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Chronic Diarrhea

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Erik H.

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Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 9
Location: New York
Chronic Diarrhea
Posted: 01-20-04 14:22pm

I have suffered from chronic, watery diarrhea for over 2 months. I have had a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy, and endoscopy, to check for a cause. Everything turns up negative. My bloodwork for nutrition problems indicate I am healthier than most men by age (57). No bacterial infection has been found. I tested negative for celiac disease. I am not gluten-sensitive. It is not the result of lactose-intolerance. I have no bloating, no pain, no cramping. When I have the urge to go, I must do it quickly. I average 30 trips to the toilet on a daily basis. Sometimes, it's 50 times in 24 hours. Obviously, I don't sleep much! Lomotil (prescription form of immonium) doesn't make any difference. I am on asacol for some colon inflammation, and while that has improved, the diarrhea has not. I have been tested for parasites, and that, too, has come up negative. The doctor says it doesn't appear to be chron's disease, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome.
Is there anything else that can be tried? Are there diseases with this kind of diarrhea as a symptom? Any help would be appreciated!
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Fairy Godmother

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a Suggestion That Helped Me
Posted: 02-05-04 17:15pm

Hi erik, 2 months ago I too suffered for a over 40 days with "the runs". I tried so many things and went from Dr. To Dr. I found this stuff called "primal defense "hso probiotic formula. It is put out by the garden of life. I find mine on ebay because I can get it at a better price than direct or health food stores. There is a website you can go to and read up on this and other things to help you. I will never stop taking this stuff. I take 2-3 pills a day. I call it a miracle pill...........
I take the ultrazorbe caplets. I hope this helps you, if not, I can at least fell better about trying to!!!!!!!!!!!!I wish you all the luck in the world!
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Erik H.

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Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 9
Location: New York

Posted: 05-13-04 21:08pm

Thanks for the advice. I tried the primal defense for 2 months now, but it hasn't made any difference in my problem. I and my doctors are still trying to find a cause, then a cure.

Erik h.
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dmh38

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Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 16

Posted: 07-30-04 11:38am

Erick ,

have you been tested for c. Difficile? Let me know.
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Erik H.

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Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 9
Location: New York

Posted: 07-31-04 10:45am

I don't think so. Tell me about it.
Thanks.
Erik
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dmh38

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Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 16

Posted: 07-31-04 21:47pm

Ok well it is chronic diarrhea. Sometimes it has a bad oder to sometimes not. You might get a stomach ache so to speak, you can also be tired, or a fever . Or you just might have diarrhea. It can be caused from being on a antibiotic prior to getting the runs. It does not have to be right then. You can get it from a hospital too.. To figure it out you need a stool test. They will test your stool to see if you have the bacteria or not. Sometimes there are false negatives too where it does not show up positive right away. Tell me all of your symptoms and do you still have them?
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dmh38

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Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 16

Posted: 07-31-04 21:48pm

Oh yea and usually you have to go right now and go more than 10-20 times a day.
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Erik H.

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 9
Location: New York

Posted: 08-01-04 08:25am

When I was at my worst (i'm improved, as i'll get to ), I went 5-6 times an hour, 24 hours a day. I did not have stomach pain. I had little time to make it to the bathroom. One of the worst problems was the lack of sleep. Stool samples were taken, and tested, though I don't know for sure if I was tested for c. Difficile. I would have to ask my gastroenterologist. I never had bloody stools. Nothing was ever found to point to a cause. I was tested for gluten sensitivity, and lactose intolerance. I was on a gluten-free, and later, lactose free, diet. That wasn't it either. I was tested for all kinds of parasites and bacteria. Biopsies were taken. Nothing. I was put on prescription lomotil, taking a lot every day. That slowed it down minimally. I was put on flagil, an antibiotic. No change.

Finally, after 2 1/2 months, when my gastroenterologist was out of ideas, my family doctor prescribed nortriptiline, an "old style" antidepressant, to try and calm the nerves in my gut, if that was the cause. He was treating symptoms, not cause. That improved my live tremendously, in that I can now sleep through the night, and during the day, I only go 5-6 times on most days. I still have diarrhea, however. I have not had a solid stool in almost 9 months.

Erik
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Erik H.

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 9
Location: New York

Posted: 08-01-04 08:26am

When I was at my worst (i'm improved, as i'll get to ), I went 5-6 times an hour, 24 hours a day. I did not have stomach pain. I had little time to make it to the bathroom. One of the worst problems was the lack of sleep. Stool samples were taken, and tested, though I don't know for sure if I was tested for c. Difficile. I would have to ask my gastroenterologist. I never had bloody stools. Nothing was ever found to point to a cause. I was tested for gluten sensitivity, and lactose intolerance. I was on a gluten-free, and later, lactose free, diet. That wasn't it either. I was tested for all kinds of parasites and bacteria. Biopsies were taken. Nothing. I was put on prescription lomotil, taking a lot every day. That slowed it down minimally. I was put on flagil, an antibiotic. No change.

Finally, after 2 1/2 months, when my gastroenterologist was out of ideas, my family doctor prescribed nortriptiline, an "old style" antidepressant, to try and calm the nerves in my gut, if that was the cause. He was treating symptoms, not cause. That improved my live tremendously, in that I can now sleep through the night, and during the day, I only go 5-6 times on most days. I still have diarrhea, however. I have not had a solid stool in almost 9 months.

Erik
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dmh38

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Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 16

Posted: 08-01-04 21:55pm

Hi erik,

well flagyl is one of the antibiotics you can take for c diff. There are only 2 the other is called vancomycin. I'd be curious to see if they checked u for c diff and if they did I would ask to be tested again since you can have a false negative. Do your stools look normal?
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mfolks

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Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
My Mother Has the Same Symptoms And I'm Looking For Help Als
Posted: 11-04-07 17:35pm

Erik,
My mother 75yrs has the same symptoms you have for the last 4 months and it's slowly killing her. Nothing her doctor has reccomended has worked and she is stuck trying to control it with over the counter immodium ad.
She says that it started with an antibotic she was taking for a bladder infection and just hasn't gone away. I am ver worried about her and need to get help.
Please share any info that could help. Also, I may bring her to Atlanta for treatment if I knew a physician that specializies in this area.
Thanks
Mark
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glad2Bbetter

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Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 1

Posted: 11-10-07 22:06pm

mfolks,

Antibiotics can often trigger digestive problems. I had diarrhea for years. Test after test came back negative.

This is what I finally found that worked...

Go to removed-advertising
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AlexXD

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Posts: 70
Location: ,
Hey Erik
Posted: 11-10-07 23:53pm

I don't know much about this, But what is your diet like?
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virgo91470

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
Chronic Diarrhea
Posted: 01-07-08 07:47am

Hi, read your post and I understand what you are going through. Check into Habba Syndrome (bile salts diarrhea). It's a rather new diagnosis, so finding a gastro. who knows about it (or will look into it) may be tough.
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