Having some strange bowel issues and mental fog- candidas, bacteria, virus?

[tohmas]

Hi everyone,

20 year old, fit male who up until a month and a half ago was generally healthy.
I had a typical cold (head-ache, cough, phlegm) which I was just beginning to recover from, but then had 3 nights in a different city with very heavy drinking and partying.

A day or two after this weekend I had a bout of diarrhea for 24 hours, and for the next week and a half was producing green stool, thin stool and broken stool. Along with this grumbling stomach I was very fatigued and 'brain-fogged'. After this week and a half I appeared to return to normal, however still a little bit foggy for 2 weeks.

A week and a half ago, 2 nights after some casual drinking, I had another bout of diarrhea for 24 hours and have now followed the same pattern for a 11 days of strange bowel movements and general fatigue and disconnectedness mentally.

I believe the mental disconnection is due to the bowel issues... could this be possible?

Has anyone experienced something similar? Is it possible I have a viral infection that has just come back twice? What could possibly last for 12 or so days at a time? Parasite?

Stool sample came back clear.

Thanks

[mprw]

I have exactly the same symptoms, *exactly*! Did you ever find out what it was? Thanks

[tohmas]

Hi Dr Santos,

Thankyou for replying!

Currently feeling pretty down to be honest. Stomach is just not back to normal and its been weeks. No diarrhea but lots of gurgling, thin, loose and light coloured stools. I am still having a lot of cognitive issues too. Had bloodwork done and it all came back clear- so I'm starting to think its all in my head! Especially considering it all started during a week of extreme stress and fretting about potentially having contracted an STI, which I now know I do not have.
Not really sure if stress and worrying can effect the bowels so badly for so long.... and Im just assuming the fogginess and tiredness is from food moving too fast through my bowels.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? It is good that the stool exam result was normal. Diarrhea is usually associated with  gastroenteritis caused by virus or bacteria, possible  food poisoning, medication side effect or  underlying medical conditions such as Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases  or irritable bowel syndrome. Recurrent infection is indeed possible with exposure to an infective agent or when the immune system is low. If it recurs, it is best that you have this checked by your doctor to rule out  conditions mentioned above. Drinking plenty of fluids may also help prevent dehydration. Take care and do keep us posted.