Why do I keep pooing myself?

[RealHousewivesOfTaunton]

NC'ed for this. I am not the poo troll. Pombears, garlic threadworms, poo pouffe etc.

I had a bad stomach infection a few months ago. Symptoms were sulphuric burps, diarrhoea, nausea and lack of appetite for about 2 weeks. My GP took a stool sample, which came back as normal. Immodium and time sorted it out.

Since then, the sulphuric burps keep coming back, along with the odd bout of diarrhoea. Sometimes it comes on very suddenly, which has led to some embarrassing incidents where I haven't made it to a loo in time.

The burps are back today. I have a big presentation at work tomorrow. I'm not nervous about it, it's a normal part of my job, but I absolutely have to be there. I will take immodium and pack spare clothes but it's a long way to travel and 3 hours presenting and I'm worried about having another accident.

Is it worth going back to my GP? What could be wrong?

I think stool samples look for fecal blood? Perhaps you’d want to consider a gastroscopy and colonoscopy? Check to see if there’s anything sinister?

Stool samples are tested for bacteria, parasites and eggs not just blood

Absolutely 😉

I had the exact same thing and it was H.Pylori

H.Pylori is tested via stool now but doesn't always show up. It didn't on mine but then did on a blood test

H pylori crossed my mind too.

I think Michael Mosely (RIP) did a programme on good gut bacteria and how to improve.

These are all great, cheers. I did think it might be giardia when this all started but the clean stool test threw me. I've never heard of a water fast but have fasted for 24 hours before and might as well give it a go. Not tomorrow though. I can't risk passing out and pooing myself, either during the presentation or in the car!

I've put some Actimel in my Sainsbury's shop for delivery tomorrow while I wait for the top strength probiotics to arrive. The immodium is packed, along with spare clothes for tomorrow.

I bloody hope I'm not developing a lactose intolerance! I love cheese, cheesecake, cream... all the good things.

Not sure I'd recommend this, whenever I water fast I often get very sudden watery diarrhoea for the first day or two to the point I've occasionally not made it to the toilet in time. To block things up I'd have heavy carbs personally.

This is why you need multiple stool tests
spaced - one test can be inconclusive

would suggest further stool testing before you start fasting and spending money on probiotics

good luck with the presentation - you’ll smash it

Are you taking weight loss injections for weight loss or diabetes op? They can cause these symptoms.

Came to say giardia, it can hang around

I don’t find this funny. My darling Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer yesterday.

Sometimes after infections you can be mor sensitive to foods. It’s common to develop a dairy intolerance, keep a log in what foods your eating and if there’s a link

Tummy bugs notoriously cause dairy sensitivity for months afterwards. Worth keeping a food diary.

I meant it as a short hand for all diseases that can be explored via stool as per the OPs original description of the tests she had

my mum died of bowel cancer so believe me, I am not trying to be funny at all.

maybe don’t click on posts related to poo right now… wishing your dad well

Where have you been to pick up giardia? What triggers it?

When did Beyoncé do this?

You don’t have to have travelled overseas to pick it up (fecal - oral route) it’s present in the U.K.

Bowel cancer is anything but funny and I wish him healing. But poo threads will always get toilet humour and the other poster is right that you should not be clicking on them in your circumstances. Even without the jokes, and diary from anything else, you are better taking your mind off it.

I agree that having a bout of something can leave you lactose intolerant. This can be temporary while your body recovers. I would cut out dairy for a little bit and then reintroduce small amounts. You might find that you can tolerate a little spot of milk in tea, for example but not a large amount of milk/yogurt etc.

For tomorrow I would just eat plain food that you would choose if you had diarrhea such as toast.

I remember kaolin and morphine, it was a standard in our medicine cabinet as a kid!

Oh god I feel for you OP. Its awful. Ive been having the same issue of late. Did the GP do a full blood count? This can detect all sorts inc. Ceoliac. I have to return for full BC in two weeks as mine were showing some kind of inflammation.
Same with poo sample , I have to repeat In 4 weeks to compare with first one.. Hope you get some answers x

Sulphur burps sounds like giardiasis. Get well soon.

If it is lactose intolerance you can get decent lactose free cheese, milk etc or you can take some brand of lactaid capsules before eating lactose.

I've not read the full thread so apologise if this has been said but my DD has chronic diarrhea issues. Every time it kicks off, the first thing they suggest is going dairy free for a couple days as it can be hard for a tummy to handle. (She's got CMPA so every time they get an eye roll) but in this situation it may help. Just lay off any milk products until you're done. Good luck!