So, this is embarrassing. And possibly TMI, but please help.

pmumble

I'm surprised only one (could be wrong) person in this thread has suggested this.. but.

Probiotics, probiotics, probiotics.

For sure make a Dr's appointment ASAP to be checked out for cancer, IBS, Crohns, etc.. BUT try probiotics! It's something you can get started on right away with no insurance. If your intestinal bacteria gets out of whack from eating too much sugar/processed food/artificial sweeteners you'll see the symptoms you're having.. I had something very similar (not seeing a hard stool for months on end) until I started supplementing with these 3 things all at once and saw results within a week:

Greek yogurt
"Primadophilus" probiotic pills that have like 14 strains of probiotics (found in refrigerated section)
"Saccharomyces Boulardii" pills

Even if this doesn't solve your problem it's completely harmless to try…

Good luck!

pmumble

Also it could be (gross I know) intestinal parasites… there are protocols for dealing with that but I don't have any firsthand experience. I know they usually involve fasting and taking special supplements (usually natural).

bobkarstenson

I also think seeing a GI would be good, but also fiber help you poop so i would not go high fiber that will make it worse. Probiotics help regulate the system and are recommended when you have loose stool and on antibiotics so i would try a probiotic supplement

BeckyMBisMe

It could be a number of things. You need to see a GI specialist.

A general doctor wouldn't help? I couldn't go before because of money and no insurance. But I have insurance as of this month.

I agree. You should see a GI doc, not a family doc. Your primary doc will probably just refer you anyway. They are specialists for a reason.

I work for a GP, your's may be able to help you. And unfortunately, many insurance companies do not cover a specialist unless you first see your Primary Care Physician. And unfortunately, they will not pay for any testing or okay the referral until the PCP jumps through their hoops. It's a pain for all involved except maybe the specialist.

I hope you get this figured out soon. good luck

lizzyclatworthy

Ican only echo what others have said about medical advice but please never be embarrassed talking about your health. It's too important!
I hope you get to the bottom of it (pun intended)

MechelleA81

Crazy how many of us have the same problem. I went to GI doctors and had a colonoscopy. All they told me is to stop eating stuff that I suspect to be upsetting my stomach and keep a food diary.

So I stayed away from dairy and gluten and anything else not natural since January 1. I have eaten only vegetables, some fruits, brown rice, quinoa, and beans. Then this past week on Wednesday I ate a bagel. I recorded the symptoms I had: Immediate dizziness, stopping of any kind of bowel movement for going on 4 days so far, bloating, gas, upset and rumbly stomach, the list continues.

This tells me I'm gluten intolerant even though when tested it came back negative cause the tests can do that. The only real way of determining what you shouldn't eat is by you recording what you eat and eliminating the issue causers from your diet.

I know I can't have dairy products like milk or ice cream even if it's made of Lactaid. (Bleeding, severe stomach distress, and excess mucus - and that's from drinking Lactaid brand!!!!)

Yogurt hasn't given me a problem that I remember but I'm going to completely eliminate all dairy from my diet just because there is no reason a human should be drinking any substance that was made for a baby cow. Just doesn't make sense. And we can get all the nutrients and minerals from vegetables and fruits that we need.

Since I'm going to school for my Masters in Nutrition, I'm learning a lot about how bad a lot of things they teach us actually are for us.

Wish you the best!!

BeckyMBisMe

I also think seeing a GI would be good, but also fiber help you poop so i would not go high fiber that will make it worse. Probiotics help regulate the system and are recommended when you have loose stool and on antibiotics so i would try a probiotic supplement

actually fiber can help with diarrhea. it just depends on the type of fiber. check out this article

http://www.livestrong.com/article/260953-fiber-supplements-for-diarrhea/

elyelyse

Regarding seeing a doctor...most insurance plans (in the US) require you to see your primary care doctor first, and get a referral for a specialist, in order for them to cover the cost the specialist.

aleggett321

First a comment about an appt. with a GI specialist. Check with your insurance company first. Some, especially HMOs, do require a checkup by your primary care physician for a specialist referral.

I too had severe diarrhea for years. I knew the location of every bathroom in a 10 mile radius. I tried exclusion diets for dairy, gluten, fructose which were all negative. I dont really ever eat soy. Tried probiotics, both in capsules and yogurt. Didnt help me. I finally went to a GI MD and was tested for celiac, Chron's, cancer which were all negative. Colonoscopy was normal as was a series of X-rays after swallowing a radioactive dye to follow the progression through the gut. Im not a particularly anxious person and was not on any meds that typically cause this problem. After ruling everything testable out it was left at at chronic diarrhea of unknown origin. I was advised to take Immodium everyday, that it is perfectly safe even for long term use. No problems for almost a year now.

Definitely do NOT take this a suggestion to jump to meds without seeing a doctor. You definitely must be checked out, there are so many different causes. I wish you success because that is an awful way to live.

Good luck!

Belinda170

Have you had your gallbladder out? I have that same issue, but it's because I had my gallbladder out. But go to a gen practitioner, they will refer you to a GI Specialist, it sounds like you may have diverticulitis, colitis or IBS. Also, do you drink heavily? That can also cause frequent bowel movements.

Sorry you're dealing with it.

cathipa

I work in GI and agree with everyone else you need to see a specialist. You need to have bloodwork, but also you will need a colonoscopy to rule out any form of colitis. The work up for diarrhea can be extensive since there are so many potential diagnoses. Seek professional care and good luck to you.

lynleeg88

You sound EXACTLY like me.

I have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease). I take a medication called Levsin which is an antispasmodic. It decreases acid production in the stomach, slows down the natural movements of the gut, and relaxing muscles in many organs.

I literally spend about 95% of my life on the toilet (I don't remember the last time I had a normal, solid stool).

Due to the constant diarrhea, I am deficient in magnesium. Some people also become deficient in potassium as well when they have chronic diarrhea. Make sure you are taking a magnesium supplement as well as eating a lot of bananas.

I can't drink milk but I can tolerate SMALL amounts of yogurt and cheese. I drink almond and coconut milk instead. I don't like soy milk and can't tolerate it.

I LOVE salad but can't eat it because it goes straight through me. The only veggies I can tolerate are broccoli, carrots, celery, asparagus, peppers, and mushrooms.

I highly recommend seeing your physician to get a referral to a gastroenterologist. They will do a bunch of blood work to check for celiac (gluten allergy) and they will check your SED rate (amount of inflammation in your body). Average SED rate is 0-20. My SED rate varies from 32-60 depending on when I am having a flare up. If your SED rate comes back high, the gastro will most likely want to perform a colonoscopy and endoscopy. My gastro has been nagging me about having both procedures done for a while now but I haven't been able to have them done yet because I can't fast due to my hypoglycemia.

Add me as a friend if you want to talk more!

I am definitely going to try to see a GI specialist after all the advice here!

And as for magnesium and everything, I have a prenatal vitamin, take fish oil, and niacin. You think that will help replenish?

Please, please go get checked.

It could be something as simple as a food intolerance (gluten is a big one)

I had diarrhea for years,and I ignored it. Being tested for Celiac and going on a gluten free diet helped immensely and I refused further testing even though I still had diarrhea if I went off my prescribed meds (to stop the diarrhea) and because it wasn't checked out properly I went through a ton of pain and hospitalizations after finding out in the ER a year later that I have Crohn's. My only symptom was diarrhea up until my stomach started to hurt.

Yeah, right now there is no pain. Just the urge to go. So far it does not interfere with my life though. I just know that I need a bathroom after eating. and normally I can be fine till I get home if I eat out.

Definitely go see a dr ASAP. My sister in law at age 25 thought she had some sensitivities to food, then her doctor said Crohn's disease, and then she finds out later that she has a form of intestinal cancer and now has a port installed in her chest for regular radiation treatments. And it all started with the runs multiple times everyday no matter what she ate. not to be a fatalist here, but when it is your health, take no chances.

That is scary, especially since this has been going on since my teens, and I'm almost 26.

Sounds like IBS to me, it'd be a good idea to check in with your doc. I started a whole foods, plant-based diet six months ago and it almost completely took care of my digestive issues (I say almost, but really I've been straying a little lately and some of the symptoms have come back)

I have switched to healthier eating at the moment. I only have fresh veggies I cook myself. No prepacked meals. I do however eat oatmeal, bread sometimes...so I got rid of a lot of processed foods, but not all.

Do you take any medications because sometimes the side effects cause diarrhea

Only vitamins. A pre-natal, fish oil, niacin.

Possibly IBS or a hiatal hernia?

I'll have to look up that last one.

I've seen a GI doc for my issues as well. He couldn't figure it out. Turns out it was gluten (this was 10 years or so ago when folks weren't as aware of gluten sensitivity). I cut gluten out and the problem was almost immediately resolved.

See a doc, and do an elimination diet. There are a lot of possibilities.

I see gluten alot on here, as a possible cause. And I'm going to research it. but what exactly is gluten, and the main foods it is in?

I'm surprised only one (could be wrong) person in this thread has suggested this.. but.

Probiotics, probiotics, probiotics.

For sure make a Dr's appointment ASAP to be checked out for cancer, IBS, Crohns, etc.. BUT try probiotics! It's something you can get started on right away with no insurance. If your intestinal bacteria gets out of whack from eating too much sugar/processed food/artificial sweeteners you'll see the symptoms you're having.. I had something very similar (not seeing a hard stool for months on end) until I started supplementing with these 3 things all at once and saw results within a week:

Greek yogurt
"Primadophilus" probiotic pills that have like 14 strains of probiotics (found in refrigerated section)
"Saccharomyces Boulardii" pills

Even if this doesn't solve your problem it's completely harmless to try…

Good luck!

I eat greek yogurt, you think that is enough? Money is tight, not sure if I can get probiotics right now.

Have you had your gallbladder out? I have that same issue, but it's because I had my gallbladder out. But go to a gen practitioner, they will refer you to a GI Specialist, it sounds like you may have diverticulitis, colitis or IBS. Also, do you drink heavily? That can also cause frequent bowel movements.

Sorry you're dealing with it.

No, all my internal organs are as of yet, still internal, lol.

lynleeg88

Thank you all, so so much for helping me to figure this out.

I'll try and see a GI doctor as soon as I can. You all have been so kind in helping me in this embarrassing issue. And now I can see I am not alone.

So thank you all again, so much!

ashenriver

Since you have insurance, do not change your diet prior to visiting the doctor. You can skew the results of any tests. But yep, you should go.

^^This

For those wondering about not being able to drink milk, but cheese and yogurt are fine. I have a friend who is a food technologist who has worked on research regarding milk proteins and such. I cannot remember all the details but the protein that most people are intolerant of is changed during processing into yogurt and cheese.
It is pretty interesting stuff I wish I remembered more.

TrishDevine

I'd echo what other people have said: see a GI. Your symptoms could be anything from irritable bowel (very likely) to UC or Crohn's, to cancer (a lot less likely). In my case, it turned out to be UC. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2005, since downgraded to IBS with long colon (about two feet longer than it should be!) and I had your exact symptoms.

You might find the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall helpful, about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and the website http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/ - there's also a forum you can join. This diet sorted me right out - it's a hard-core exclusion diet and it was tough but I've never been so healthy in my life.

You can buy a one-litre yoghurt maker from Lakeland Plastics (http://www.lakeland.co.uk/3440/Electric-Yoghurt-Maker). They ship abroad, but check your voltage as you may need to source a maker elsewhere. A yoghurt maker will pay for itself a hundred times over. Ferment your yoghurt for 24 hours so that the lactose breaks down into glucose and galactose, using Yogourmet starter from Lucyskitchenshop and it will give you billions of good bacteria - far more than you could get in any supplement. This method can be used even by those who are lactose-intolerant because they lack lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down the lactose. If you're allergic to casein (milk protein), however, you can still make soy yoghurt if you're not allergic to that.

And incidentally, it is GOOD to have a bowel movement in response to eating, every time you eat - it's only modern society that says you should only have one BM a day! In fact many naturopaths train patients who have chronic constipation to go sit on the toilet after every meal and get things moving again. But it's urgency that is the real issue - if you're rushing to the loo the minute you put food in your mouth, you may have an overactive gastro-colic reflex (where the bowel responds to the stomach distending). You will need tests to tell you all these things - gastic emptying time, colon motility, whether you have polyps, etc.

Good luck.

befitnow3

It's probably IBS but yes definitely see a dr. If you log honestly you will see what causes this the most. Try minimizing those foods on your own. A food diary is a real eye opener. Good luck! I empathize

goldthistime

I have had similar problems in the past but ultimately decided that my problem is food borne bacteria. Even in teeny tiny amounts. So everything goes instantly into the fridge and even then no leftover chicken or any food that has touched the chicken, no fast food chicken, no chili or crock pot food, no chicken added to my salad or wraps, even at expensive restaurants, and no finger food with meat at parties. No undercooked fish (including sushi obviously) etc. etc. I know one person personally like me but haven't read about any similar stories on the internet. Good luck.

husseycd

Eliminate or cut way back on gluten.
For at least a week. And see if that helps.
If not, get in to see a doctor.
Worked wonders for me.

This. It could be a lot of other things, but since you don't have insurance right now, this is an easy way to test for gluten sensitivity. I'm actually sensitive to many grains, wheat and corn included. Not horribly, mind you, but enough when I eliminated them I was shocked that I no longer had gas. :blushing:

ETA: People get weird about the gluten thing, but while I don't think it's the devil, it (and milk and lots of other things) are not necessary to a healthy diet, so cutting it never hurts anyone.

mccindy72

Ok. So here goes. I come to you all with red, embarrassed cheeks but needing help.

For as long as I can remember, years...I've had 90% of the time suffered from diarrhea. When I was 130lbs, when I was 160lbs, now. I go around 5 times or more a day. And whatever I eat, I read is supposed to take at least a day to go through your system. Mine seems to only take hours.

Milk upsets my stomach, but not yogurt or cheese. So I don't think I'm lactose intolerant, or at least not badly. And I don't really eat those things much anyways. A little milk in the coffee, a little in shakes. Even when I was on soy milk for a year, same problem.

And if I eat a meal, or even some snacks, I'm going to the bathroom ten minutes later.

It happens regardless of my food choices or fiber. I've tried high fiber, fiber supplements, etc. Not even Imodium helps.

Does anyone know what this might be?

I'm not going to read through the whole thread. It's possible someone's already said it sounds like you might have Crohn's disease. That is what it sounds like. Definitely go to a GI and get checked out. I have had GI problems for years and have a very restricted diet because of it. There are many foods you have to avoid, as well as medications, and a risk of malnutrition, as the frequent diarrhea keeps you from absorbing the nutrition from the foods you are eating.

Sabine_Stroehm

It's probably IBS but yes definitely see a dr. If you log honestly you will see what causes this the most. Try minimizing those foods on your own. A food diary is a real eye opener. Good luck! I empathize

Interestingly, what my doc called IBS disappeared within days of eliminating gluten.