HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Suggest Treatment For Bouts Of Diarrhea

Posted on Thu, 4 May 2017

Question: I've been on here before because I have an ongoing problem with digestive issues and bouts of diarrhea. It's been going on for over a month. I've seen a gastroenterologist and he performed a colonoscopy. It was normal and biopsies were negative for microscopic colitis. I will be seeing him again in the near future. The colonoscopy was 2 weeks ago. Since then I have still had many bouts with loose stools. I can stop this with pepto bismol but then I get constipated very easily with this and then I go back into the same cycle. My stools have been yellowish brown in color (not pale) recently which is unusual for me. The pain I have had has been on both sides underneath the lower ribs which I believe is due to trapped gas as it disappears while I'm sleeping and gets progressively worse during the day. It's also alleviated by moderate exercise like walking. For one week I had a gnawing pain near my navel and my doctor gave me peppermint oil capsules which got rid of that pain and actually settled everything down but constipated me and gave me terrible indigestion/heartburn so I had to stop taking them and the loose bowels came back (but fortunately the belly pain has not returned). Before I return to my doctor, I wanted to get another opinion to what may be going on. This has been frustrating and causing me a lot of anxiety. I've missed several days of work because I just feel really under the weather with this some days. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Depleted gut flora due to colonoscopy.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,

Thanks for follow up query.
Have gone through your details and i appreciate your concern.

See the problem with colonoscopy is that colonoscopy damages natural intestinal microflora, because this procedure requires a thorough lavage and washing out of the large intestine with large doses of synthetic laxatives followed by bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and hypertonic electrolytes.
Hypertonic electrolyte is a solution of sodium biphosphate and sodium phosphate which kills and depletes good bacteria in gut.You gut flora was already damaged.Further damage of intestinal flora has now lead lead to a condition called dysbacteriosis,which is te root cause of problem with digestion like constipation,Hearburn and pain.

Advice
Don't panic.
Strat taking a good quality probiotic thrice a day.The earlier the intestinal flora get replenished the faster and quicker would be your recovery.
Take lots of fibre rich food like oat ,barley,wheat etc. Atleast 40 grams of fibres should be taken everyday.Fiber will help you with your problem of constipation.They are going toincrease the bulk of your stool.Once stool will start passing easily things will get better.

Are you following the advice i gave previously in March?
Have you taken Metamucil or Fybrogel?
Have you followed the diet i adviced earlier?
Have you used probiotics?
If yes then from how long?

As off now i would suggest you to take-
Tab loperamide 2mg stat and then sos(for loose stoos).
Probiotic like Econorm 30billion spore concentration thrice daily.
Fybrogel 15 gram once daily before going to sleep.
Tab Nexium 20mg twice daily to provide symptomatic relief from gas.
Clinidium bromide for spasmodic pain.

Waiting for answers.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (29 minutes later)

Hello. Thank you for your response. Yes I have been taking Metamucil daily and a probiotic as well for about a month. I have been taking the probiotic only once a day however. I have tried Imodium before but like pepto bismol it seems that all things that I try for loose stools makes me constipated. Is there any natural anti-spasmodic that is very gentle and won't constipate me? So is the yellowish brown stool since the colonoscopy due to lack of colonic bacteria? I will definitely increase my intake of probiotic.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
As per your query take Dicyclomine 10mg once a day.It's a safe antispasmodic and won't constipate you.For natural product atropa balladona plant extracts can be taken.
Yes change in color of stools is most likely due to dysbacteriosis.
Start taking VSL#3 probiotic thrice daily for few days.
Along with it take blue cheese,Yoghurt,Kefir,Sauerkraut,Dark Chocolate,Miso Soup
These foods are palatable and rich in good bacteria's.

Regards.

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj