Help with a diagnosis - bowel/diet issues

[ch_yvr]

Hi,
I've had this condition for approx 10 years.  It's now getting worse, bad enough to get off my butt and seek help.

I frequently have loose stool, I will tend to have a proper, firm stool once every few weeks.  I tend to miss a bowel movement (per day) once or twice a week.  I have a lot of gas no matter what I eat (more gas when I eat beans, of course.)

I'm in good shape but have a distended belly, some days it feels bloated, some days not so bad.

My diet is excellent, lots of fiber and veggies, lean proteins, not much red meat, not much sugar, I cut dairy out a few weeks ago but haven't yet seen a change.  I eat grains in bread, oatmeal etc.

I have no pain, no blood or anything unusual in my stool.  I don't have much notice or warning when my bowel movement is ready.  

This stands out:  I was on antibiotics (cipro) last month, and I had two regular, firm bowel movements each day.  A few days after I finished the antibiotics things returned to status quo.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[jmbirds]

i take a digestive enzyme buy it from walmart you need the amelyse lipase and protease our innerds are retaliating , i have dump syndrom  what about your gallbladder mine was full of polyps and i was miserable dumping with it and with out it but i dont' have the pain bloating  now have you had a CA125 test this rules out ovarian cancer or peritineal cancers which cause the same symptoms? my CA 125 was negetive but i ended up with multigoitor hypo thyroid and my synthyroid is causing me to have bouts of will i make it bet i won't  my stool culture says i have alot of mucous but i have mild diverticulosis not colitis? no bacteria no issues just spastic colon i eat and dump in 15 min , on a bad day sooner  so i am back on my enzymes i get from vitaminshopp pancreatin enzymes i was good for 1 yr and stopped and now i'm back on supposely celiac will pose the same issues you can stop eatting wheat and see if you notice anything if you do eat it?

[kara686]

Low-dose antibiotics sometimes help with this condition, but my GI has told me that you eventually build up immunity to all meds, so it is only a temporary fix.  I just got off the IBS diet, which is a lot of fiber and went to the gastroparesis plan, which means less wheat fiber, more oat fiber, digestible proteins, cooked or blended fruits and veggies.  I am still not eating enough, but  the high fiber diet made me miserable.  Oat fiber is good for your hear, but will not aggravate your digestive system.  Cooking or blending fruits and veggies makes them easier to digest.  Also added specific vitamin supplements.  If you cannot find a GI who will work on nutrition with you, see if you can get a referral to a nutritionist.  Every bite counts when food intake is restricted.  I, too, miss raw broccoli....
Kara868

[boron]

Hm, sounds as either small intestinal bacterial overgrowth - SIBO (dx with breath test) or diverticulitis, which would go with left lower abdominal pain (dx: X-ray with barium enema) or Clostridium difficile infection, characteristic is barnyard smell (dx: stool test for Cl-diff toxin).

You eat a lot of fibers. Fibers are degraded by bacteria nad produce gas.