What's going on with my insides?

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I know no one can advise me better than my GP but at my surgery it's impossible to get an appointment with anyone but a nurse.

Recently I've had a very noisy stomach with some vague pain but nothing genuinely problematic. Combined with this, however, I have episodes of extremely watery, very urgent diarrhoea. There's no pain or nausea or any kind of illness when I get these. It's been happening several times a week for a few weeks.

I have had episodes of gastritis in the past but I can go years without issues and manage it with a careful diet.

A long, long time ago I used to have problems with my bowels - IBS type symptoms, but nothing in recent years.

I'm mid 40s.

Any thoughts?

Perhaps your IBS has come back.

Try lowFODMAP eating and see if things improve.

But you prob should see a doctor.

www.monashfodmap.com/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/

I'd go and see your gp. It's probably nothing serious, but diarrhoea can be a symptom of some a number of things, some serious, some not so serious (like a food intolerance). It's worth getting it checked out.

Thanks Clitterati.

I already avoid most of the foods that are triggers due to gastritis and I think that and drastically cutting alcohol is why I don't have any other bowel issues. It's very strange.

I'll see how I am over the next week and then try to beg for a GP appointment but they make it really difficult, even when I'm making appointments for DC. I was forced to see the nurse when I had a very bad bout of gastritis and was told to use over the counter indigestion medication and not offered a prescription for tablets I'd had previously so I don't have confidence in them on this.

Minimonkey I have wondered about a dairy intolerance in the recent past. I've been in denial though as I love all things dairy! I don't think I've had any more dairy recently than usual which would account for these particular episodes though.

If you tell the GP receptionist you have a change of bowel habit that has lasted a few weeks then that should be taken seriously.

Yes agree to say that you have had a change in bowel habits. It is most likely a food issue but they need to rule out other issues. Make sure that you don't give up gluten until they test you but I found that even though the coeliac test was negative, giving up gluten (completely- checking labels, not even trace elements etc) worked for me.

With dairy it can be a temporary intolerance after a bug to lactose and elimination completely (checking labels etc.) Then reintroducing low lactose products such as cheddar until you find your limit can help. Will be of no use if it is a cow's milk protein intolerance in which case you need to eliminate milk and soya then reintroduce to find your limits.

My approach would be Dr first. Emphasise to receptionist/ nurse that this is unusual for you and you are very worried about it. Once they have eliminated the more serious concerns ask for a referral to dietician/ pay privately and get a clear plan of what to eliminate and how to supplement/ substitute foods for a balanced diet.