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What Causes Diarrhea When Suffering From IBS?
Question: 62 year old female diagnosed with a long and tortuous colon with evidence spastic sections; results is from a a Barium enema when a colonoscopy was unsuccessful. No evidence of cancer or any other illnesses. I had quit having a bowel movement without the aid of a laxative. I am now on 290MCG of Linzess and 4 doses of Mirlax per day. I am a rather active person walking 2 miles a day and I go swimming at the Y 5 days a week.
I now have watery stools every time I go to pee. I still have some pain around/under my liver (maybe a 3-4 level) and I get nauseated some days. Is this the BEST it will ever be? Are there any other options? My gastro guy says live with it. I don't want to get to the age of 70 and someone say you should have had surgery when you first found this out. Please advise on any other treatments which may be available.
I now have watery stools every time I go to pee. I still have some pain around/under my liver (maybe a 3-4 level) and I get nauseated some days. Is this the BEST it will ever be? Are there any other options? My gastro guy says live with it. I don't want to get to the age of 70 and someone say you should have had surgery when you first found this out. Please advise on any other treatments which may be available.
Brief Answer:
Reduce the dose of Miralax...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry for the situation you are in.
Unfortunately, IBS is a chronic condition that is characterized by periods of flare ups and normality.
You are reporting to have watery stool every time you go to pee associated with pain around your liver. Can you please specify : is there mucus in your stool when you go to pee? Or it is just watery stool?
Usually, treatment is symptomatic, i.e. treating the symptoms. As you have done colonoscopy and nothing abnormal was noted, then, there is no need for surgery.
To my opinion, your symptoms are related to use of laxatives you have been taking (4 doses of Miralax).
Another cause could be related to spinal cord problems. I advise to run Ct-scan of the vertebral colon of the lumbar region for further evaluation.
At the end, I also advise to run anoscopy to investigate the condition of the anal sphincter.
Hope it helped!
Dr.Klerida
Reduce the dose of Miralax...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry for the situation you are in.
Unfortunately, IBS is a chronic condition that is characterized by periods of flare ups and normality.
You are reporting to have watery stool every time you go to pee associated with pain around your liver. Can you please specify : is there mucus in your stool when you go to pee? Or it is just watery stool?
Usually, treatment is symptomatic, i.e. treating the symptoms. As you have done colonoscopy and nothing abnormal was noted, then, there is no need for surgery.
To my opinion, your symptoms are related to use of laxatives you have been taking (4 doses of Miralax).
Another cause could be related to spinal cord problems. I advise to run Ct-scan of the vertebral colon of the lumbar region for further evaluation.
At the end, I also advise to run anoscopy to investigate the condition of the anal sphincter.
Hope it helped!
Dr.Klerida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My comments will be in CAPS:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY.
You are reporting to have watery stool every time you go to pee associated with pain around your liver. Can you please specify : is there mucus in your stool when you go to pee? Or it is just watery stool?
MY BOWLS QUIT WORKING SO I GUESS THE HIGH DOSE OF MIRALAX WITH THE LINZESS IS TO ALLOW FOOD TO PROCESS THROUGH MY BODY WITH THE EXCESS WATER. JUST KIND OF WASH IT THROUGH MY BODY LIKE A WATER SLIDE. THE STOOL IS JUST WATERY.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND I STAY ON THE MIRALAX AND THE LINESS THE REST OF MY LIFE?
AGAIN, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN EXTREMLY LONG AND TORTUOUS COLON. IF MY COLON IS ALLOWED TO FILL UP I LOOK LIKE I'M ABOUT 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND MY COLON WON'T CONTRACT TO EXPEL THE WASTE.
ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS STILL THE SAME AS BELOW:
Another cause could be related to spinal cord problems. I advise to run Ct-scan of the vertebral colon of the lumbar region for further evaluation.
At the end, I also advise to run anoscopy to investigate the condition of the anal sphincter.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY.
You are reporting to have watery stool every time you go to pee associated with pain around your liver. Can you please specify : is there mucus in your stool when you go to pee? Or it is just watery stool?
MY BOWLS QUIT WORKING SO I GUESS THE HIGH DOSE OF MIRALAX WITH THE LINZESS IS TO ALLOW FOOD TO PROCESS THROUGH MY BODY WITH THE EXCESS WATER. JUST KIND OF WASH IT THROUGH MY BODY LIKE A WATER SLIDE. THE STOOL IS JUST WATERY.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND I STAY ON THE MIRALAX AND THE LINESS THE REST OF MY LIFE?
AGAIN, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN EXTREMLY LONG AND TORTUOUS COLON. IF MY COLON IS ALLOWED TO FILL UP I LOOK LIKE I'M ABOUT 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND MY COLON WON'T CONTRACT TO EXPEL THE WASTE.
ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS STILL THE SAME AS BELOW:
Another cause could be related to spinal cord problems. I advise to run Ct-scan of the vertebral colon of the lumbar region for further evaluation.
At the end, I also advise to run anoscopy to investigate the condition of the anal sphincter.
Brief Answer:
Following suggestions...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXX
Thank you for providing more of your medical data.
There are 2 main approaches to treat dolicocolon (long and tortous colon):
- medications
- surgery
The aim of medications is to ease bowel movements, and not to cause diarrhea. The goal is to have at 1 bowel movement per day and non more.
If you have having bowel movements more than once, then, should go deeper to understand what is happening:
- too much laxatives? : then, lower the dose
- any anal problems: get anoscopy to check it further
- diet: check the foods/drinks you consume daily
At this point, to my opinion, you can stop taking Miralax for 2 days and observe what will go on with your bowel movements. After 2 days, you can start with 1 dose of Miralax only and non more.
Please bare in mind that the dose of Miralax is depending on the patient's response.
Next, if the medication approach will fail to keep a normal bowel movement, then, should consult with a general surgeon about surgery.
Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Klerida
Following suggestions...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXX
Thank you for providing more of your medical data.
There are 2 main approaches to treat dolicocolon (long and tortous colon):
- medications
- surgery
The aim of medications is to ease bowel movements, and not to cause diarrhea. The goal is to have at 1 bowel movement per day and non more.
If you have having bowel movements more than once, then, should go deeper to understand what is happening:
- too much laxatives? : then, lower the dose
- any anal problems: get anoscopy to check it further
- diet: check the foods/drinks you consume daily
At this point, to my opinion, you can stop taking Miralax for 2 days and observe what will go on with your bowel movements. After 2 days, you can start with 1 dose of Miralax only and non more.
Please bare in mind that the dose of Miralax is depending on the patient's response.
Next, if the medication approach will fail to keep a normal bowel movement, then, should consult with a general surgeon about surgery.
Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Klerida
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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