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What causes constipation? And how is constipation medically defined? Get the basics on this common gastrointestinal complaint here....
Constipation is defined differently by different people. Learn to identify signs and symptoms of constipation and know when to ask for medical help....
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Q: Diahreah
asked by: poisonangel168 on February 13th, 2008
New User
In December, I became very ill. I was suffering from diahreah, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, acid indigestion, and very foul smelling burps that I would say smelled like rotting eggs (I hadn't eaten any eggs, btw). The day I felt the worst was Christmas Day and my Doctor's office was closed, so I called the exchange. I was instructed to go to the Emergency Department. At the ED, they took some blood from me and told me that my whilte blood cell count was elevated. They wanted to collect a stool sample from me but I was unable to produce one while I was there. So I was discharged and sent home with a prescription for Flagyl. I took most of the Flagyl but stopped taking it because it seemed to be making my upset stomach worse. Diahreah never stopped, so I went to see my primary doctor. Here is everything that the doctor did between December and now:
*tested me for h. pylori: negative
*pelvic exam: normal
*stool test for c. difficile toxins a & b: negative
*stool test for salmonella: negative
*stool test for ova and parasites: negative but possible error (I had to mix the stool with the preservatives in the containers and was instructed to freeze them by my doctor but the employee at the lab said it should not have been frozen)
*abdominal ultrasound: normal
*colonoscopy: normal
Also about every other week my white blood cell count was checked and was consistently high. I just had it checked on 02/11 and it is still high.
The doctor ordered another round of stool testing which I am expecting results from at any time.
I am expecting a call from a local hospital to schedule a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis.
My symptoms vary quite a bit. I have diahreah every day about 3-5 times. Sometimes I have abdominal pain that feels like cramping. Sometimes I have severe nausea but am unable to vomit. Sometimes the foul burps come back and I ALWAYS throw up on days that they do. I have acid indigestion/heartburn frequently as well which is something I never experienced prior to the onset of this illness. I also sometimes have a strange feeling in my stomach like tingling or numbness. PLEASE! If you have any idea of what might be wrong with me, post a response. I would be happy to answer and additonal questions that may arise.
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kimb1048
replied on February 13th, 2008
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My husband was having similar problems but not everyday. But many days a week he would go sometimes 10 times a day. He had a colonoscopy and many other test....did test positive for H Pylori. Gave him antibiotics and said it was IBS. He was told to start taking fiber. I thought his doctor was a quack. Who would tell someone with diarrhea to take fiber. Anyway, he got some Metamucil and started taking it. A week later....he started become regular. Now, when he does skip taking it a few days...he will get diarrhea.
Have you been to a Gastrontologist or had your gallbladder checked? My husband also had Acid Reflux/GERD and they put him on Protonix which really helped. I hope they figure out whats going on. Good Luck
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poisonangel168
replied on February 13th, 2008
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Yes, I've been to a gastroenterologist and he performed a colonoscopy and prescribed some medicine called hyoscyamine but it didn't really help. At first he said I might just have ibs but when he realized my white blood cell count was high he ruled it out. My gallbladder was checked when I had the abdominal ultrasound and everything looked normal.
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Galaxy
replied on February 13th, 2008
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It's beginning to sound like some sort of food intolerance, is it not?

I have been ill for the last few days with identical symptoms (except that in one day I went to the toilet more than 20 times! It seems there is an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis in my city and it is very, very nasty. I am only telling you this to let you know that someone on this planet is sharing your misery right now!

PS Try a plain water fast for 24 hours then gradually introduce simple foods like rice, carrot etc, one at a time, to see if you can isolate a trigger.
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kimb1048
replied on February 13th, 2008
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How elevated was your white blood count? Inflammation or stress can cause your count to be elevated as well as an infection. I am sure that you are stressed and you are more than likely to have inflammation due to your symptoms. Have you had any bleeding?
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poisonangel168
replied on February 13th, 2008
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They said the white blood count was 12.8...I'm not exactly sure what that means though. I am 20 years old, if that helps. I have had bleeding but the gastroenterologist said that he found internal hemorroids, so I guess that's the cause. The doctors are leading me to believe that since my white blood cell count is elevated, there must be something wrong with me. Is this true?
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kimb1048
replied on February 13th, 2008
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I think the normal range is 4.3 to 10.8. If that is true then yours doesn't seem that high. It could be stress or inflammation. Your colon has to inflamed due to the diarrhea. Have they tested for food allergies? I don't think the doctor should rule out IBS though. Also, when you get the results of your latest stool sample....see if white blood cells were found....it could mean an infection.
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Galaxy
replied on February 13th, 2008
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I believe your white blood cells readings can be elevated when your system is reacting to an allergen.

I note they do not seem to have returned a reading for giardia. Your symptoms are similar. Check it out.
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Galaxy
replied on February 13th, 2008
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Giardia: Symptoms of infection include (in order of frequency) diarrhea, malaise, excessive gas (often flatulence or a foul or sulphuric-tasting belch, which has been known to be so nauseating in taste that it can cause the infected person to vomit), steatorrhoea (pale, foul smelling, greasy stools), epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, diminished interest in food, possible (but rare) vomiting which is often violent, and weight loss.

Taken from Wikipedia article.
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poisonangel168
replied on February 15th, 2008
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I just got my most recent white blood cell count results. It has now risen to 16.9. I had a ct scan of my abdomen and pelvis yesterday that came back normal. My doctor has scheduled me for a pelvic ultrasound on 02/19. He said that if they still don't find anything they are going to order some kind of test to check on the functioning of my gallbladder. If that comes back fine, I'm going to be referred to a hematologist.
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poisonangel168
replied on February 15th, 2008
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I also received the results of my most recent stool tests and nothing was found. I have been tested for Giardia (and many other things) several times now and the tests have all been negative.
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