Diarrhea for 7 Weeks, Please help - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

terri48 · 08-10-2003, 11:47 AM

I am getting so discouraged. I wake up in the morning and even before I drink anything, I have loose stools. The last few days it has turned into real diarrhea, despite an "anti-diarrhea" diet of rice, toast, chamomile tea and adding a little bland chicken for protein.

I have read up on everything from Crohn's to cancer, and just don't know what is causing this. I went to my doctor...my giardia test was negative but he did not take an occult blood test nor test for any other parasites. I am going to a GI specialist this week. My bloodwork showed no anemia nor any elevated values that would point to infection, cancer or Crohn's.

I had taken a very acidic medication for kidney stone prevention and drank a lot of lemonade when this started. I am hoping that this is all it is, that this may have set up an irritation.

My question is: do any of you with IBS have loose stools every day? Sometimes the are yellowish like a baby's. I also get cramps but am not awakened by them or the diarrhea. I always go to the bathroom right after waking up.

I have not seen any blood. I have always had a nervous stomach, and the second I have anxiety, I get the runs. This makes me think I might have IBS all along. Have any of you had daily diarrhea for prolonged periods of time? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as I am really scared over this.

chronic · 08-10-2003, 05:37 PM

Yes...I have had the same type of stool you describe...and in the mornings upon awaking when I am more stressed out. Your medication could have brought this on. I believe mine has been worse lately because of a virus (accompanied by headaches and fever). The problem is how do I know when the virus is over and it is just my IBS again? The same with you....hard to know when that medication that irritated you is no longer the reason. 7 weeks is a long time, however. Have you consulted a doctor just to be sure it's nothing serious? I believe we should all get stomach transplants! I might need a brain transplant too though just to be sure I break the mind gut link and don't screw up my new stomach! lol

Good luck to you.

CrazyCats4 · 08-10-2003, 05:40 PM

Ahhh Terri, I can sympathize. I've had diarrhea all summer it seems. I attribute it to the humidity we've had. My cramps and the urge to go usually wake me up around 4am, and I continue going to about 10 am. And its been yellow, baby diarrhea colored. Last week I felt so nauseous that I took Pepto Bismo and was so happy the next day when my BM was dark in color.

I also went on the brat diet to see if that would help, it didn't. So I had pizza... and a solid movement. Go figure!

I keep telling myself that when the cooler weather arrives, I'll feel better.

SB

where in wchr are you?

terri48 · 08-10-2003, 05:49 PM

To chronic...yes I am going to the dr. this week, a GI specialist. Thanks for responding.

To crazycats: I am in lower Westchester and yes we have had such high humidity and heat. I also have been drinking tons of water so that I don't get a 2nd kidney stone, and maybe that is giving me the runs...but it shouldn't. So, should I have pizza? I don't think I would chance the tomato sauce!! I have been on the brat diet myself, not even regular tea with it, just chamomile.

Have you seen a doctor about this? Please let me know if so. I would do anything to see one day of a normal b.m....something I took for granted all of my life.

It is good to vent, honestly, Cat, I am scared to death over what this is. Are you also having cramps all over? Mine are in the upper and lower abdomen and they move around. I just hope this is IBS, not that that's a picnic but it's better than finding out that I have cancer or something awful. I have never in my life had this for 7 weeks or even 2 weeks straight. Something is wrong and I have to know what, even if it means getting scoped every which way. Please write back and let me know if you have cramps, and if so, where, and more gas than usual. Thank you so much!!

terri48 · 08-10-2003, 05:53 PM

CrazyCats, I forgot to ask you, after the normal movement (after the Pepto) did it go back to diarrhea again? I also had one half-normal movement and bingo, the next one was yellow and watery again. That's what's such a bummer...you think maybe it is getting better and then you wake up t the same mess again.

Chronic, let me know who can give a brain transplant, LOL, because I also react immediately in the gut from anxiety. I have even been somewhat relaxed this weekend and still the problem remains. Please keep me posted too, thanks!