Calling any bowel experts.

[pandapen]

Tmi warning.
Over the last 6 months or so I have occasional problems with loose bowels and have taken Immodium. Over the last 5 weeks this has become more frequent. Sometimes a few days in a row and then stops and goes back to normal for a few days then comes back. I am trying not to take Immodium unless I have to be out for a long time or am going out to eat.
I am eating less and not between meals to try to lessen it. I am starting to worry about this. Any help and advice greatly appreciated.

There's only one answer really, isn't there? You need to go and have a chat with your GP. Could be irritable bowel or something else, but speculating on an internet forum really isn't going to help you much. Hope you have a nice sympathetic Dr who can help you get this sorted.

It could be constipation ( then the poo rushes out after a build up).

It could be IBS.

Could be an intolerance.

I would keep a food diary. See if there's triggers or recurring foods/issues.

On the days you are 'pooing normally' what's your poo like? No need to share here! Google the Bristol Check your poo chart.

Oh forgot to say. Have a chat with your GP.

GP. Could be "just" irritable bowel (can still be pretty debilitating) or something much more serious. Or perhaps just a bug. You need to get it checked out.

But the sensible Gruntfuttocks has already said it.

Are you suffering with anxiety? That's another trigger for bowel problems in some people.

stop taking the immodium and go and see your GP tomorrow. my DH has ulcerative colitis and this sounds a lot like how his started. the quicker you get it checked out the quicker someone can sort it for you. long term use of Imodium is a no no. it is meant for one off support not on going chronic illness and you might be doing more harm than good. stop taking anything until you have been properly investigate. if you assume and self diagnose the off the shelf remedy might do more harm than good. also start now keeping a food and diarrhoea diary to see what triggers it all if anything. this will prove very useful in the long run.

Hi pandapen, I'm not an expert by any stretch. But I am a nurse and I worked on a surgical ward for years. Many people had issues/illness regarding bowels.
You don't say whether you have any other symptoms, loss of weight, feeling unwell, nauseated, feverish, pain anywhere ....
Have you noticed any blood, either with or 'mixed in' with the motions. What about your diet? Could anything be aggrevating your bowels?
I'm sure you already know that Mumsnet cannot solve this for you. You must see a professional ASAP. It is very likely to be something that can be resolved simply. But early diagnosis of any illness is the best treatment.

Thanks for the advice, have just started a food diary and I guess I will have to make an appointment with my GP, I find the thought of explaining it all a bit embarrassing.

Hi Woopsidaisy.
I don't really have any other symptoms, I feel well though not got my usual appetite, I've not got any pain and am not passing any blood. I am on the heavy side and don't have any scales so I don't know if I have lost weight but I am eating a lot less than normal. I feel a need to eat plain foods like fish/chicken and rice, toast etc. I think coffee makes it worse strangely. Any further ideas.

Please go see your GP.

pandapen talking about bowels and poo is not embarrassing. take a deep breath go in to your gp and just tell them what you have said on here. ignorance is never bliss and you cannot go on eating Imodium. it is not good for you. please say you will go and see your gp.

I promise to go to my Gp. Telling myself they've heard it all before.

Go to your GP today. I have UC and it started like your symptoms (I'm not saying it is UC in your case). The longer you leave it the longer it takes to get better (I know from experience).

The sooner you see your GP the sooner you get a referral (insist on one: I was fobbed off with codeine until I was very very ill) and the sooner you can start getting better, whatever the problem.

Don't get embarrassed, they have heard / seen it all before.

Good luck and wish you a speedy diagnosis and recovery

well I took the plunge and now have an appointment to see the GP on Friday, think I can't go on ignoring the problem.

Glad to hear it and hope it goes ok

Well done pandapen. Like Tieni, DH also had UC (he is free of it now due to surgery).

Thought I'd post an update.
Saw GP today who was lovely and her manner really stoppped me feeling embarrassed. Have to have a bunch of blood tests and have an urgent hospital referral.Hopefully it will not be anything serious.

Good one Pandapen.

Hope your referral comes through soon and it's nothing serious.

Well done and glad you had a sensible response from your GP. Fingers crossed all is OK. Let us know what happens..

Well done, was thinking about you today and hoping it went well. Hope your referral goes well and keep us posted.

Well done on the gp visit and hope its nothing to worry about. Just wanted to add that i suffer with sudden and unpleasant loose bowel movements sometimes, but have worked out the foids that trigger it. If i eat healthily, lean meats plenty of veg and low fat, it doesn't happen. Chinese, fish and chips, lots of cake in one day etc can all have a very unpleasant outcome. Not indian though, bizarrely.

Oh and coffee, but particularly from a starbucks/cafe nero type place rather than at home. So you are not alone on that front! Green tea however has the opposite effect.

So I got a super speedy appointment to see the consultant who after seeing me in his clinic has put me on list for colonoscopy.
Now feeling nervous about this!