Stool Changes

[Happyfairy09]

Hi All,

Hope you are ok.

Anybody had digestive issues with changes to stools, not sure if connected to my hypo, but for the past 3weeks I've had loose stools, I'd been near my daughter who had loose stools but corrected it's self after I few days, a day after having my grandson and seeing her I stated with diarrhea, been docs took a stool sample in, he said he would test it for everything, but I could of picked up a parasite, I had been out with friends that weekend and only been to two places for drinks, I was fine when I got home it was my daughter the day after that wasn't, had my 2,year old grandson that night, gave home back the Monday, stated that night with cold symptoms which worsened the next day (Tuesday) at lunchtime went for my lunchtime walk had to rush back due to tummy cramps then the diarrhea started. Stools has now changed to where my food is not even digesting properly, during the course of this 3wks I take tramadol for sinus migraines which have the adverse affect and makes me constipated, which it seems to of done with my stools but once where's off will revert back.

Mega worried what this may be, thinking all sorts, bug, parasite the dreaded c word, I should get my results Tuesday gp said, told me to eat rice, potatoes, bread etc but no meat products. I handed my stool sample in Thursday, I looked on my NHS app on Friday it looks like they had something back but I couldn't see the results but I could the consultation with the GP I had on Wednesday.

Think just needing advice and reassurance.

During the first week of this I did start to suffer with really bad indigestion, stomach acid etc, had to buy gaviscon but last week other family members have had very low symptoms so I was thinking at that time maybe I have picked up a bug from either being out that weekend or my grandson who brings all sorts home from nursery but I'm not sure now due to not recovering from it.

I have always had bowel issues last year diagnosed with diverticulitis but my GP said not that .. worried I fly to Lanzarote for a week on Wednesday and not sure what's wrong, I daren't Google the symptoms

😞

Thank you for reading and taking the time to answer if you do.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I think it’s likely a diverticulitis flare Happyfairy09. My husband has similar flares and I understand how debilitating and scary the condition can be. The important think is to return to foods that do not cause any issues, until symptoms pass. Unfortunately Christmas/ New Year is a time many with diverticulitis have set backs, as we all tend to eat more/ consume different foods.

Have you ever had a referral to a gastroenterologist/ had an endoscopy? If you continue to be worried about your symptoms. I would definitely push for this (it will at least provide peace of mind!)

[Hidden]

Hi! My background is technical, so you will take my opinion with reserve... After growing up near an ill father, who had symptoms similar to yours, and after having studied health issues (self education) for over 15 years due to my arrhythmias, I can tell you the following:

When you start having reflux (stomach acid issues), the first idea is: There is too much acid secretion in my stomach. Many of the doctors also think in such, simple way, so prescribe acid suppressors, making things still worse. But no, you actually suffer on insufficient acid secretion, and, at the same time, the innervation of sphincter on the entrance of the stomach gets poorer, so it does not close as it should be - hence, despite less acid, you get heartburn.

Stomach acid plays important role in food digestion and sterilization. If there is not enough acid, portions of bacteria, which are always present in the food, stay alive entering the small intestine and the first result is SIBO (Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth), leading to bloating, poor stool modeling etc.

It may be that I am wrong in your case, but it is the mechanism which causes trouble to many patients. In short, the automatics in your body is disturbed, what is a very frequent case nowadays. I do not dare to mention the possible cause of this disturbance (hope you will understand), but such cases have become pandemic, just look at the forums.

[Ruby1]

Personally I would feel reassured that others around me had been suffering some digestive issues, and maybe it is a virus or bacterial infection?

My daughter had food poisoning some years ago and can still not eat red meat. It will give her diarrhoea and stomach cramps if she does. I think your gut can take a long time to recover from some things. She’s currently doing the Zoe thing for her gut.

The wait is horrible, but you can’t change anything, so try not to worry and I wish you luck with your results.

[Gillybean1]

Hi Happyfairy,

It would seem you started with a bug/virus from wherever, that may have irritated your gut and diverticulitis and your now in a flare up.

I agree with the others , have a look at the Zoe protocol (Prof Tim Spectre) it takes time to calm things down again ie weeks. Go bland food for a few weeks and chew really well, that might sound obvious but chewing links the brain to the gut function to stimulate production of necessary stomach acid for you to break down your food inthe first part of its journey to the small intestine. Check out FODMAPS too.

Take note of how you feel when you eat certain foods whilst you recover. Im sure you will feel at ease once you get your results back. When mine came back under similar circumstances it was 'undigested chicken' yep no reason, out of the blue I just couldnt digest it anymore, connected to Hashimoto/Thyroid disease. The only advice given was 'dont eat chicken'..............annoyingly.

Every best wish, G.

[Happyfairy09]

Thank you all, results back - satisfactory received in a text, however, if continues to make an appointment, I'm on my 3rd week now so I will be making a GP app with a request for referral to gastro con, it is like my food is not digesting properly.

On holiday tomorrow for a week all inclusive jeez help me now!!

What is the ZOE protocol please ?

Happy New Year to you all, hope 2024 is kind, full of love, good health 🙏

[Ruby1]

 Happyfairy09 Zoe do a podcast - I think they might be on YouTube too - both free. You can sign up and they test things like how your blood sugar might spike when you eat certain foods. There is masses of info about gut biomes etc. I learnt a lot about coffee

Here is a link - I actually only do the podcasts, but we paid for my daughter to be monitored and she is following up for a year to try and get her health improved.

zoe.com