Need help Please! - General Health Message Board

KimberlyV · 09-27-2002, 07:35 AM

Okay, I need some help from anyone who can shed some light on what is going on with my system. For almost 3 weeks now I have had extreme diarrhea. Literally everything I eat is going straight through me. When I started all this, I was very uncomfortable, but now I feel pretty good. The only real symptoms I have are bloating and pressure sometimes radiating into my chest and back. I have been to the doctor and she prescribed Hyoscamine and Colestid, but I can't take them because they make me VERY BLOATED and somewhat constipated. I have had my gall bladder removed and am taking Synthroid because I had 85% of my thyroid gland removed. I have lost 6 pounds in the 3 weeks (which is a very good thing for me!). Do any of you have any idea what could be wrong? Like I said, right now I feel pretty good. The diarrhea just hits me all of a sudden and I have to go to the bathroom right then. It is almost all watery stool that comes out. Please help if you can. Thank you so much! Kim

09-29-2002, 04:02 AM

It could be that you have a stomach upset/virus that is giving your diarrhea. Do you have any stomach pain or cramps before the diarrhea.

Unfortunately, diarrhea after GB removal is not uncommon due to the bile hanging around in the bowels. Colestid should help this. However, if you are very bloated, I think that you need to start taking a Probiotic supplement. This contains Lactobacillis and other gut friendly bacteria. I think that you need to re-colonate your good bacteria, as persistant diarrhea definitely does deplete your good stores. Gas and bloating normally indicates that you need to do this. Keep it in the fridge and take it twice daily on an empty stomach. Don' t take with hot drinks as heat kills bacteria.

Also, you should also start Metamucil twice daily also. This is a water soluble fiber supplement and can help diarrhea a lot.

You could also consider Calcium and Magnesium supplements, as your body runs short of these when you have constant diarrhea.

Hope this helps and good luck?

mlgable · 09-30-2002, 12:18 AM

Since you are still having the diarrhea you should see your doc and ask to be tested for C-diff as well as for possible parasites. One other possiblity would be celiac sprue disease which is basically intolerance to gluten. See your doc and have him help figure out what is going on. You have diarrhea too long and this needs to be taken care of before you wind up dehydated and with severe electrolyte imbalance.