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Suggest Treatment For Abdominal Cramps And Diarrhea
Question: For the past 12 months I have has bowel problem, stomach cramps and on-off diarrhoea. Last July I had a colonoscopy and an MRI scan of my abdomen. Both were clear. I was finally diagnosed with Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine and IBS. I took a course of antibiotics and things got better for a couple of months. I then caught a stomach upset from my 10-year old, which seems to have set things off again. I have been getting stomach cramps and diarrhoea on and off. This morning, I had diarrhoea and I'm sure that I noticed a small amount of orange/red stuff on the toilet paper. I am now terrified that it was blood. Do you think I need another colonoscopy?
Brief Answer:
I do not think a repeat colonoscopy is warranted at this time.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms XXXXXXX
Thank you for posting your query.
I have gone through your description of the problem carefully and understand your worry and fear.
In my opinion, a repeat colonoscopy is not warranted at this point as it is evident that you seem to have developed your present symptoms due to a repeat intestinal infection.
However, you will benefit from a repeat course of antibiotics after a stool culture and sensitivity test.
Please consult your PCP/GP and get the stool checked for the bacteria that is causing the problem and get the appropriate antibiotic prescribed.
You should take probiotics once in while to keep the normal intestinal flora in good shape, this would reduce the chances of you developing the same symptoms over and over.
Apart from the culture and sensitivity test of stools, I would also recommend a routine exam of the stool under microscopy and look for ova/eggs of parasites and also look for amoebae.
The red/orange tinge on the tissue could be due blood, but this could happen if you have had infection in the intestines, so a proper course of antibiotics/antiprotozoal agents will definitely help.
Please consult your PCP and proceed as advised here.
I would be happy to help you out further if you need any more information.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Best regards
I do not think a repeat colonoscopy is warranted at this time.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms XXXXXXX
Thank you for posting your query.
I have gone through your description of the problem carefully and understand your worry and fear.
In my opinion, a repeat colonoscopy is not warranted at this point as it is evident that you seem to have developed your present symptoms due to a repeat intestinal infection.
However, you will benefit from a repeat course of antibiotics after a stool culture and sensitivity test.
Please consult your PCP/GP and get the stool checked for the bacteria that is causing the problem and get the appropriate antibiotic prescribed.
You should take probiotics once in while to keep the normal intestinal flora in good shape, this would reduce the chances of you developing the same symptoms over and over.
Apart from the culture and sensitivity test of stools, I would also recommend a routine exam of the stool under microscopy and look for ova/eggs of parasites and also look for amoebae.
The red/orange tinge on the tissue could be due blood, but this could happen if you have had infection in the intestines, so a proper course of antibiotics/antiprotozoal agents will definitely help.
Please consult your PCP and proceed as advised here.
I would be happy to help you out further if you need any more information.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Best regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you, this is very helpful. I did eat quite a lot of sun dried tomatoes yesterday; could this account for the redness? I also forgot to mention that my gatsro doctor suggested that I might actually not be emptying properly and that I should try a mild laxative, such as dulcolax occasionally. I took one tablet last night and today my stomach cramps and diarrhea has been worse. Could the laxative be responsible for this?
Brief Answer:
The red could be tomato peel, laxative could be the cause for cramps.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thank you for clarifying and writing back to me with additional details.
These details are quite significant and I appreciate you writing back to me with the same.
The red you noticed in the stool can easily be tomato peel, if it was shiny, then you can be certain of it (that is if it did not soak the tissue).
If you have difficulty passing stools or if your stools are frequently hard then increasing green leafy vegetables will be of much help to you and occasional laxative/stool softener such as methylcellulose (Lactulose) will be good for you, but laxatives or stool softeners can in fact cause a little bit of cramping and increased bowel movements which is self limiting.
So, for now, just relax and drink plenty of water, see how things go.
You should never take a laxative when you already have diarrhea.
Keep drinking ORS/electrolyte rich fluids, and if the cramping is severe, then it is advisable to consult your local doctor and request medicines to slow down the gut motility.
I hope this helps you.
Get well soon.
The red could be tomato peel, laxative could be the cause for cramps.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thank you for clarifying and writing back to me with additional details.
These details are quite significant and I appreciate you writing back to me with the same.
The red you noticed in the stool can easily be tomato peel, if it was shiny, then you can be certain of it (that is if it did not soak the tissue).
If you have difficulty passing stools or if your stools are frequently hard then increasing green leafy vegetables will be of much help to you and occasional laxative/stool softener such as methylcellulose (Lactulose) will be good for you, but laxatives or stool softeners can in fact cause a little bit of cramping and increased bowel movements which is self limiting.
So, for now, just relax and drink plenty of water, see how things go.
You should never take a laxative when you already have diarrhea.
Keep drinking ORS/electrolyte rich fluids, and if the cramping is severe, then it is advisable to consult your local doctor and request medicines to slow down the gut motility.
I hope this helps you.
Get well soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you. The red I saw was on the tissue, but there was a lot on the tissue because of the diarrhea and it was all very watery. Do you think in this case it was unlikely to be from the tomatoes?
Sorry, I don't think I made it clear that the stomach bug I caught from my daughter was 3 weeks ago. I was very unwell for a couple of days (being sick and diarrhea) and then things got better. However, my IBS like symptoms, stomach cramping, on-off diarrhea hasn't gone away since then.
Did you see my earlier questions? When I say they was a lot on the tissue, I don't mean a lot of blood. I mean a lot of faeces.
Sorry, I don't think I made it clear that the stomach bug I caught from my daughter was 3 weeks ago. I was very unwell for a couple of days (being sick and diarrhea) and then things got better. However, my IBS like symptoms, stomach cramping, on-off diarrhea hasn't gone away since then.
Did you see my earlier questions? When I say they was a lot on the tissue, I don't mean a lot of blood. I mean a lot of faeces.
Brief Answer:
More likely to be from tomatoes, you need to relax.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Thank for writing back with more details.
I could not respond earlier due to the different timezones.
(Yes, I saw your earlier question as well and I did understand exactly as you intended)Going by your description, the red you saw on the tissue is more likely to be tomato peel/skin than blood. If it was blood, and you had diarrhea, then the blood would not be visible at all because it would get easily mixed with increased amount of water in the stools. So stop worrying too much.
Give it a few more days, take a course of antibiotics and do not take any laxatives for now.
How are you feeling now? Are your symptoms better? Has the cramping reduced?
Have you started on any antibiotics?
Please follow my advise in my first and second response, do not worry too much, you will be fine soon.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Regards
More likely to be from tomatoes, you need to relax.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Thank for writing back with more details.
I could not respond earlier due to the different timezones.
(Yes, I saw your earlier question as well and I did understand exactly as you intended)Going by your description, the red you saw on the tissue is more likely to be tomato peel/skin than blood. If it was blood, and you had diarrhea, then the blood would not be visible at all because it would get easily mixed with increased amount of water in the stools. So stop worrying too much.
Give it a few more days, take a course of antibiotics and do not take any laxatives for now.
How are you feeling now? Are your symptoms better? Has the cramping reduced?
Have you started on any antibiotics?
Please follow my advise in my first and second response, do not worry too much, you will be fine soon.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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