abnormal stool and colon odor

[chuck135]

Are there any treatments or products out there for stool or colon odor?

[patient915]

I have gastroparesis (stomach emptying problem), a colon motility disorder, and POTS (a problem with my autonomic nervous system).  The symptoms I still have are nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, and stomach pain (but not as bad without lactose).  My doctors have suggested many different medications which I am taking and help somewhat.

[chuck135]

What symptoms are you suffering from that remain unresolved and what has the medical community diagnosed you with, and suggested?

[patient915]

I started a vegetarian diet by choice because of animal rights not because of diet (I just included that to demonstrate that a restricted diet can be done).  The lactose diet cured by some of my stomach cramping and gas that I was having.  I was hoping the gluten free diet would help my other symptoms but it didn't help which is why I only did it for 2 months.

[chuck135]

What symptoms were you having before, that a non milk,non gluten,lactose free, and vegetarian diet cured( or helped)?

[patient915]

You should ask for a hydrogen breath test.  Eliminating all milk products is not that hard.  I have had zero milk products for 2 years now.  I have also been strict vegetarian for 11 years.  Also, I had zero milk products, strict vegetarian, and zero gluten for 2 months.  If yoru problems are not severe enough that you don't want to try a lactose free diet, then that is your choice.  All you need to do is eliminate all milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc.  Also read all labels looking for milk products.  Also, when you eat out make sure to confirm that your meal doesn't contain any milk products.  I would recommend this for 2 weeks to see if it makes a difference.

[chuck135]

I have never had a  hydrogen breath test prescribed by my GI doctor, however he did prescribe rifaximin( T.N. Xifaxan) to kill of any causitive organisms in an effort to see if that was the cause.I have had endoscopys,colonoscopys, anal sphincter exams, cat scans(this showed I had a mild sigmoid diverticulosis with no evidence for acute diverticulitis).I am currently trying Acidophyllus Pearls, and Saccharomyces Boulardii+MOS as probiotics.I take Activia yogert in the evening.I have tryed Lactaid before because milk and pastries (especially milk though) will have me loose stools.Trying to eliminate all milk containing products is next to impossible .I will have to look into how to eliminate all lactose to see if that is doable.As far as different types of probiotics, I would not know what to try next .

[SLadylani]

Usually the best thing to do is change what you put in to your body. Remember, what you put into is exactly what is coming out of you. Hence eating only cottage cheese and broccoli is not a good idea. A balance of healthy grains can even things out.

Sara RN

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Reading what you said in your profile, I have a couple questions.  Have you had a hydrogen breath test for small intestinal bacteria overgrowth?  Have you tried different types of probiotics?  Have you tried eliminate all lactose?