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What Causes Abdominal Discomfort And Loose Stool?
Hello Dr., I am a 34-year old white male, 6 2 , 170 lbs. Of late I have been having quite some concern about alcohol-induced liver conditions, as well as gastrointestinal problems. I started drinking beer around age 20 and for about 5 years I probably consumed around 24 - 30 12-oz. beers per week. I curtailed that level a bit a few years thereafter, sometimes drinking more, sometimes less. I even gave up alcohol completely for some long stretches of time at various intervals. I never felt dependent, nor compelled to drink, but did so out of enjoyment and for relaxation. I have been in generally good health, apart from anxiety issues. However, for about the past three years I have started experiencing some abdominal bloating and for the last year or so I have had a tightness up under my left rib cage, along with a more pronounced emergence of what I suspect is an umbilical hernia. The hernia was likely there for a number of years, but it has become more noticeable in the past year or so. For some reason or other, about one year ago I began poking around in my abdomen and tried massaging it to see if the discomfort would go away. This triggered some very deep soreness throughout my abdomen and radiating into my flanks. The pain was quite severe at times, but gradually subsided over a period of about 8 days. This happened on one other occasion, when I again attempted to massage the discomfort away. The abdominal discomfort had been attended by mushy stools over a long period of time. However, this all occurred against a background of my consuming black coffee on an empty stomach each morning for about two to three years. Upon complete abstinence from coffee recently, my bowel movements have largely returned to normal, but the abdominal discomfort (I would not call it pain) remains. So my questions concern the likelihood that my abdominal discomfort or bloating is anything serious, possibly secondary to excessive alcohol intake (which incidentally I was unaware was considered excessive until rather recently). Or could my problems all stem from the consumption of coffee on an empty stomach. Is there anything I should worry about? I would note that I have not had a medical exam for many years and I am not terribly inclined to seek one at this time, but will do so if advised.
Tue, 15 Dec 2015
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have read your whole long query and understand the concern.
From your symptoms, you seem to be having acute gastroenteritis considering your loose stools with stomach pain or discomfort and bloating.
Abdominal bloating is nothing serious but it can be managed by medications,proper diet control and regular exercises.
Your weakness could be due to loss of water and electrolytes (sodium,potassium mainly) from the body or your heavy drinking for the last 10-15 years.
So,before starting medications,it would be advisable to undergo routine blood counts,ESR,urine and stool tests with serum electrolytes especially sodium and potassium and ultrasound abdomen.
Generally,it might take 48 to 72 hours to subside loose motions following appropriate antibiotics and other symptomatic medications.
Therefore,you should
1) Take ofloxacin with ornidazole antibiotic for at least 4 to 5 days with the prescription from some local doctor.
2) anti-emetic (ondasetron) if you feel nausea or vomiting,
3) antispasmodics (dicyclomine) if abdominal pain or discomfort twice or thrice daily.
4) prebiotics and probiotics (sporolac-DS) with racecadotril sachets with water 3 to 4 times a day to restore intestinal bacterial flora.
5) Take plenty of water with fruit juices (especially coconut water) to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in body.
6) Avoid heavy diet and take light or liquid diet for minimum 3 to 5 days.
7) Lopamide (Loperamide hydrochloride) can be taken 2 to 3 times a day which actually slows the movement of the intestines.
8) Curtail alcohol drinking further and get your self examined for hernia suspected it to be umbilical as stated by you.
All above medications are available over the counter except antibiotic and it might take 2 to 3 days to control watery motions.
Consult gastroenterologist for further treatment.
Hope this detailed information will be helpful.
Regards,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have read your whole long query and understand the concern.
From your symptoms, you seem to be having acute gastroenteritis considering your loose stools with stomach pain or discomfort and bloating.
Abdominal bloating is nothing serious but it can be managed by medications,proper diet control and regular exercises.
Your weakness could be due to loss of water and electrolytes (sodium,potassium mainly) from the body or your heavy drinking for the last 10-15 years.
So,before starting medications,it would be advisable to undergo routine blood counts,ESR,urine and stool tests with serum electrolytes especially sodium and potassium and ultrasound abdomen.
Generally,it might take 48 to 72 hours to subside loose motions following appropriate antibiotics and other symptomatic medications.
Therefore,you should
1) Take ofloxacin with ornidazole antibiotic for at least 4 to 5 days with the prescription from some local doctor.
2) anti-emetic (ondasetron) if you feel nausea or vomiting,
3) antispasmodics (dicyclomine) if abdominal pain or discomfort twice or thrice daily.
4) prebiotics and probiotics (sporolac-DS) with racecadotril sachets with water 3 to 4 times a day to restore intestinal bacterial flora.
5) Take plenty of water with fruit juices (especially coconut water) to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in body.
6) Avoid heavy diet and take light or liquid diet for minimum 3 to 5 days.
7) Lopamide (Loperamide hydrochloride) can be taken 2 to 3 times a day which actually slows the movement of the intestines.
8) Curtail alcohol drinking further and get your self examined for hernia suspected it to be umbilical as stated by you.
All above medications are available over the counter except antibiotic and it might take 2 to 3 days to control watery motions.
Consult gastroenterologist for further treatment.
Hope this detailed information will be helpful.
Regards,
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