constant diarrhea

[simplylo]

Two weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night to an incredible urge to use the bathroom.  I was up all night until the early morning hours with explosive diarrhea.  I would have to get up every 5 minutes to go to the bathroom.  Since then I have had it every day, all day and all night.  I might get a 4 to 5 hour break before it hits again.  I'm drinking lots of water and am not experiencing dehydration yet, but I'm very tired which I think is due to lack of sleep.  I've tried over the counter medicines, but they don't work.  It doesn't matter what I eat.  It will pass through my system unabsorbed within an hour after eating it.  I've been on the BRAT diet and it all passes through me like water.  Nothing is helping.  I was thinking of seeing my general doctor first, but I don't want to waste any time, so should I go directly to a gastroenterologist?  What type of tests should I be prepared for?

[ayri]

hi, try having really dark tea, put three bags of tea in a cup of hot water, no sugar.

[boron]

It is GP, who can make all these tests.

[boron]

Tests:
1. stool test for bacteria and parasites, like Giardia (sometimes parasites need to be explicitely  mentioned, since not all labs do it as a routine testing).
2. Blood work: red and white cells, and electrolytes (Na, K).

What to do in meantime:
You may want to try some sport drink (like Gatorade), which contains sodium and glucose. You should dilute it with water (1:1), since a lot of sugar may worsen diarrhea. Salt and sugar enhance intestinal water absorption. It is possible that you have lost some sodium already. Oral rehydration solutions, like Rehydralite, Pedialyte are specially made for diarrhea, you get them in any bigger store without prescription.

Can you remember - have you eaten something suspicious that day or a day before that night? Some fish, shellfish, unpasteurized milk..? Or you think, you inhaled some poisonous gas...?  Or - were you on some antibiotic or other medical treatment recently? (just a note: don't start with any antibiotics before stool test).

You don't need to eat. Anyway - avoid fats, try with small portions.