a CT scan with contrast of my pelvis & abdomen, an ultra sound, a sonogram & examination. I started taking pills called Sculpt n' Cleanse from a health food store (they are colon cleansing pills) they worked great & I used them for about a year & they kept things moving (this alleviates the pain on my right side when I can get the gas out or have a bowel movement) I stopped takikng them as I was starting to experience some cramping. I then went to talk to a pharmacist & he told me to stop talking the pills & start taking a stool softner--I did take the stool softners 2 in the morning & 2 at night to keep things moving. It was working however I was still experiencing the cramping & so I stopped taking those. I took those for about a month & stopped just recently. I now am not using anything but have thinner stools which I have been having for about the last 6 months or so--my question is what is causing the thinner stools & I also have gurgling in my lower intestines. I realize I have a few things going on, anyway you could help me understand what's going on or should I see a gastroenterologist? Thank you for any insight that you can give.

Michelle Perreira

[Marisen]

Yes, this definitely looks like a case for the Gastroenterologist. There may be a subtle physical anomaly causing your symptoms (which is starting to look doubtful based on all the tests you've already had) or it may be something as insidious and tricky as a hidden food/medication allergy or intolerance causing all this mayhem. If you need a boost finding a doctor, you can either ask your Primary Physician to refer you to a Gastroenterologist or you can check out various doctors' "report cards" from their patients on either RateMDs.com or Vitals.com.

Hope you get relief soon!

[teko]

Wow, I am not a doctor but had a relative that went thru this for awhile. She had mucus and diarrhea alot as well. Come to find out she had polyps that were causing an obstruction but even after having those taken care of continued to have issues. Come to find out, she loved fried foods and sugar and was lactose intolerant. She had to change the things she ate. However it could be something more serious then that and because of that you should see a gastro guy. She also incorporated fiber on a daily basis and that helped as well.