What's going on with my bowels?

[Bowelchchchchanges]

Any medical detectives here? Since December I've had quite an urgent need to open my bowels. It started whilst taking antibiotics for an ingrown nail and never went away. It wakes me from sleep in the morning. and when I open my bowels it's quite loose. It has very slowly gotten better but still I wake before my alarm and have to run to the loo.

Here's what the GP tried:

• Probiotics (no difference)
• Loperamide (stopped me up but not safe to use long term, then had constipation instead)
• Bloods (thyroid etc) all fine
• Faecal tests, all clear, no blood or parasites or inflammation
• Referred for colonoscopy: thankfully 100% clean

I don't have any food allergies or intolerances. My diet is v healthy and I eat loads of fibre. Lentils, yoghurt, fresh fruit and veg, pulses every day. I am not overweight and have had no other medication changes. I use a puffer for asthma and have a coil (fitted 4 years ago), the threads disappeared 2 years ago but a scan showed it's in the right place and no fibroids or anything. I don't have weight loss. I'm 45, no pelvic floor issues or problems with pregnancies and birth of my DC.

Any guesses as to what's going on? It's a bit irritating though I'm relieved it's nothing sinister.

have you tried adding bulk to your diet?
white rice for example

I developed an intolerance for lentils and pulses after being on strong IV antibiotics. Could you try eliminating certain foods for a bit and keep a diary of how you feel not eating them / also when they are reintroduced? This is how I figured it out. Something has maybe gone wrong with your gut flora balance.

It could be electrolyte imbalance. Doctor has already checked for major issues and probably didn’t check for electrolytes because you didn’t had dehydration or dizziness issues. Usually, body will autocorrect after diarrhoea episodes but sometimes it won’t. See if drinking diarolyte helps.

If I eat lots of fruit/veg the need to go for a poo wakes me up too. I have to be careful how much of it I eat.

Too much fibre?

Oh, you are 45....the prime time for lots of things to start going wrong. Took me years to work out I could no longer have onions, onion extract or onion powder, or too many tomato based dishes in a row, but mostly it was the hidden onion such as in gravy or stock cubes. I now use leek for flavouring instead.

Hi op. I've had loads of antibiotics in the last few years and this always happens. It sorts itself out after a few months.

I alway up the amount of kefir I consume and make sure I wash beans before I use them - they are less likely to cause an issue when all the can/jar juice is thoroughly rinsed off.

I do take opti-bac probiotics, I tried symprove as per GP advice but it didn't help.

Don't stop eating fibre. You still need a good mix of soluble and insoluble. You are trying to feed the gut biome. Starving it just leaves you open to further gastric imbalances.

Also Look on the bright side - that's your poo done for the day nice and efficient!

Too much fibre (pulses and onions esp) - or too any additives. This happens to me when I have artificial sweeteners or any breakfast bars with chicory root extract.

Worth making sure youre getting enough water and salt

Do you have stress or anxiety in your life? That can cause diarrhoea in the early morning because cortisol can overestimate your colon.