Constant Diarrhea

Posted by suzanne2 @suzanne2, Jun 17, 2020

Anyone here have constant diarrhea? I practically live on lomotil pills. I know my nerves play somewhat of a role but not always. Some days I live in the bathriom.
I have never had a diagnosis for my problem.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Hi @klinder, I’d like to add my welcome along with @astaingegerdm and @hbbird who offered helpful suggestions.

I think you’ll also appreciate reading the posts from @suzanne2 @elizaolson @dkharris2005 and many others in this discussion:
- Constant Diarrhea: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/constant-diarrhea/

Have you been referred to a GI specialist?

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Thank you. I’ve been reading what you suggest. No I have not seen a gastroenterologist.

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Ask your GP about Colestid / colestipol. Get the pill - the powder is truly gag inducing. After decades of worry about going anywhere because I was crapping liquid 10+ times a day, I finally gave a graphic description of my days, of messing my pants at the grocery store or while on walks..

1 gram of colestid a day made my bowels almost normal. It can be tricky to time with other meds, so if your doctor can't ask the pharmacist. I now keep a journal to keep track of all the medicine rules! But easiest is at waking on an empty stomach. You can eat 15-30 mins later.

Good luck. Diarrhea is so terrible. It makes us hermits or frightened travelers who know the location of every bathroom in the county!

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Hey there,
A good gastroenterologist is recommended. While some fermented food is good for your stomach, it is often a culprit in causing diarrhea. Start a food diary and find out what foods cause you to have the most problems. I too have chronic diarrhea and understand what you are going through. I probably clean my commode on average 5 times per day. I have to keep a large jug of vinegar in the vanity in order to keep things in my bathroom clean.
Best of luck.

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Profile picture for bvanderb @bvanderb

I found a probiotic that has been wonderful for me. I take 2 Florastors in the morning with my breakfast and it works great. It even helped me get thru having to take antibiotics.

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Hi,
Exactly which Florastor product do you use??
Thanks,
Doug

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Profile picture for ZeeGee @fourof5zs

@jollygreen17

Keep a food journal … make notes of what you eat and the results. Make sure you eat more soluble fiber foods .. you can find a list by doing a internet search. A short list: oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium products. You may want to add probiotic foods such as yogurt and kefir or a probiotic supplement. I use a supplement .. but had a hard time finding the correct one for me. I gave several a two week trial to make sure how I reacted to them.. most just bloated me. My husband's cousin had the same problem and suggested I try what he uses… Align. It works for me. .. I bloated some the first few days and then all settled down. If you can control it with diet all the better. Some also suggest adding prebiotics to diet or a prebiotic supplement.

ZeeGee

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Which Align product?
Thanks

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Profile picture for taonamission @taonamission

I've had chronic diarrhea for a year and 2 months. I've been seeing a gastroenterologist since December 2020. I've been tested for celiac, c diff, crohn's, diverticulitis, colitis, and pancreatitis. I had a colonoscopy in January with nothing showing, and biopsy not revealing micro inflammation.

I sought gastroenterology help after imodium quit working. I've been on Cholestyramine, xifaxin, Creon, and Lomotil, all with no effect.

I'm going to get a second opinion at a different clinic soon. I feel like the current gastroenterologist is just throwing pills at me to see if anything works. I really want to get to the bottom of why this is happening, not just band aid pills. It's been suggested that this is all because of stress. I'm seeing a counselor to help with that, but so far no relief. Actually my condition is stressful in itself. I have to bathroom map, and it's affecting my relationship with my husband. I'm desperate for answers. Anyone else have this with the absence of all the regular gastro/digestive diseases?

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I have been dealing with chronic diarrhea for months, most likely due to my liver and pancreatic duct dilation. This week I noticed my stools are now orange in color. Nothing I eat will digest properly, including a bland diet. My doctor has ordered more tests. I am exhausted from cleaning my bathroom. I keep a large container of vinegar in my vanity, and last night had 8 episodes of diarrhea. Forgive me for being so forthright.
I am due to see a liver specialist on March 7 2023 and will ask her if my ulcerative colitis has returned, which I understand can sometimes happen. I am feeling very anxious about my disease and subsequent weight loss, as well as other changes that have occurred in my life because I have lost 25 percent of my body weight. While I have gotten used to the "new me", I still cannot get over the fact that so many in my community continue to shun me as though I have the plague.
Friendships have also changed, and this week I received a letter from a very close college friend who flat out told me that she did not think that I understood that she had a demanding job and does not have the time to write letters to me. For many years we had this great letter writing back and forth, and it ended abruptly. I am trying to decide if her letter even warrants a response. Of course I know she works and is "living a full life" as she described to me. I too had a demanding job until I did not.
Someone recently mentioned to me that friendships change when one has a chronic illness, something I never gave any thought to until I became so sick and emaciated looking. I commented to my eye doctor's assistant yesterday that it seemed our world is so lacking in basic humanity, a characteristic I have always been proud of having.
I am dismayed at the medical treatment, or lack thereof, that I have received to date. I sent an online message to my PCP a few weeks ago that I was feeling hopeless and depressed as a result of my illness and asked if he thought increasing my antidepressant would be of help. He did not respond. I have to see him next week and will ask what the purpose of the online message system is if a patient cannot get a response from their doctor.
I understand that my condition(s) are complicated, after all it has taken 3 years to finally get an appointment with a liver specialist, even though I had been told one would never see me. I apologize if I sound like I am whining, perhaps I am simply frustrated at just how difficult it is to receive the appropriate medical treatment these days. I try to remain positive, active, engaged in creative activities and things of that nature. I am not curled up in a ball in some kind of catatonic state. All I want is help from my medical team, and it has become such a struggle to get the treatment I think I need. Yes, I have a friend who is a doctor and who has been very helpful by telling me what tests my PCP needs to order, and when I ask him to order such tests he does. but really, how crazy is that? This forum and my disease have enabled me to become more empowered, however I had no idea that getting the right treatment, if any, would be such a struggle. I have good coping skills, but in all honesty there are days when I really do feel like curling up in a ball, but I don't because I am afraid I would remain in that state. So instead I take walks, work on my artwork, bake bread for my neighbors, care for my 84 year old friend etc. I am constantly on the move. Right now, I just want to step off and rest.

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Profile picture for frances007 @frances007

I have been dealing with chronic diarrhea for months, most likely due to my liver and pancreatic duct dilation. This week I noticed my stools are now orange in color. Nothing I eat will digest properly, including a bland diet. My doctor has ordered more tests. I am exhausted from cleaning my bathroom. I keep a large container of vinegar in my vanity, and last night had 8 episodes of diarrhea. Forgive me for being so forthright.
I am due to see a liver specialist on March 7 2023 and will ask her if my ulcerative colitis has returned, which I understand can sometimes happen. I am feeling very anxious about my disease and subsequent weight loss, as well as other changes that have occurred in my life because I have lost 25 percent of my body weight. While I have gotten used to the "new me", I still cannot get over the fact that so many in my community continue to shun me as though I have the plague.
Friendships have also changed, and this week I received a letter from a very close college friend who flat out told me that she did not think that I understood that she had a demanding job and does not have the time to write letters to me. For many years we had this great letter writing back and forth, and it ended abruptly. I am trying to decide if her letter even warrants a response. Of course I know she works and is "living a full life" as she described to me. I too had a demanding job until I did not.
Someone recently mentioned to me that friendships change when one has a chronic illness, something I never gave any thought to until I became so sick and emaciated looking. I commented to my eye doctor's assistant yesterday that it seemed our world is so lacking in basic humanity, a characteristic I have always been proud of having.
I am dismayed at the medical treatment, or lack thereof, that I have received to date. I sent an online message to my PCP a few weeks ago that I was feeling hopeless and depressed as a result of my illness and asked if he thought increasing my antidepressant would be of help. He did not respond. I have to see him next week and will ask what the purpose of the online message system is if a patient cannot get a response from their doctor.
I understand that my condition(s) are complicated, after all it has taken 3 years to finally get an appointment with a liver specialist, even though I had been told one would never see me. I apologize if I sound like I am whining, perhaps I am simply frustrated at just how difficult it is to receive the appropriate medical treatment these days. I try to remain positive, active, engaged in creative activities and things of that nature. I am not curled up in a ball in some kind of catatonic state. All I want is help from my medical team, and it has become such a struggle to get the treatment I think I need. Yes, I have a friend who is a doctor and who has been very helpful by telling me what tests my PCP needs to order, and when I ask him to order such tests he does. but really, how crazy is that? This forum and my disease have enabled me to become more empowered, however I had no idea that getting the right treatment, if any, would be such a struggle. I have good coping skills, but in all honesty there are days when I really do feel like curling up in a ball, but I don't because I am afraid I would remain in that state. So instead I take walks, work on my artwork, bake bread for my neighbors, care for my 84 year old friend etc. I am constantly on the move. Right now, I just want to step off and rest.

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Hi @frances007, nice to connect with you again. I moved your post to this existing discussion that @taonamission, who also has colitis and chronic diarrhea, started:
– Chronic diarrhea https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-diarrhea-1/

I did this so you can review the helpful posts already made and connect easily with other members like @nancykeenan @catstx @astaingegerdm @hopeful33250 @menkcizmar @livefully @kitty2 and others.

While the chronic diarrhea is the main concern you started off with, it sounds like the loss of friendship or changes in friendships is an equally disconcerting "side effect" of chronic illness. I invite you to copy and paste that part of your post as a new discussion in the Just Want To Talk support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/other/

I think it is an important topic to not get buried in the discussion about chronic GI issues.

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Profile picture for frances007 @frances007

I have been dealing with chronic diarrhea for months, most likely due to my liver and pancreatic duct dilation. This week I noticed my stools are now orange in color. Nothing I eat will digest properly, including a bland diet. My doctor has ordered more tests. I am exhausted from cleaning my bathroom. I keep a large container of vinegar in my vanity, and last night had 8 episodes of diarrhea. Forgive me for being so forthright.
I am due to see a liver specialist on March 7 2023 and will ask her if my ulcerative colitis has returned, which I understand can sometimes happen. I am feeling very anxious about my disease and subsequent weight loss, as well as other changes that have occurred in my life because I have lost 25 percent of my body weight. While I have gotten used to the "new me", I still cannot get over the fact that so many in my community continue to shun me as though I have the plague.
Friendships have also changed, and this week I received a letter from a very close college friend who flat out told me that she did not think that I understood that she had a demanding job and does not have the time to write letters to me. For many years we had this great letter writing back and forth, and it ended abruptly. I am trying to decide if her letter even warrants a response. Of course I know she works and is "living a full life" as she described to me. I too had a demanding job until I did not.
Someone recently mentioned to me that friendships change when one has a chronic illness, something I never gave any thought to until I became so sick and emaciated looking. I commented to my eye doctor's assistant yesterday that it seemed our world is so lacking in basic humanity, a characteristic I have always been proud of having.
I am dismayed at the medical treatment, or lack thereof, that I have received to date. I sent an online message to my PCP a few weeks ago that I was feeling hopeless and depressed as a result of my illness and asked if he thought increasing my antidepressant would be of help. He did not respond. I have to see him next week and will ask what the purpose of the online message system is if a patient cannot get a response from their doctor.
I understand that my condition(s) are complicated, after all it has taken 3 years to finally get an appointment with a liver specialist, even though I had been told one would never see me. I apologize if I sound like I am whining, perhaps I am simply frustrated at just how difficult it is to receive the appropriate medical treatment these days. I try to remain positive, active, engaged in creative activities and things of that nature. I am not curled up in a ball in some kind of catatonic state. All I want is help from my medical team, and it has become such a struggle to get the treatment I think I need. Yes, I have a friend who is a doctor and who has been very helpful by telling me what tests my PCP needs to order, and when I ask him to order such tests he does. but really, how crazy is that? This forum and my disease have enabled me to become more empowered, however I had no idea that getting the right treatment, if any, would be such a struggle. I have good coping skills, but in all honesty there are days when I really do feel like curling up in a ball, but I don't because I am afraid I would remain in that state. So instead I take walks, work on my artwork, bake bread for my neighbors, care for my 84 year old friend etc. I am constantly on the move. Right now, I just want to step off and rest.

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I am truly sorry for what you are going thru. I have also seen people shy away from others who have been so prominent in their lives before they became ill. I just don't understand how they can be that way - it seems that empathy and humanity have gone out the window. I will keep you in my daily prayers for healing.

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Profile picture for taonamission @taonamission

I've had chronic diarrhea for a year and 2 months. I've been seeing a gastroenterologist since December 2020. I've been tested for celiac, c diff, crohn's, diverticulitis, colitis, and pancreatitis. I had a colonoscopy in January with nothing showing, and biopsy not revealing micro inflammation.

I sought gastroenterology help after imodium quit working. I've been on Cholestyramine, xifaxin, Creon, and Lomotil, all with no effect.

I'm going to get a second opinion at a different clinic soon. I feel like the current gastroenterologist is just throwing pills at me to see if anything works. I really want to get to the bottom of why this is happening, not just band aid pills. It's been suggested that this is all because of stress. I'm seeing a counselor to help with that, but so far no relief. Actually my condition is stressful in itself. I have to bathroom map, and it's affecting my relationship with my husband. I'm desperate for answers. Anyone else have this with the absence of all the regular gastro/digestive diseases?

Jump to this post

Have you had a stool elastase test for EPI?

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Profile picture for frances007 @frances007

I have been dealing with chronic diarrhea for months, most likely due to my liver and pancreatic duct dilation. This week I noticed my stools are now orange in color. Nothing I eat will digest properly, including a bland diet. My doctor has ordered more tests. I am exhausted from cleaning my bathroom. I keep a large container of vinegar in my vanity, and last night had 8 episodes of diarrhea. Forgive me for being so forthright.
I am due to see a liver specialist on March 7 2023 and will ask her if my ulcerative colitis has returned, which I understand can sometimes happen. I am feeling very anxious about my disease and subsequent weight loss, as well as other changes that have occurred in my life because I have lost 25 percent of my body weight. While I have gotten used to the "new me", I still cannot get over the fact that so many in my community continue to shun me as though I have the plague.
Friendships have also changed, and this week I received a letter from a very close college friend who flat out told me that she did not think that I understood that she had a demanding job and does not have the time to write letters to me. For many years we had this great letter writing back and forth, and it ended abruptly. I am trying to decide if her letter even warrants a response. Of course I know she works and is "living a full life" as she described to me. I too had a demanding job until I did not.
Someone recently mentioned to me that friendships change when one has a chronic illness, something I never gave any thought to until I became so sick and emaciated looking. I commented to my eye doctor's assistant yesterday that it seemed our world is so lacking in basic humanity, a characteristic I have always been proud of having.
I am dismayed at the medical treatment, or lack thereof, that I have received to date. I sent an online message to my PCP a few weeks ago that I was feeling hopeless and depressed as a result of my illness and asked if he thought increasing my antidepressant would be of help. He did not respond. I have to see him next week and will ask what the purpose of the online message system is if a patient cannot get a response from their doctor.
I understand that my condition(s) are complicated, after all it has taken 3 years to finally get an appointment with a liver specialist, even though I had been told one would never see me. I apologize if I sound like I am whining, perhaps I am simply frustrated at just how difficult it is to receive the appropriate medical treatment these days. I try to remain positive, active, engaged in creative activities and things of that nature. I am not curled up in a ball in some kind of catatonic state. All I want is help from my medical team, and it has become such a struggle to get the treatment I think I need. Yes, I have a friend who is a doctor and who has been very helpful by telling me what tests my PCP needs to order, and when I ask him to order such tests he does. but really, how crazy is that? This forum and my disease have enabled me to become more empowered, however I had no idea that getting the right treatment, if any, would be such a struggle. I have good coping skills, but in all honesty there are days when I really do feel like curling up in a ball, but I don't because I am afraid I would remain in that state. So instead I take walks, work on my artwork, bake bread for my neighbors, care for my 84 year old friend etc. I am constantly on the move. Right now, I just want to step off and rest.

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@frances007
I’m sorry to hear about your ongoing medical problems plus lack of response from your PCP.
I have recently been thinking about how sad it is to lose contact with friends/acquaintances when living with a chronic illness.
I have had continuous GI problems for 13-14 years, some time periods better. Right now I don’t have contact with anyone locally- we moved here 3+ years before I got sick. I had met many women through tennis as well as in the neighborhood- just about everyone retired. Little by little everyone faded away- I didn’t have the energy to keep contact and I wasn’t able to play tennis much.
At one point I tried to get back again and thanks to a woman I had played with before I got into a group again- until Covid arrived and everything stopped. Sadly, the friendly woman died suddenly.
It takes energy to maintain new friendships.
I have contact with a friend from my youth- we write now and then- her life is not easy either.

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