How to firm up chronic loose stool?

[Flowersinthewateringcan]

Firstly, I have to say I am absolutely not a poo troll. I am in a constant state of anxiety over my gut issues and am hoping someone may be able to offer some advice?

I have had gut issues for many years and I’ve had lots of tests (cameras up and down with biopsies, scans including gallbladder and a bile acid test, stool tests etc- literally all the exploratory digestive health tests). Luckily, all have come back clear but I am still having daily issues.

Lots going on within my digestive system (bubbling, gurgling, lots of gas - up and down, bloating…..) but the thing which I really, really despise is morning ‘diarrhoea’, I say that as it’s more quick and loose than watery (sorry I won’t divulge any more) but it sets off my anxiety about how many times I’ll need to go in the am (often need to go as soon as I wake and sometimes up to 3 times in the morning) and it stops me doing anything in the mornings and if I do have to go anywhere etc I’m constantly worrying I’ll need to go.

I have tried everything I can think of to ‘bulk’ up everything - I don’t consume diary or wheat/gluten, no alcohol or coffee (I only drink water and mint tea), I follow the low fodmap diet, low fat, no sweeteners and nothing which I believe triggers it off but I’m still getting this every morning.

I have tried the standard IBS meds but nothing helps. I take imodium on the two days a week I work as a safety net but it doesn’t really help other than to slow things down on that day and then it all starts up again on the days I don’t take it. My gastroenterologist says not to take it all the time as it can lead to a lazy bowel.

What can I do to bulk it up? I am actually envious of people who suffer from constipation!

Thanks Swingathattaway, do you eat any particular yogurt such as live yogurt?

grandkk454 I need to try this, I always have aches and pains at the best of times so this may sort out the two 🤞, thank you.

ouch44 There are several you can pay for. There is the Nerva app and the Michael Mahoney IBS audio 100, these are both really good. I’ve just looked and the Michael Mahoney one is on offer atm, it’s £25. But if your dd would like to try some free ones I listen to a few on YouTube, I’ll see if I can find the ones I use every night.
I have read that Ashwaganda is good for lowering high cortisol levels. Has your dd tried CBD? My ds had a lot of anxiety in his early teens and they really helped now my 15 year old dd takes the gummies before school, she says they help (not sure if it’s a placebo effect or not but it helps her).

redboxer321 I haven’t tried those but am willing to try anything atm. If it’s good enough for your dog then I’m sure it’ll be good for me too lol! Thanks.

TigerJoy I know, I’ve been too low fodmap for far too long and it’s really messed up my gut microbiome and my relationship with food as I fear a lot of foods. I feel that I can safely eat turkey, ham, fish, potatoes, rice cakes, a few vegetables, bananas and blueberries and that’s about it! I am currently working with a dietician at at neuro-gastroenterology department to help me try and overcome my food fears.

TeaAndStrumpets I’m really careful what I watch as it does effect my mental health. I do tend to listen to music or watch comedies/light hearted stuff.

ouch44

ouch44

I flit between these two on YT

You start with a small dose of psyllium and build up until you are at the point the stool is firm. It's a jellylike fibre unlike fibre if that makes sense?

Thanks LovelaceBiggWither

Wheat bran, sprinkled on stuff.

Absorbs water in the gut and ‘bulks up’ stools, so might be worth a try?

Psyllium also good.

Bananas and kefir are my suggestions
Have you heard of a faecal transplant. I'm not sure its specifically for your condition, but might be worth looking into. Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) - Guts UK (gutscharity.org.uk)

Another option could be signing up for a research study to see if something else helps

Do you have artificial sweeteners?
They're in so many foods it's difficult to avoid them. I also had IBS for several years & followed the Fodmap diet. Once I excluded sweeteners I'm absolutely fine. If I accidentally ingest some - Instant upset tummy. I also started making my own kefir - both water & dairy/non-dairy as these are natural probiotics. Using Live Cider vinegar in salads & eating fermented foods like live cheeses & kimchi. It's all helped.

@Flowersinthewateringcan thank you so much for those links. She's not tried CBD oil. We do have some which I think we got for the dog! Gummies sound more up her street though. Good call. Any brands to look out for?

You mentioned trying probiotics. The gut doctor recommends 2 different strains for IBS-D (see below) They seem to both be in Kefir. My DD wouldn't drink that though - we're aren't sure that milk makes her worse. I need to do more research.

@ouch44 at my worse I could tolerate goats milk kefir. But it's very much an acquired taste! Non-dairy kefir is also in the shops now. But I'm not sure it's quite as beneficial as the normal dairy variety.

@Cantonet thanks I'll have a look. I've heard of water kefir but not seen it. I tried to make kefir but it was gross.
I don't think the lactis bacteria is going to be in non-milk products but I'll investigate further.

Cantonet Yes, I too avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague, they make me feel very poorly.

Thanks ouch44 I did actually purchase some S Boulardii last week, haven’t tried them yet as I’ve been working but am off tomorrow so will give it a go.
These are the gummies dd uses, she won’t take capsules or pills so they work well for her and she says they taste nice too.

Reach9kat I used to practice yoga a lot in my 20’s, definitely need to start that up again. I am under a gynaecologist for some issues, he has ordered an mri to check for possible endometriosis as my sister suffers from it although not convinced I have that as I don’t have the pain she has but who knows?

I eat Activia yoghurts, granted they don’t help all the time but since having them my toilet habits have improved

I could have written this. It’s plagued my life since I was 18 and I’m now in my 40’s.
I never go on buses and only drive myself in the car. I know where ALL the toilets are around my local area because invariably as soon as I get in the car my stomach starts up. I’d say it’s 60-70% anxiety as I get flare ups when I’m calm and in the house but I can almost ‘make’ myself need to loo by stressing about it.
Things that help.
Anti anxiety medication - I’ve been on an ssri since my early 20’s
Immodium if I know I’m having a day out or a weekend away and I want to bung myself up but I avoid this day to day.
FODMAP but I’m vegan and find this very restrictive.
Eating a rubbish diet - the more veg I eat the More I have diarrhoea. It’s shit (excuse the pun) obviously I don’t follow this but it’s something I’ve noticed. I avoid pulses and too much veg in one go.
No alcohol and coffee only if I want to make myself go in the morning before I go out.
I take S.brouardii (sp) and it hasn’t made a difference tbh.
Ive had tests and basically been told it’s IBS.
It really gets me down and sometimes I fantasise about a stoma - trust me I know how ridiculous that statement is - because it would give me some level of freedom.
I’ve had accidents and it’s soul destroying.

Do you know if they do lactose free ones Swingathattaway?

I really feel for you Bellabluea, that is me to a t.
I can not eat super healthy either, sounds ridiculous to others but too much fruit, veg etc can have me on the toilet for days!
Can I ask which SSRI you are on? I’ve been prescribed Sertraline and Citalopram in the past but they all state diarrhoea as one of the main side effects and that has put me off. My gastro has recently prescribed Prozac but I’m scared to take it!
I do understand the stoma thing, it’s obviously the last thing we’d really want but I often say if only I could have a digestive system transplant!

I found the antidepressant Sertraline gave me a v upset stomach in the mornings. Are you on any medication that could be causing it?

Activia ingredients say sweeteners!! I know my DD has been set off before by them. I'm going to the supermarket later. I'll report back if I find anything useful

I have had IBS all my life, I also have bile salt malabsorption. I take an imodium every day, was told it is ok to take long term, without it I would never be off the loo, on a good day now I go twice.

The only thing that has ever firmed mine up was when I had an operation and was given high strength codeine 4 times a day, it was heaven, I felt so envious of other people who can go to the toilet once a day and it be nice and formed. That is probably the only time in my life I have had a normal poo. Normally it is runny

Potential endometriosis too?

I have endo. Are you in pain? Because the only thing that has helped me with my diarrhea is opiates! Can you get codeine prescribed for pain, especially if you have gut pain. When I'm taking opiates I poo like a normal person, it's bloody amazing.

The only thing that is guaranteed to work for me is codeine linctus, but doctors generally will only prescribe it for very occasional use.
However it gives peace of mind for occasions when a loo isn’t in easy reach.

I was advised to take immodium for a couple of weeks and it worked for me. Can't explain why! It just seemed to get me back to having firmer regular stools

I don’t think there is sadly, but there will be some out there somewhere I’m sure. I recommend looking it up online. I hope it works for you, may be tmi, but doing a normal poo is just so satisfying after weeks of either constipation or the runs