Chronic Diarrhea

[Rob]

Hello, I am 29 years old and male. I have been suffering from chronic diarrhea for the past 7 months. I am currently seeing a gastroenteroligist for my problem. He is struggling to find out what is wrong with me.

My symptoms first started just a few days following taking malaria tablets, prior to going on vacation to Hondurus (Central America). While on vacation the diarrhea started badly, which followed eating some 'home made' soup (tripe).

Upon returning home I still had diarrhea, but it had subsided. Then a couple of weeks later I found myself going to the toilet up to 20 times a day. I have found that it is when I eat I need to rush to the toilet. I sometimes have cramps, although not often. I also only have wind occassionally. The stool has never contained blood. The stool also varies from liquid to semi-formed (in the morning). When semi formed it floats. The colour varies from light brown to almost white.

I have had the following tests:

Blood Tests
Stool Culture Tests
Fecal Fat Test
Hormone Test
Barium Meal X-ray
CT scan
Abdomen x-ray
Nuclear Isotope Scan
HIV Test
Pancreatic (Urine) Test
Other Urine Tests
Endoscopy
Flexible Sygmoidioscopy

All the tests are normal, apart from the fecal fat test which showed that I am not absorbing fat and producing a huge amount of stool. The doctor described this as gross steattorrhea.

I am otherwise healthy apart from the diarrhea. I have lost 30lbs in weight due to this. I am also suffering from depression due to the diarrhea. I have been off work for 5 months.

I am currently taking Codeine Phosphate and Cholestramine, which don't seem to do anything. I have previosly tried Loparamide, Lomitil and Colafac also (to no avail). I am now on Fluoxetine for depression.

I do not smoke and only occassionally drink alcohol. I have never had surgery and never had a serious medical condition. I have never suffered from diarrhea before. I have not changed my diet apart from cutting out dairy products (as advised by my doctor)

Please give me some help and advice!!

Regards

Rob.

[Dyanna]

HELP... i am having diarreah for about 3 weeks now and constant...i mean constant rumbling and groaning on my left side of my abdomen.  This has been so loud it keeps me up at nite.  I am a VERY HEALTHY 33 yr old female and am on low fat / high fiber diet... please tell me how to stop this!

[judi]

Hi Well you may want to ask your dr about seeing a gi specialist. I could be something simple such a a virus or it could be something also rather simple like iritable bowel syndrom. You shoud try to eat banana and even more fiber to bring your stool back to normal. But get it checked out, any time there is pain it is somehting that should be checked. Hope it all turns out well for you. Let us know what the dr says :)

[alda]

I am a 28 year-old male. I have had a severe diarrhea problem for a couple of years.  My work is very stressful.  I also work with central american people.  my GI doctor has done just about ervery blood test known, and everthing comes back normal.  I have also had 2 colonscopes done since late 2000, once again everything came back normal.  Only small red areas and 2 polyps were found, polyps were removed and benign.  Doctor seems to think red areas could be a result of colonscope prep.  but basically thinks I have a "spastic colon".  I am currently taking lomitil, with no real help.  My doctor has also prescribed anti-depressants, like prozac and remeron 30 mg.  I am taking the remeron now because I had lost about 25 lbs.  Remeron has put weight back on, but diarrhea is still constant, and I know I can't keep taking it forever.  I read about duspatal 200mg. Anybody does it work with these similar complaints??  Any help or advice would greatly be appreciated.. sincerely, alda..

[alda]

I am a 28 year-old male. I have had a severe diarrhea problem for a couple of years.  My work is very stressful.  I also work with central american people.  my GI doctor has done just about ervery blood test known, and everthing comes back normal.  I have also had 2 colonscopes done since late 2000, once again everything came back normal.  Only small red areas and 2 polyps were found, polyps were removed and benign.  Doctor seems to think red areas could be a result of colonscope prep.  but basically thinks I have a "spastic colon".  I am currently taking lomitil, with no real help.  My doctor has also prescribed anti-depressants, like prozac and remeron 30 mg.  I am taking the remeron now because I had lost about 25 lbs.  Remeron has put weight back on, but diarrhea is still constant, and I know I can't keep taking it forever.  I read about duspatal 200mg. Anybody does it work with these similar complaints??  Any help or advice would greatly be appreciated.. sincerely, alda..

[alda]

I am a 28 year-old male. I have had a severe diarrhea problem for a couple of years.  My work is very stressful.  I also work with central american people.  my GI doctor has done just about ervery blood test known, and everthing comes back normal.  I have also had 2 colonscopes done since late 2000, once again everything came back normal.  Only small red areas and 2 polyps were found, polyps were removed and benign.  Doctor seems to think red areas could be a result of colonscope prep.  but basically thinks I have a "spastic colon".  I am currently taking lomitil, with no real help.  My doctor has also prescribed anti-depressants, like prozac and remeron 30 mg.  I am taking the remeron now because I had lost about 25 lbs.  Remeron has put weight back on, but diarrhea is still constant, and I know I can't keep taking it forever.  I read about duspatal 200mg. Anybody does it work with these similar complaints??  Any help or advice would greatly be appreciated.. sincerely, alda..

[alda]

I am a 28 year-old male. I have had a severe diarrhea problem for a couple of years.  My work is very stressful.  I also work with central american people.  my GI doctor has done just about ervery blood test known, and everthing comes back normal.  I have also had 2 colonscopes done since late 2000, once again everything came back normal.  Only small red areas and 2 polyps were found, polyps were removed and benign.  Doctor seems to think red areas could be a result of colonscope prep.  but basically thinks I have a "spastic colon".  I am currently taking lomitil, with no real help.  My doctor has also prescribed anti-depressants, like prozac and remeron 30 mg.  I am taking the remeron now because I had lost about 25 lbs.  Remeron has put weight back on, but diarrhea is still constant, and I know I can't keep taking it forever.  I read about duspatal 200mg. Anybody does it work with these similar complaints??  Any help or advice would greatly be appreciated.. sincerely, alda..