Diarrhoea for 3 months

[Footello]

I started getting really bad diarrhoea in mid December. I’ve never had tummy probs ever before and I’m pretty healthy. I’ve had blood tests, stool tests and scans. All ok - I’m booked in for a colonoscopy next week. Has anyone had anything similar? Any advice? My mum had bowel cancer - I’m 65.

[Luisa22]

It's good you went for all the stool tests. Did they do a blood test too?

I imagine they found no "red flags" in the stool tests and are just doing a colonoscopy to be on the safe side and mainly because of your age?

Did it happen after any infection or food poisoning, or did you have a lot of stress in the winter just before symptoms?

Good luck for your colonoscopy.

Right now maybe you could try some things to help. Maybe you could try a really bland diet for a few days and see if that calms things down. It might, and worth a try.

Your suitable foods may be different to this, but [erhaps you could try the BRAT diet for two or three days to start. That's banana, rice, apple sauce and toast. It doesn't have anything like the nutrition you need so don't keep it going for long.

Then maybe you could try something like hard boiled eggs or plain steamed fish or chicken breast, white rice, white bread toast, small amounts of greenish banana, peeled boiled white potatoes. No seasonings except salt. No sauces, mayonnaise etc and be careful with butter. It might be okay and it might not. Milk might also be a bit dubious depending on your own gut.

A little sugar might be okay but no artificial sweeteners. Avoid alcohol and coffee. Plain cookies (biscuits) might be okay, and plain sponge cake perhaps (just for energy basically)

Those things help me when I have very bad "d" flare ups and just get the gut calmed down a bit. I also make sure I take an A-Z multivitamin and mineral complex, and a B complex daily.

Check for any artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol is a laxative. Xylitol too I think.

But they might not suit you, I don't know.

[Footello in reply to Luisa22]

Thsnkyou so much for your reply. They did all the bloods too - nothing. Scan clear. It literally happened overnight for no reason. Do you think it may be IBS? Can you have a flare up that happens for a month? I’ll start eating blandly after the colonoscopy….. not looking forward to that!

[Luisa22 in reply to Footello]

From what other people say, I don't think a month-long flare up can be ruled out with IBS. Mine aren't usually that long. Mine are usually a couple of days bad, then days (which can run into weeks) - not great, or with other symptoms like wind and lower tummy bloating slightly, and not quite normal stools. But it's like the flare runs into that "blah" period. But everyone is different.

I might even be lucky with the way my IBS goes. I have heard some do get it going on badly for quite some time in a bad phase.

[Andann]

Keep a food diary, be aware of fats.

[Mikin]

Hi Footello,

It sounds like theres nothing to worry about from the stool test, as that usually would have picked up local inflammatory markers.

It’s good they’re doing a colonoscopy.

Things to rule out:

- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

- Microscopic collitis - which is a type of IBD but not diagnosed as often

- Bile acid malabsorption (BAM)

- Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

If all those a ruled out then you can work towards Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

As some said above, keep a food diary as well and keep an eye on the type of fats, etc.

Best of luck!

[Footello in reply to Mikin]

Thankyou - very nervous about the colonoscopy! But feel a little more confident now xx

[Frasina]

IBS flare is unpredictable in terms of timings so it is good you are having a colonoscopy. I have had two; they are not as drastic as you think! Prep is not much fun but do exactly what you are asked by the hospital and ideally flavour the prep with light coloured squash and drink it cold (refrigerated) ideally...For now keep to a low fibre diet; there are many online and I found one online from the royal free trust which was helpful.

Once you have answers from the colonoscopy you can move forward. If absolutely nothing is found then it is likely to be IBS...

[Footello in reply to Frasina]

Thankyou x

[Xhouse]

I had the same symptoms for almost a year, up to 4 or 5 times a day, caught short and I was in big trouble. My GP prescribed Fybogel, one sachet after my evening meal, and I never looked back. Worked from the very first day I took it, and - touch wood - it's still working. It saved my life, metaphorically speaking.

[Footello in reply to Xhouse]

Thankyou so much!! Off to buy some now ! X

[Karendeena]

Hi Footello yes me! Went on from September last year and still not 'right,' although I have better days now. I don't get pain but my gastroentorologist still diagnosed IBS. I had a virtual CT colonoscopy and they found nothing so I have to stick with the IBS diagnosis and try to watch what I eat. Chocolate and sugars seem to be troublesome for me.

[Footello in reply to Karendeena]

Chocolate a trigger for me too! 😱x

[Carlettejaque]

It sounds like you could have become dairy intolerant. It can happen at any time to anyone. Keep off all dairy products and anything with lactose or whey powder in it for a couple of weeks and see if you get better. If you do you'll have to avoid those in future.