persistent diarrheoa - any experiences? Help?!

[mrsbabookaloo]

I have had diarrheoa for over 3 weeks now. Have been to doctor twice. A sample did not indicate any infection. Have just finished a course of anti biotics.

I feel dreadful, partly from the diarrhoea itself and partly from the fact that not much food is actually staying in my system, and most days I'm not eating much. Also because the diarrhoea is worst at night, from about 2am I could be up 5 or 6 times with it, so I'm not getting much sleep.

It may be that I had an infection, and that the diarrheoa I am experiencing now is a side effect of the anti biotics. Or it may be that I got better (I felt better for about 2 days immediately after starting the antibiotics) but went overboard with going back to normal, eating as normal and being as active as normal, when I ought to have rested longer and carried on just eating rice and bananas.

I feel like I should keep eating to a minimum and only eating basic plain stuff, but I'm actually hungry and it's hard not to eat stuff.

I've bought some shockingly expensive probiotics today, in the hope of restoring the balance of good bacteria in my stomach.

Does anybody have experience of this...any ideas? Feel like it might just go on forever, and I'm hungry and tired from being on the toilet half the night!

I think you need to go back to your GP - any changes in bowel habits that go on for a while should be investigated. Apart from anything else you must be exhausted being up half the night on the loo. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you -I am. It improved and I had a couple of days of feeling normal which was great, but now I seem to be back to square 1. I'm going to wait a couple of days because I've only just finished the antibiotics, and then if no better I'll go back.

Thanks for your reply

Definitely get back to gp but also try probiotics and see if they help? X

Did they checked for parasites? like Guardia, worms? It is not only bacteria and viruses which causes this.

Yes, have bought some really expensive probiotics and will start on those tonight.

I've actually had giardia before, and I think they tested for everything. But of course I'm worried that the tiny sample I gave them wasn't enough, or wasn't right or something, and feel I ought to give another one. I'd rather do blood tests though. Much rather do that than the trauma of trying to collect poo sample.

Have you travelled abroad in the last 3 or so months?. If so the destination needs to be mentioned to the GP.

I would return to the GP asap, they should give you a sample bottle to have your faeces further tested in a laboratory setting. They may do blood tests but they really should now retest your faeces. You may well have contracted giardia or some other type of parasitical infection.

Yes, the GP knows I was in Spain. Actually, I was in Turkey in May, and came back with another mystery illness which took me weeks to get over, but wasn't diarrhoea related, and then I went to Spain and 3 days later got this awful diarrhoea.

Think I might never go abroad again.

A very old fashioned remedy for the runs is to eat a grated apple- you have to grate it then allow the juices to run - about 30 mins- then eat it. My mum's old GP told her this years back- and it does work.

It won't clear disease but it might help you short term.

Meanwhile apart from the apple, cut back on too much fibre and dairy, apart from some live yoghurt that might help rebalance the guts.

Have you tried cutting out caffeine? I now only drink caffeinated drinks to tackle constipation as they make me go to the loo so much!

Only started after a holiday stomach bug about 5 years ago.

Completely bizarre!

Do you drink alcohol?

Do you drink milk?

Both set me off.

As above- you should put yourself on a very bland diet- cut out fried foods, anything too fatty like cheese and cream, anything too fibrous, def no booze, and eat a fairly simple and almost unhealthy diet for a while- ie not too much fruit and veg.

Hi Everyone, thanks for all of this advice, only just checked back.
I don't drink at all, so that's no prob. I do have milk on cereal, but I haven't done since this started. I do drink tea, though again, haven't done since I've got ill. Never had this problem before though, so don't think I can suddenly have become intolerant.

I'm so hungry all the time, trying to eat small amounts of plain food, but I get really hungry and then end up eating something that I've cooked for the kids, like chicken and chips....terrible I know.

Will try the grated apple thing, thanks pink frocks.