Hello,
This is a neat site, especially this time of year, the flu season. I don't want to go anywhere near a doctor's office till it's over.
I have been developing looser and looser stools for at least ten years, maybe more. I've had a colonoscopy, probably three stool tests over the years, and I'm off gluten, soy, dairy products, eggs, all the things I showed even low intolerance to.
I'm sixty-nine and am in good shape otherwise.
I do take levothyroxine, 150 mcg. and am wondering if it could be the cause. I also use bioidentical hormones, estrogen and progesterone in a small amount, only two lines on the applicator instead of five. I take no pharmaceutical drugs.
I started Synthroid eighteen years ago, but somewhere along the way switched to Armour which made me very sick, then ended up with Levothyroxine.
The loose stools started before the Levothyroxine, but are worse now, sometimes small in circumference but unusually long.
I relieve myself two to three times a day without urgency....unless I've eaten something that makes matters worse. When that happens, I'm usually somewhat nauseous and gassy and burpy. It's a drag!
I've consulted several doctors over the years. The one who did the colonoscopy couldn't find anything wrong. He did say he thought it's something that some women get mid-way through life, but he didn't elaborate. I called his office a few days later to get a name for the condition he mentioned. His assistant asked him and relayed the message back to me that the doctor couldn't remember what it is. He retired not long after.:-)
Another doctor ordered a stool sample which was negative. He asked his assistant to call me with the report and to say he didn't know what my problem is. At least he was honest.
I'd be interested to know just how I might narrow this down to a few of the 65 or so digestive disorders recognized.
Thank you for your time