Looking for help - Chronic Morning Diarrhea

[LA McRoy]

rb Toronto Ont Canada wrote:

52 year old male.
In Sept 82 i went on a vacation to Jamaica, caught something, with diarrhea attached. Had all the tests multiple times over the years. Still suffering. Doctors say - IBS ( should be I.D.K. I Don't Know)
But here's what works for me.
keep stress to a minimum
don't drive in traffic especially in the mornings!
2 immodium in the morning
2 at night
1 "Digestive Advantage" in the morning
1 at night
and the greatest wife always understanding.
The imodium was helping but by itself i was only 50% normal.
A year ago i discoverd "Digestive Advantage", after 1 month i experienced my 1st solid stool in over 2 decades!
now i'm pleased to report most days i'm 90% normal.
not cured but i can live again.
Generic imodium from Costco in the States less than $10 for 200 I live in Canada but make an annual trip and pick up a years supply.
Digestive Advantage also at Costco in the states very reasonably priced.
Worse than the problem is how it affects your life. I have 3 boys, now grown but i could never take them to the park when they were little for fear i'd have to run home. Always looking for the bathroom before all else. Avoiding crowded places and events, because there would be lineups at the washrooms. Turning down job advancements that came with stress. And even happy times are stressful.
Hope my solution works for you but if it doesn't you have my understanding and sympathy.

I am going to try your immodium/Digestive Advantage "diet"...I have had these symptoms for 2 months and can't seem to get out of the bathroom! God Bless to all living with this. This isn't fun or funny.

[LA McRoy]

Yup wrote:

All this sounds very familiar. I have been dealing with morning diarrhea for the past 5 years. Healthy 27 year old male.
I have extreme urgency in the morning that leaves me out of all morning activities. Throughout the day, I typically get better little by little. At night, I pretty much feel like normal and can do things. Although, often times my mind is still playing the "where is the closest toilet game" even though I am usually just fine at this time of day. I have been through all of the treatments, GI docs, colonoscopies, fiber, acidophilous, hypnosis, meds, Naturapathic docs, stool tests, celiac tests, acupuncture, you name it. But, I am not giving up hope. There has to be a way to fix this problem.

I totally understand! I have been playing the "toilet game" all of adult life (I'm a 40 yr. female) and since 7/23/07 have been battling this very badly every day. It just won't go away. My symptoms mirror your and many others that have posted here. I am with you...there has got to be an answer! I go to my GI doc again tomorrow. If I learn anything that I feel would benefit all of you, I will post. Hang in there. I too find comfort knowing that I am not alone. God Bless All of You.

[vero ca]

i can relate to all you. im a 29 yr old female & have had this problem since i was about 15 but has only worsen over the years. It really has controlled my life & always has me wondering why & least i finally see i am not alone. I am going to try Imodium & see what happens!

[LA McRoy]

vero ca wrote:

i can relate to all you. im a 29 yr old female & have had this problem since i was about 15 but has only worsen over the years. It really has controlled my life & always has me wondering why & least i finally see i am not alone. I am going to try Imodium & see what happens!

I went to the GI doc last week. I spoke to him re: Digestive Advantage. He was actually very supportive of this over the counter option. He basically said it was like eating yogurt and contained the same cultures as yogurt. Thought you might want to give it a try. I found it at Walgreens for about $10. PS...I have also learned one of my new IBS enemies...orange juice. I won't go into details...but it isn't a good thing!

[16yr oldtoo]

16yr old wrote:

ok i have everyones comment ....i cant go to school alot of the time or i spend my time skippin classes n my mom is no help she says she wont take me to a doctor that its nothing ... i have reverted bak to my room after being such an outgonig person... im dying of tiredness all the time n i been liek this since last september...i have been finally researchin and the only answer i have ound without goin to the doctor is trying this product called "imodium a-d" or "imodium advance" its garaunteed to be at walmart...the have everything but u can get it online and at cvs pharmacy and its only bout 10dollars.. not bad

i have had the SAME thing...for awhile i had mono...***ugh***out of school for about 4 months(i missed alot of school cause i felt bad alot...)
then i kept feeling bad cramps, all the signs of kindof like the flu (going to the bathroom alot n such) so i would go to the doc...all they kept saying is IBS-IBS-so i figured i would just say its IBS...My friends always wanted to hangout-but i couldnt i felt so bad, my parents & family nagged all the time (eat fiber-that is the LAST thing i want to do lol), and i am an online student(besides being able to do my work when ever i love it much better than traditional school!!!)(i too was/is very outgoing & bubb-ily!!!) i usually take "imodium too" but it only helped so much...i latly have been taking "Digestive Advantage"-& i have to say, i am starting to feel back to my old self again!!!*=)
(Just wanted to let you know your not the only teen going through this...)
Best of luck my friend!!!***HUGS***
♠16yroldtoo&spa des;

[rb Toronto Ont Canada]

I'm back, wrote a couple of months ago. Any way, there's been a development. Mid July i had a flare up of my Prostatis, for which the treatment was Cipro 1000 mg a day for 21 days. So, instead of the normal reaction to anti-biotics which is MORE DIARRHEA!, the opposite happened, not only that for the first time in 27+ years constipation. and after the 21 days, my movements are - well, if 1 is water and 10 is what i want, then i'm 11, a little slower than i'd prefer. but after so long such a welcome change.

i'm off the antibiotics but still on the imodium. Another week and i'll see if i can reduce that.

It's all a co-incidence, but my G.P. sent me to a G.I. Dr., for my 50+ colonoscopy, and he's going to once again give me a good once over. but after describing the effect of Cipro he thinks my problem may have been an over abundance of a too friendly bacteria. and he'll persue my problem (if in fact i now still have one) with this as the root cause.

1 pill a day for 21 days if only i'd know 10000 days ago!

[canada]

Try Crones Disease, it deals with the intestines so people cannot digest food properly. Which, gives people diarriah and later constipation along with cramping. The harder the food is to digest, the worse you'll feel. The only thing to do is eat soups and easily digesting foods.

[canada]

Also if it is really bad you may need some of your intestines removed. They may be swollen and torn and bleeding from the food not digesting. And that gives people the cramps and constipated feeling, and whatever does slowly digest comes out diarriah.

[Rachael]

i'm a 16 year old female and this has been happening to me for the past couple of months. it stinks because i'm always at school when it happens. i haven't scheduled a doctors appointment yet because i thought it was something i was eating and it might go away. i'll be making an appointment soon.

[LA McRoy]

Me again. Well, now I've have had the colonoscopy...negative! The prep managed to make me free from diarrehea for about 2 or 3 days! Yeah!!! But now I am still having diarrehea and the morning wake up call (unfortunately at 5:30 am) that says "hey, we're going to ruin your day again). Not looking forward to daylight savings time because the episodes will then kick in at 4:30 am! Still taking the Digestive Advantage and it does seem to help a bit. I am just searching for the permanent solution. Hang in there everyone!

[Judy]

I had the loud stomach noises and diarrhea with mucus for a year. Have done all the tests the gastro recomended. He said I have IBS. I get a lot of sinus infections and have to be on antibotics for them. A pattern emerged! Every time I'm out on Cipro or Leviquin my stomach problems disappear within 24 hours. I'm talking PERFECTLY normal. After ten days dose of antibiotics, still good. Twenty four hours after last dose I start to go downhill again. Anybody else have this happen?

[LA McRoy]

Judy wrote:

I had the loud stomach noises and diarrhea with mucus for a year. Have done all the tests the gastro recomended. He said I have IBS. I get a lot of sinus infections and have to be on antibotics for them. A pattern emerged! Every time I'm out on Cipro or Leviquin my stomach problems disappear within 24 hours. I'm talking PERFECTLY normal. After ten days dose of antibiotics, still good. Twenty four hours after last dose I start to go downhill again. Anybody else have this happen?

I am absolutely no expert, but I do know that you can get diarrehea after taking an antibiotic. I believe it is called C-Diff, but don't quote me on that.

[vero]

LA McRoy wrote:

<quoted text>I went to the GI doc last week. I spoke to him re: Digestive Advantage. He was actually very supportive of this over the counter option. He basically said it was like eating yogurt and contained the same cultures as yogurt. Thought you might want to give it a try. I found it at Walgreens for about $10. PS...I have also learned one of my new IBS enemies...orange juice. I won't go into details...but it isn't a good thing!

thanks i'll try that...walgreens+10 bucks=sounds good to me!

[kennyjo]

I have been having the exact same symptoms as you for awhile now. Did you ever find out what the problem was?

TJ - Nova Scotia wrote:

I am reading everyone's experiences and they are very similar to mine.
I'm a 37 year old female. For just over 3 wks. I've been waking up every morning about 2 hrs. before the alarm and having stomach cramps, then I have a BM, which is always very soft, and then nausea. Not sure whether I need to throw up or move my bowels.
Over the course of the next two hours or so it just gets worse. Lots of stomach gurgling and some gas. The gas and gurgling happen all day, the bowel evacuation and nausea does not. Actually, I have been noticing the nausea may show up later in the day but is usually fleeting. The stools are soft and getting softer, sometimes very watery. Lighter yellowish-brown as opposed to dark stool, with no visible blood. Dry heaving but no vomiting.
My doctor is sending me for a blood test for celiac disease. If that's negative, he has made it clear that the only logical answer would then be IBS. We have not done a stool sample.
I have eliminated dairy from my diet. Not sure if this is related, but three months ago I quit smoking and drinking coffee - both were daily habits.
I've been noticing pain in my lower left abdomen as well as low lying pain in the left side of my back.
In the morning, once this starts, I find it hard to calm down - trying to get back to sleep, the pain and cramps and nausea make me anxious, I cry and shake, the anxiety gives me stressful thoughts, which makes me go back to the bathroom and try to throw up.
It's been almost a month now and I am a small business owner. I feel like I am losing my mind.
If anyone can give me a short list of what this sounds like, that would be greatly appreciated. My quality of life is diminishing and I am fearing for my livelihood. Thank you in advance.

[LA McRoy]

Me again. Well, I have been taking the Digestive Advantage once a day for about a month or longer now and I no longer have the a.m. urge. Don't get me wrong, I still get "flare ups", but it seems to control things much, much better. Let's just say Digestive Advantage is now a "pantry staple" and I take it the moment I wake up!

[mom2]

concern mom wrote:

I have a 13m old son. About 5 months ago he started having diarrhea. Usually like a very thin paste,foul smelling and quite alot. He's colicky and has bags under his eyes. He has night sweats and runs fevers off and on. He's had all the test celiac,parasite,infect. all neg. They say toddler diar. but it doesn't fit. The docs are losing there patience with me. Oh and he always has cold/viral sympt. Please someone help!

Yes, go straight to an allergist. Bags under the eyes are called 'allergy eye'. My son had all these symptoms and found out the 'scary way' that he had a severe peanut allergy...its in everything.

[Check your B12 level]

People suffering from chronic diahrrea should ask there md's to do a B12 blood test to make sure that's not the issue. It can cause the D and in 10 - 20 % of cases, the anemia doesn't appear til later. The problem is some people can't absorb the vitamin even if taken in high doses orally. If you've had stomach surgery - damage may have been done to this small area where the body absorbs it. You also need something, I think called intrinsic factor to facilitate the absorption of B12.
It's just a blood test - not invasive like colonoscopy or a pain in the butt like eliminating different foods from your diet.
Good luck!

Audra wrote:

I am a 35 year old female. I have had chronic morning diahrrea for the past 2 1/2 years. Ever since having my daughter, I have had this problem. I have been to a GI and he did HIDA scan, stool sample, bloodwork for celiac disease and all was normal. I did find out I am lactose intolerant, but even cutting dairy out of my diet isn't helping totally so I am thinking it must be something else. I have not had a colonoscopy yet and am scared to. I have been thinking about a naturalist as well. Any thoughts?

[Kim]

I'm a microbiologist currently employed at 2 hospitals. Clostridium Deficile ( C-diff) is a common cause of diahrrea especially for patients in hospitals. It's very contagious and spreads from person to person quite easily from improper handwashing. It can occur after a course of antibiotics wipes out normal bowel flora like e.coli which is benefitial & necessary in the colon to help breakdown foods.
The test is very easy - just requires submitting a stool specimen.

LA McRoy wrote:

<quoted text>I am absolutely no expert, but I do know that you can get diarrehea after taking an antibiotic. I believe it is called C-Diff, but don't quote me on that.

[LG WI]

I can sympathize with folks here. However, I think people aren't being logical and smart (I'm not saying anyone is at fault for their illness, I'm saying that the obvious steps need to be taken).
Go see your doctor, and keep at them until you get their help. Talk to them about celiac's, your B12, and C-Diff (an infection which has been exploding in the last 2 or 3 years).
Stop drinking coffee (it affects the bowels!). Stop drinking soda and sweetened juices. Try drinking 6 glasses of water a day, and herbal teas without caffeine. That's it!
Stop taking Imodium, it's not helping your natural cycles at all, is it? It's not meant for long term use, is it?
Keep a food diary and BM/health log (two sides of the same page). Watch for reactions to allergens like Soy, Corn, Milk, Eggs, etc.. In fact, everyone here should do a REAL elimination diet for a minimum of three weeks before adding in ONE food every 48-72 hours. It takes a LONG time, and it's HARD to do. Talk to your doctor for support.
Walk for 30 minutes a day.
Come back to this forum and give enlightened feedback.

[lamcroy]

Yes, I just had this test (HIDA scan) done last week. My ejection fraction is only 1.4%. It is supposed to be greater than 35% in a normal person. I am scheduled to meet with a surgeon on 1/2/08. Anyone else have diarrhea w/ gallbladder?

Looking 4 Answers wrote:

By chance, has anyone with chronic morning diarrhea had a HIDA scan to test your gallbladder ejection fraction? I had chronic, morning diarrhea for 3-4 weeks and still have a large morning bms (rarely diarrhea), usually following severe cramping, almost a year later. I've also had a tugging sensation under my right rib cage. The HIDA scan showed that my gallbladder is functioning less than 20%.