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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diarrhea, IBS, Gas, Abdominal Discomfort, Confusion Spell, Pimples On Face, Lower Back Pain. Can It Be Caused By Coffee? Kidney Issue?

Okay, so my problems started a year ago when I noticed that I could no longer tolerate non-dairy creamer in my coffee. i would get diarrhea. So I stopped and tried to back off drinking coffee altogether because I thought that maybe I had IBS or something. Symptoms never really went away, so I started drinking coffee again with normal creamer. After a couple of months I could no longer handle normal creamer, or milks or cheese of any kind. Then I couldn't eat eggs soon after. Continually I was getting uncomfortable gas that would persist until I had gas-ex and even then I would still have abdominal discomfort. Things have only gotten worse. I went through a confusion spell, where I was just a little off and it was hard to think straight without everything getting sort of fuzzy. that lasted a couple of months, but went away. i saw my Dr and he said it was probably some mono-like virus that I just had to work through. He ran blood work which all came back negative for any issue. CMP,CBC,CRP,TSH,Vitamin D, B12, urinalysis, all normal. But my gas, and abdominal pain have only increased. i am in pain all the time now, and it never goes away. i have gas with almost anything that I eat, and gas-ex doesn't help anymore. To add to this, I can't have a beer at all. My already temperamental stools become diarrhea and give me horrible abdominal pain for two days, and that's only if I have 2 beers. I can't enjoy a night out with friends and I never know when I'm going to have an issue. Last night I had a fiber bar and some apple juice, and i had an immediate problem and the bowel movement smelled like vomit. This is all disgusting and I've seen my Dr 3 times now without relief. His only suggestion was to eat more fiber. I tried that and it didn't do anything. Took metamucil for a couple of weeks with no change. I know I probably need an endoscopy at this point, but its not really up to me to tell my Dr what to do is it? I also get lower back pain during my more extreme abdominal pains and worry this is kidney or something else. Also, I've had pimples on my right temple that will not go away. i've had them for a year when all of this started. I am very frustrated and just want to go out with my friends and feel Alive. I am a 33 yr old male and feel like I'm dying. I eat healthier than anyone I know, I'm a vegetarian, and my only vice is coffee, which I've stricken from my diet. Please help me.
Tue, 11 Jun 2013
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Your problem can be caused by several conditions including chronic bacterial infection of digestive tract (what leads to an IBS), pancreas disease, partial bowels obstruction due to Crohns disease for example.
Back pain and abdominal pain can also be caused by kidney disease indeed. If the pain is strong, appears and disappears spontaneously, stones can be the reason. You should also have burning while urinating or pain while urinating, frequent urinating.

Chronic bacterial infection can cause all mentioned by you symptoms. Due to loss of balance, our natural intestinal bacteria are disappearing and in that place, bad bacteria appear. And as good bacteria are extremely important for proper bowels function, it causes symptoms like yours.

Pancreas disease can give bowels problems due to lack of enzymes (the food remains undigested). This causes diarrhea and other stool problems.

Partial bowels obstruction can give diarrhea and/or constipation alternately, weight loss, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, bloated abdomen, nausea. Blood in stool or mucus in stool can be present.

I suggest you to visit your doctor and have some tests done. Abdominal ultrasound, blood work, liver tests, amylase, urine amylase, stool tests, stool culture test should be done at first. Colonoscopy might be also necessary.

You should also discuss with your doctor Rifaximine treatment (for chronic infection). This is a special antibiotic which can be very helpful in case of such symptoms.

Hope this will help.
Regards.
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Diarrhea, IBS, Gas, Abdominal Discomfort, Confusion Spell, Pimples On Face, Lower Back Pain. Can It Be Caused By Coffee? Kidney Issue?

Hello! Thank you for the query. Your problem can be caused by several conditions including chronic bacterial infection of digestive tract (what leads to an IBS), pancreas disease, partial bowels obstruction due to Crohns disease for example. Back pain and abdominal pain can also be caused by kidney disease indeed. If the pain is strong, appears and disappears spontaneously, stones can be the reason. You should also have burning while urinating or pain while urinating, frequent urinating. Chronic bacterial infection can cause all mentioned by you symptoms. Due to loss of balance, our natural intestinal bacteria are disappearing and in that place, bad bacteria appear. And as good bacteria are extremely important for proper bowels function, it causes symptoms like yours. Pancreas disease can give bowels problems due to lack of enzymes (the food remains undigested). This causes diarrhea and other stool problems. Partial bowels obstruction can give diarrhea and/or constipation alternately, weight loss, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, bloated abdomen, nausea. Blood in stool or mucus in stool can be present. I suggest you to visit your doctor and have some tests done. Abdominal ultrasound, blood work, liver tests, amylase, urine amylase, stool tests, stool culture test should be done at first. Colonoscopy might be also necessary. You should also discuss with your doctor Rifaximine treatment (for chronic infection). This is a special antibiotic which can be very helpful in case of such symptoms. Hope this will help. Regards.