Stool...

[therewastime]

Hello,

So I encountered Hep C and posted positive for the antibodies. However, my pcr test came back negative. My doctor told me my immune system cleared the virus on it's own. She said come back in months to check my liver. So a few days after my results, I started a cleanse for a week ( pill format...senna,cascara sagrada, etc ). I noticed my stool turned a lighter brown....almost yellow. It freaked me out so I stop. I went in to my doc...she told me that was normal with the cleansing. I still laid completely off. So now for the last two 3 days, I've had a yellow stool. I called the doctor, she said wait a bit and see if it continues...if so, we'll take a stool sample. If that doesn't work...we'll refer you to a gi doctor.

Anyone that knows anything about any of this would be a help. I also noticed a bits of red skinny red lines in my stool today. But I had tomato & ketchup in the last 24 hours.

Thanks

[patient915]

Growling stomach and gas could be caused by anxiety.  Yellow stool and muscle loss is unlikely to be caused by anxiety.

[therewastime]

COuld you be a bit more specific? Out of the symptoms I listed. Which symptoms would be unlikely to happen by way of anxiety?

Thanks,

[patient915]

It would be unlikely for anxiety to trigger some of those symptoms, but others could be triggered by anxiety.

[therewastime]

Well I was told by my doc ( multiple times ) that I don't have hep c. The PCR came back negative. So I'm going to stick with that. I just don't know why Im having all of these stomach issues that I've never had before ( yellow stool off and on...seems to be less yellow when I have less bad fat, growling stomach, minute muscle loss...clothes not fitting the same, gas, etc )

Could anxiety really trigger all of that?

[patient915]

You might want to try asking those questions on the Hep C community.

[therewastime]

Never been on any medication. The only thing is that the cleanse only lasted for a week. My weight had been down ( loss of muscle ) since march. You're right about cleanses depleting nutrients though.

I just don't feel right. I know my doc says the pcr is negative. But I'm starting to think that it could've been a false negative pcr ( in regards to the hep c )

sigh...

Unless stress can mess things up this much. The weight/muscle loss makes no sense to me. And no matter how much I eat ( 6-8 x's a day ). I'm still the same 175.

August 10th is so long to wait for the GI doc. But that's my only choice for right now. =(

[patient915]

Cleanses can cause problems in your colon like depleting certain nutrients or causing irritation.  Have you been on any medications?

[therewastime]

The stool color started to change during the cleanse. Maybe it was happening before that? But I never really paid much attention at that point. The color now changes daily from that light pale brown to regular dark brown.

[therewastime]

Yes...Stomach issues started back in March. Those were the initial first symptoms along with dry mouth. I thought I'd contacted HIV. Then 3 months later the hep c positive antibody came with the negative pcr. I just did the negative stool thing. Now i'm here very confused?

[patient915]

Were you having any problems before the cleanse?

[therewastime]

So the stool sample came back fine...or negative. my doctor has referred me to a GI doctor. My appointment will not happen until the 10th of August. The secretary of my Doctor says they will probably want to do a colonoscopy first.

Mean while the inflamation of my knees have started. It's like I'm right back where I used to be before I gained all of the muscle I had. I'm noticeably a bit smaller. I weigh 175 in the morning and I used to be 180- 181 ish. 6 pounds seems like nothing. but when you workout and eat as much as I do, It's a trip to have to change sizes of clothes.

I feel like the food I eat goes in and out. Nothing ever registers in my body from a nutrient standpoint. I still have that weird silent growling pain to.

Any thoughts about what I should be saying/asking to the GI doc before the visit would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[therewastime]

thanks =)

[patient915]

For me personally, stomach pain is very different from growling.  But then again there are many different types of pain.  Pain can be described as sharp, dull, aching, burning, stabbing, throbing, burning, etc.  I would recommend just saying growing and describe it as best as possible.

[therewastime]

Can someone help me identify the difference between stomach pain and growling? So along with the symptoms I listed above...I'd been having stomach issues. But I wouldn't consider it pain. Nothing hurt at all, but it was definitely growling more than normal. And a lot of gas coming with the growling.

I just wonder if the growling is what people refer to as pain when dealing with gastro issues? Or is it actually painful?

Just trying to figure out what to tell my doctor.

Thanks

[therewastime]

Thanks so much. I'm a big worrier. Your advice helps=)

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  You doctors advice sounds pretty good to me.  The red lines in your stool were probably tomato skins.