Really gross tmi poop question

[Deleted]

For the past four or five months I've been getting diarrhea about once a month. I lasts 1-2 days and is pretty severe, and I also have bloating and loud gurgling in my abdomen. I'll take a dose of OTC diarrhea meds, but won't do more than one dose because I did that a few months ago and ended up in a lot of pain. It stopped my diarrhea but I then had so much bloating and cramping for about 24 hrs that I was in tears a few times. So I'm cautious now about meds.

Until yesterday I assumed that I just keep getting a stomach bug, but it started up again yesterday and this just seems nuts. I'm having to miss an important client meeting today and the last time I had to get someone to cover for me in court. Like I said, it's severe when I get it.

Would you go see a gastroenterologist? Since I'm completely fine digestive wise for a few weeks in between each bout it never occurred to me that this might not be a virus. Has anyone else dealt with this?

[fortnightlily]

Doesn't sound like a virus. I'd see your regular doc before going to a gastro--I have IBS and gastros were always just a slow process of trial-and-error with me.

I might track your eating and try to identify a pattern. Adults do develop lactose intolerance out of the blue sometimes, ditto gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. Or something else you're eating/drinking occasionally could not be agreeing with you. Or sometimes people will develop IBS following a virus.

Try taking a probiotic for a while and see if that helps.

[TrickyBob]

I get this many times a week/month since I was a child and so far no answers. I would try zeroing in on your eating and seeing if it is something triggering it.

But it is something that can really make your life difficult because you literally cannot do anything without wondering "am I going to have poop issues today?"

If it keeps up, absolutely go see a doctor. I would seek out a specialized one and not just your normal doctor; but that's my own personal experience talking.



ETA: Your pooping issue, what is its relation to your periods and when you ovulate? 

[rex]

Like moonbeam I was actually going to suggest what the timing was in relation to ovulation or your period.

I think it's worth it to see a doctor.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2013 6:33:15 GMT -5 rex said:

Like moonbeam I was actually going to suggest what the timing was in relation to ovulation or your period.

I think it's worth it to see a doctor.

Yup. Any link to your cycle?

[speckledfrog]

It certainly won't hurt to see a GI. I also wondered if it was connected to your period. Could it possibly be something you are eating?

[Muddled]

I was going to suggest period related, but others beat me to it. My other thought is that it could be stress related.

[fuckyourcouch]

i would suggest it could be related to your period, IBS, crohn's, celiac, etc. there are a number of things and a GP would be a good place to start because they can order tests to confirm/deny some (or all, i'm not sure) of those.

[Deleted]

How stressed are you/have you been when it starts. When I'm am very stressed I have terrible GI distress. I would still see your GP though (of course).

[Deleted]

I feel fine except for the diarrhea. This month it started 2 days into my period. I looked at the calendar and the last time I had this was 3/20 so I don't think it's related to my period. The only thing I had eaten yesterday before I started having issues was a sandwich with lunch meat and vegetables - something I eat often without problems. I guess I'll make a doctors appointment.

My client is pissed about canceling. Also, as luck would have it, an attorney who I'm working on the case with is the one who covered court for me on 3/20. I'm worried he's going to think I'm a liar or a flake for being sick so often and this is a guy who sends me a ok of work.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2013 9:07:02 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

How stressed are you/have you been when it starts. When I'm am very stressed I have terrible GI distress. I would still see your GP though (of course).

I don't think I'm any more stressed than normal.