10 months and counting dealing with daily chronic diarrhea.

[Kaleva]

I've become a pro at cleaning not just the inside of a toilet but also the outside and floors and walls. It's routine now to put a towel on the seat of the vehicle and take a bag that contains a spare pair of pants, underwear and a bag of baby wipes whenever I go somewhere. I've had two colonoscopies this year and might be going for a third next month. While the doctors and specialists I've seen haven't figured out the root cause, they have eliminated a whole bunch of possibilities.

In the end (no pun intended), I may be diagnosed with IBS and just have to live with it. Which really isn't that big of a deal as it's been going on for so long now that I've adapted.

[WhiteTara]

1. are you using metamucil?

I have many severe gut issues and this is a wonder.

[Kaleva]

3. No doctor I've seen has recommended I take it.

[Major Nikon]

7. Might be worth a try

Soluble fiber supplements are most commonly used for constipation, but they can also be effective in treating diarrhea at least for some. If nothing else it should add bulk to your stool.

[WhiteTara]

19. It can't hurt. Really

Drink one glass of water before. Drink 1/2 glass of water with 1 teaspoon of metamucil and then drink another glass of water. Great kidney flush, diet aid and sweeps your colon.

[Sanity Claws]

2. You poor dear!

That must really affect your life. Good luck on finding a solution.

[Trust Buster]

4. Rice or other binding foods ?

[Kaleva]

5. It doesn't matter what I eat. The end result is the same.

[Trust Buster]

6. How about probiotics. Could you have an unbalanced bad bacteria/good bacteria ratio in your

Digestive tract ? I take a probiotic capsule a couple of times a week.

[Kaleva]

8. I was on probiotics earlier this year with no results.

The new specialist I'm seeing has me on it again. I'm supposed to call him in another couple of weeks to give an update. So far, no change.

[WhiteTara]

20. do you drink acidopholius? Or do you take pills?

I drink it and it helps my issues. The pills to me are worthless. You find it in the refrigerated section at a health food store.

[Trust Buster]

22. I had a similar situation with my late mother. I have two thoughts to offer but, before I do,

I should have asked how old you are ?

[Kaleva]

24. 59

[Trust Buster]

36. My mother acquired a C-Diff infection at Cleveland Clinic.

They used a colonoscopy to determine if there was a blockage that was causing an enlarged colon and related loose stool. In the process she was infected during the procedure with a C-Diff virus that very much mirrors your symptoms. Before your problem began, did you have a colonoscopy as a normal preventative measure ?

[Frustratedlady]

9. Ask your physician to order a bacteria overgrowth test.

It is a simple breath test (after fasting) where they sample your breath every 15 minutes or so by you blowing into a tube. That's it. The test is cheap and rarely ordered.

Bacteria overgrowth can occur when you take antibiotics and it kills off the good bacteria and the bad bacteria gets a foot-hold. The diarrhea is explosive and can catch you off guard. It is said that that bacteria thrives on sweets, but I can't back that up.

I had a bladder infection a couple years ago and took two sessions of antibiotics. Since then, I've fought that same problem and they finally gave me the bacteria overgrowth test and I failed. After antibiotics, I was back to normal. I still carry a bag with spare pants and Depends, but so far, so good. Your problem is identical to what I experienced and it rules your life. The only discomfort you will have is fasting. The rest is simple, but what a relief to be rid of it.


I don't know why more doctors don't order that test and eliminate that overgrowth is a problem. Too simple/too cheap? It's great to eat salads again. Good luck!

[PennyK]

37. You're talking about SIBO

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth. It may be MY problem...I've had the runs since May! That test is actually not done anywhere near me, but after trying Align and the FODMAP regimen, my doctor will hook me up with the drug for that. I suspect a sulfa drug I took last year to be the cause.

[Frustratedlady]

38. The diarrhea absolutely takes over your life. If this is the problem, it's an easy fix.

Yes, I imagine the sulfa could cause the problem. It will be interesting to see if the bacteria overgrowth is your problem. Once we figured it out, I took the antibiotics and had relief for 6 months or more and then got hit again. I'm not sure what all brings it on, but it is sure a PITA. I hope I can maintain it longer, this time.

Good luck!

[MLAA]

54. Glad you finally got to the bottom of the problem 😬

What kind of antibiotics did you take?

[Frustratedlady]

55. I don't remember the name...whatever my doctor prescribed.

It didn't take long to correct the problem, but I think I took the antibiotic for 10 days or so.

My daughter went through all kinds of scans/tests and they finally did the bacteria overgrown test. Voila! She is now on antibiotics and quite relieved it was such a simple fix.

[kimbutgar]

10. My sister has the same problem

She has no control and has to wear diapers. She is only 68 and I feel so bad for her. She has cut down on her eating because of it. She takes so many meds for it, I wonder if they are part of the cause.

[Frustratedlady]

11. I would suggest the same test for your sister. It is simple, but you wouldn't believe the number of

people who fought the diarrhea for months/years and remedied it with this test. My original doctor never sent me for the test, but when he left town, the new doctor did run the test at the beginning to see if it could be the cause. Bingo! It took two rounds of antibiotics to correct it, but I've only had one other bout. It is connected to sugar/carbohydrates. I tried probiotics for months, yogurt and expensive medications with no results. I think the first dr. was more interested in the $190/office visit than correcting my problem. "Come back in 3 weeks..." I could crown him knowing what I know now.

The article at the following link will explain the connection to sugar. Johns Hopkins and other hospitals also have explanations of this problem if you run a search for bacterial overgrowth or hydrogen breath test.

https://www.medicinenet.com/hydrogen_breath_test/article.htm#how_does_hydrogen_breath_testing_work


I understand what your sister is going through. Your social life is gone and it takes all your energy away. Eating is a real problem because you have no idea how things are going to affect you. If she takes this test and it isn't the problem, she hasn't lost anything and may find the instant solution. Both times I've had it, I had to go through 2 series of antibiotics, but ended up being able to eat salads or anything I wanted and can actually have periods of constipation. Feast or famine. I can handle the constipation.

[kimbutgar]

12. Thank you so much frustratedlady.

I will pass this on to my sister. I can tell her body is out of balance. I showed her how to stretch to empty her bladder. Which now she says made a difference. Definitely will tell her to get this test.

[Frustratedlady]

15. You are welcome. Good luck to her.

[42bambi]

13. Try taking amitriptyline, you may

have a nervous bowel system...IBS.

[nancy1942]

14. I can totally empathize with you.

Have you ruled out Crohn' s Disease??

[pnwest]

16. Eliminating wheat - not all gluten, just wheat - has stopped that problem dead in its tracks for

me. Not as severe as yours, but definitely had a lot of emergency situations. No wheat, not even beer. (By default that also eliminated yeast, so I'm not 100% sure it's the wheat, 99% sure, but it could be the yeast....) Either way, problem gone. Right as friggin' rain! Also got rid of bloat and gas.

I'm sure your Dr tried eliminating things, was wheat one of them?


Oh - and this problem with wheat didn't start until I hit 50. So it took me a long time to figure out WTF....

[flibbitygiblets]

17. Do you drink alcohol? I'm extremely sensitive to it

I no longer have that problem since I stopped drinking it in any form.

[mr_lebowski]

35. I have runs often ... and drink pretty often as well ...

I'm quite sure alcohol in any form gives me the runs at this point ...

Obviously I'm just one particular case and lots of things could cause this issue ... and in fact I've also had bouts even when I was off the alcohol entirely for years, so ... not the only thing ... but it was a lot less frequent when 100% sober for sure ...

[pennylane100]

18. I have had IBS for several years and I really notice when I forget to take my Metamucil.

It makes a big difference. Also, I take a probiotic which also helps.

[LuckyCharms]

21. I'm sorry to hear this.

I know how life changing that can be...I went through it for about a year. It turned out to be caused by a medication that I was taking. I hope that you get resolution soon. It sounds like you are handling it as well as you can...keep up the good fight.

[Donkees]

23. Could it be an intolerance to the hidden ingredients, preservatives, etc. in foods such as ...

the hot-dogs, rotisserie chicken, etc., or the unlabeled artificial ingredients added to spices? You mentioned in your 'frugal menu' postings that you used to eat blander food at one time (?)

Best wishes for your health.

[whistler162]

25. Not taking Trulicity or similar?

[RandySF]

26. Flu-related diarrhea almost killed my dad

Please be careful.

[Liberty Belle]

27. Have you been checked for parasites?

Especially if you've traveled anywhere where they are commonplace.

Also while probiotics can be good, there's a story I saw this week that in some cases they can cause problems that need antibiotics to actually clear up.

[flying_wahini]

44. And all parasites don't show up on those.

But absolutely get checked. Easy and cheap test.

[MuseRider]

28. So very sorry.

I have gastroparesis and there is a part to that called the dumping syndrome. It does not sound like your GI tract is paralized (paresis). I hope you get help. It is hard and awful in this society of gathering around food to be that person who cannot eat anything offered.

[True Dough]

29. That's unfortunate, Kaleva

But there are a lot of good suggestions in this thread. I sincerely hope at least one of them is helpful to you. Be well!

[chillfactor]

30. I can sympathize with you.....

I have the same problem. I am 76 and have been having this problem for the past 6 months. Being older chronic diarrhea may be a problem of old age. One thing I have discovered is I cannot eat fresh mushrooms that I love but it makes the diarrhea worse so I now do not eat any mushrooms.

[Freddie]

31. My husband has Crohn's

His diarrhea was under control with meds until he had his gall bladder removed for gallstones. Doc said the lack of bile from the gallbladder caused it to return. He prescribed an old medicine that was used for cholesterol before statins came out, it’s a daily powder he mixes with water. The side effect for normal people who wanted to lower their cholesterol was constipation. It’s worked for DH. Ask your GI doc for this.

[Grasswire2]

32. another question

Have you lost weight without trying to do so?

There is something called malabsorption --

[Kaleva]

33. I haven't lost weight and overall, I actually feel pretty good.

[sdfernando]

34. Get tested for C. diff !!!

It is a stool test and must be refrigerated or kept cold immediately. The bacteria dies quickly when exposed to air.

Some products that helped cure a friend of mine:

Megaspore biotic. Spore based probiotic.

Restore for gut health. Essential minerals missing from today’s overprocessed food. Heals the guts tight-junctions. Read up on tight-junctions!

[Demovictory9]

40. thats what Tig Nataro has. never heard of until she spoke of it. wove into her series

comediene

[TexasBushwhacker]

46. I got C diff after taking antibiotics for dental work

Clindamycin to be specific. I was going to the bathroom over 20 times a day. It tooks months to get over it.

[LeftInTX]

39. I have irritable bowel...it isn't anything like this

I have the constipation type, but the constipation isn't severe. Pain, gas and bloating are the main problem in my case.

I would look into other suggestions in this thread.

[lunasun]

41. Ok my aunt had this so I finally talked to her this weekend but this is just a suggested thing

to ask your doctors about and may not apply to your situation . Same problem and no real cause found after tests tests tests
This medicine did not cure her but lessens that symptom . It's used for colitis mostly but she was not diagnosed with that. It also is a steroid with some very bad possible side effects although she has not experienced any . She has been taking it for about 6 months and has dramatically lessened the symptom. However if she stops the symptom comes back again at the same rate as before
Budesonide E.C. 3mg
When I read this I thought of her but so much can be different in your case but maybe the doctor can tell you if it is something that could help or maybe not
I wish you the best because I know how much she had to change her life based on the severity of the symptom she had as you expressed in the OP
Female she is I think 67 or 68 never had a problem like this before it "came on"

[Kaleva]

42. Before I go and see the specilaist again, I'll re-read this thread about all the ideas people had.

[lunasun]

43. Yes questions questions go informed! Come out with some answers I hope

[flying_wahini]

45. Also try two coconut macaroon cookies.

Do NOT eat more than two or you will block up your bowels.
My Mom suffered with chronic diarrhea and I told her to only eat two when I left her the package.
She had 4-5 and ended up with intestinal blockage in the hospital a few days later. 🙄

[Corgigal]

47. Fecal transplant

Why not? Something is missing somewhere.

[Newest Reality]

51. I was going to suggest that, too...

That's a possible avenue to explore if all else fails.

Our biome is becoming increasingly recognized as an important part of the bodies functioning since we have about 3 lbs. of it of symbiotic bacteria inside and outside our bodies. In fact, as research into that field continues, we may even get better, more fine-tuned health care in the future with less side-effects, etc.

An example is that you can adjust the biome rather than hit the entire body with antibiotics. In this case the antibiotics are like using hand grenades to kill mice whereas the adjustments in the biome can be more precise and subtle. That's something to keep abreast of.

[retread]

48. I have a toilet seat bidet and sometimes the gentle, warm water setting eases discomfort even

when I don't need to clean.

[kimbutgar]

49. My Sister is still suffering from the same type of problems that you had in 2018

I saved this thread and am copying what others wrote and sending it to her tonight. She had a really bad day while I was with her today. How are you doing? Did anything help you?

[Kaleva]

50. I still have the same problems.

Generic, over the counter anti-diarrhea medication helps control it. But if I forget to take the pills for 1 or 2 days, it returns with a vengeance and then takes a couple of days before it becomes manageable again. By "manageable", I mean I have far fewer accidents and I'm not running to the nearest toilet as many times in a day as I used to.Specialists have never been able to figure out the cause.

Hope the best for your sister!

[kimbutgar]

52. Sorry to hear that

My sister said Imodium helped her but her Doctor told to stop taking it.

[Karadeniz]

53. Someone in my family has too much of a bacteria in his gut. The test for it involves breathing

Into some sort of tube...15 minutes after drinking something to agitate his gut. Probably a gastro guy would recognize that test. The treatment is an antibiotic that's very expensive...$2000 for a treatment. Our drug supplement paid all but $50. Hubby required a second treatment.

I'm sure your doctor has tested your poop for giardia and coccidia...salad greens are the usual culprit.

What's that germ that keeps pregnant women from cleaning kitty litter boxes?

Hubby just brought info on the gastro condition. SIBO: Small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Bacteria normally found in the colon grows in large numbers in the small intestine. It's a bitch!

[Cousin Dupree]

56. Kaleva, I've had quite a few patients with c. diff

(clostridium difficile). What you describe sounds like it. It's a bacteria that normally lives in the bowel. Sometimes something will suppress the normal bacteria in your gut and the c. diff will take over and cause holy hell. Uncontrollable, frequent, explosive diarrhea. Have you been checked for this? Please check with your doctor. I hope your nightmare ends soon.

[Kaleva]

57. I have a follow up appointment with the specialist later this month. I'll ask.

I wrote it on my daily things to do list for today to go through this thread and write down all the suggestions people have mentioned. There may be something mentioned here that the specialist and the others I've seen about this have over looked.