my recent colonic transit study indicates slow transit with 54% of content still in the transverse colon at 48 hours. This does explain the constant cramping I have below the belly button and pressing down of that area to stimulate a BM. But it’s odd that the results are slow transit when I can have up to 10 bowel movements throughout the day all of them loose, greasy and muddy. Consider I mainly just consume nutritional drinks and crackers it’s not clear how I can be developing so much stool, constipation and diarrhea all at the same time. I try switching diets but truth is nothing works always the same symptoms but solid food typically shows up undigested in the stool. I switched to a more liquid diet more in hope of getting some relief from the constant cramping, bloating and visits to the toilet. It appears that’s not the case so I’m running out of ideas on what the hell I can eat. My weight is down significantly, my BMI is 14.7 and the doctor wants me in hospital on a feeding tube to get my weight back up. If anyone can provide some logic as you why I have frequent bowel movements and yet am diagnosed with a slow colonic transit it will help me psychological understand what is wrong with me.
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GKT1969
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Sounds a bit like me, a functional bowel problem leading to constipation and overflow diarrhoea and weight loss amongst others, like my first now retired gastroenterologist told me in 2019.
I'm still trying to get a definite diagnosis after having seen 3 different gastroenterologist in the Netherlands since 2019. None of them could explain the underlying cause of my functional bowel problems, so till now I only have a working diagnosis.
It seems that it could be congential / familial chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) in my case, a problem with some genes leading to problems with the nerves and/or muscles of (a part of) the bowel, hence functional problems with motility. Bowel problems run in the family.
In the end of the month of September this year I will have my first consult with a medical doctor of the specialised unit for this kind of functional bowel problems, at the university hospital in Leuven, Belgium.
hi meleber please keep me updated on your progress as it might help inform my treatment plan. I’m dreading being tube fed so trying to find something I can eat or drink to gain some weight. I have actual tube feeding nutrition cartons I am drinking but i still have significant loose stool. I just do not understand where it all comes from it can’t be from what I consume which is next to nothing. Perhaps my colon is generating mucus in response to the small amounts I do eat and drink. Every test is negative so no medications help. My life is like a bad dream
Thanks for your response and I hope your treatment goes well.
I have been seeing a dietician in a university hospital because of possible nutritional deficiencies. She prescribed nutridrink (Nutricia, nutricia.co.uk/patients-car... ) for me to try but because of the amount of fat in this drink I can't take it, it makes my bowel problems worse. My fat intake shouldn't be much more than 30 grams daily. And definitely no fibres, fibres intake also worsens my functional bowel problems. Staying on a 'healthy' weight is also my major concern for the moment.
Do functional bowel problems run in your family? Has a manometry of your intestines been considered already?
The symptoms of my functional bowel problems became worse after I started taking nutridrink so I had to stop drinking it.
A dietician of the university hospital working for the gastrointestinal unit suggested Abbott Vital 1.5kcal food for special medical purposes. It contains MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) instead of LCT (long chain triglycerides) and is much better tolerated by, absorbed in my bowel.nutrition.abbott/uk/product...
Best of luck with your condition I have same bowel issues and low absorption, v low acidophilus but not sure probiotics help very difficult to eat much as it swells n clogged in bowel
hi GKT1969 you didn’t mention if you are prescribed laxatives for your slow transit which would explain the constant diarrhoea and sounds like you’ve been investigated thoroughly to be given that diagnosis so I presume they’ve ruled out Crohns and Coeliac disease. I have slow transit and am prescribed prucalopride and Dulcolax which I take daily with Alflorex which help to some degree but have diarrhoea because of the laxatives otherwise I wouldn’t go at all and am still in pain every day. I don’t think diet makes any difference with slow transit and maybe your liquid diet is not helping especially with your weight loss. I hope your medical team can come up with answers for you and wish you all the best
hi rumors, yes they did suggest laxatives but I still find it bizarre that I’m diagnosed with functional constipation when I have so many loose bowel movements. I’m constantly on the toilet but no matter how many movements I have I do not ever get my relief. It’s as though I haven’t been and the feeling is a build up of stool in the colon. I do not know what to do, what to eat or drink or how to cope with the relentless pain, pressure in my stomach, loose muddy stool, cramping and lack of food. I’m so desperate for help but do not know where to turn. Living on my own without any support is also seriously affecting my mental health and the depression is becoming intolerable. I just want some relief
I appreciate your feedback thank you so much I know I’m not the only one suffering and my heart breaks for everyone affected by this horrible illness
hi GKT I’m so sorry you’re feeling so down it’s relentless dealing with digestive issues day in day out - why don’t you take medics advice and go into hospital as although I know you’re dreading being tube fed but hopefully they will undertake further investigations while you’re there and maybe come up with a better plan for you also once you have some nutrition inside you and your weight improves you will feel stronger mentally and physically and hopefully more able to deal with everything
If you have poop that appears oily, has a greasy consistency and is difficult to flush, it could be a signal that your body is not able to properly digest fat. The consistency changes could be caused by an infection, nutrients not being digested due to celiac disease or a problem with the pancreas, such as pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
I'm wondering if some wider tests are needed? The fact you mention undigested food possibly means your pancreas needs investigating if not done so already.
I have tried pancreatic enzymes and they have not helped unfortunately. All of my tests (CT, X-ray, stool, endoscopy, colonoscopy, sibo, pill endoscopy, colonic transit study, blood, urine) have not shown any issues with the pancreas. That said I agree my symptoms do match those for pancreatic insufficiency or bile acid malabsorption, I’m clearly not able to properly digest anything and if I eat anything of substance it will be in the stool the following day. This implies rapid colon transit not slow so I’m baffled. Just had a movement now and it’s thick dark paste with small grain like pieces which is likely to be the dry crackers I ate last night. If my body cannot digest simple none gluten waifer thin crackers no wonder I’m slowly starving to death. I have Amitriptyline and Zoloft but I’m terrified to take them as I have no one to monitor my reaction. Any advice on how those medications might help would be appreciated. Thank you all for your responses they are comforting and provide me a glimmer of hope.
Hello, I am so sorry you are going through this. I am struggling with a myriad of bowel and stomach issues and have just started the testing process. It’s so frustrating not knowing what the heck is going on, what to even eat…when it seems every single food or drink is an enemy. My BMI is very low also. All of my family and friends are out of state, and moving is not an option, so I can relate to the feeling of isolation and not having anyone to be there to step in if reactions to meds and/or emergencies arise. I don’t have any answers for you or advice, unfortunately. But I wanted to let you know that you are not alone and that you are in my prayers. Please stay strong and keep the faith, as best as you can. There HAS to be a solution for your symptoms. I’m wondering if you should try the Zoloft and/or other meds, but let the doctor know your concerns (?) Maybe he/she could schedule a nurse or staff member to check in with you when you first begin taking them? Just a thought. We are stronger than these symptoms! Praying for you!
PS Have you tried dicyclomine (Bentyl) for the cramping and constant movements? That med works wonders for me…you might ask about it.
thank you for your reply. I do have some Bentyl that I have tried but maybe i will give it mother go. Yet other bowel movement just now this one basically mush with food particles. Exhausting. Also had a drop of apple cider vinegar yesterday and that is the odor. Seems liquids or foods simply running straight through me yet diagnosed with slow motility. I give up knowing what to do as I get such conflicting information. I don’t want to starve to death but I cannot find anything I can eat or drink. Very depressing
I’m not sure I should be in hospital something is terribly wrong and I need to be in care. I know going to the ER is a waste of time and money so hopefully I can get direct admission as soon as possible. I am very frightened
ER…you’re right, you’d just be there all day or night, miserable, and I don’t know what they’d even do for you in the long run. But your body needs a boost so it can get stronger, definitely. Just my opinion, but I think they need to really check your liver, gall bladder, etc. Something is amiss in your system and someone needs to find out what it is! 😔
thank you AC0921 for your concern. I have some nutrition drinks I’m trying to take but not having a good reaction but I will see how it goes and look to go into hospital early next week.
I have this exactly when I was healthy I ate say 90-50 eating amount to -bowel amount produced, but now I eat 90-200, amount food in -amount out. I think my body is not absorbing what I eat therefore it's making it a stool but the stool is big volume where as a healthy body has the correct liver functions and digestive functions which means the stool gets to be a smaller amount and poo less. I have had it like this shockingly for about 10 years at least. It makes you feel v full and starving so it's very cruel and toileting is tiring. I think it's a combination of factors disease thyroid n ME n immune system along with hereditary factors maybe , a colonoscopy revealed a clean but sensitive and raw gut lining without good bacteria to aid in digestive process. I just eat healthy and go to loo a lot half the time I don't care I've passed the point to care n need energy too
How do you know its slow transit, did you measure it? I have fast mostly but sometimes slow transit, and undigested food also. I think undigested food means its moving through too fast tho..
hi LFHell, I was told by the health care provider that content was in the transverse colon after 54 hours which is slow transit. I did dispute this as typically food I eat the night before is always in my stool undigested the following day. That said I also have severe constipation which I believe is a build up of this soft, stool. I have lots of muddy bowel movements even though I exists mainly on liquid diet and very little food. No wonder I weigh 95lbs with a bmi of 14.7. I am being readmitted into hospital for tube feeding to get my weight back up. It’s all very distressing. Thanks for your reply I hope you are able to manage your condition
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