3 weeks of diarrhoea/loose stool - what can I do to ease it? I am really worrying.

[MellowAfternoon]

For context, I have suffered with IBS and dodgy bowels for the last 26 years.

Obviously IBS can be an unpredictable condition and although I do have loose stool on/off I rarely suffer from watery diarrhoea and I know my triggers etc. I also know what is 'normal' for me.

Almost 3 weeks ago I started with loose stool. I sometimes suffer from this for a just a day or two as a normal stool for me but this has carried on every day. since 5th Jan. Some days are worse (like this morning) and I have to get up quick from bed to go and it is very loose. Weirdly I can sleep through the night ok but as soon as I open my eyes I need to go and my stomach is growling.

Normally an imodium a few times a week will sort me out but it's not doing anything. I am still being careful what I eat, no normal trigger foods and I only ever drink water anyhow. In desperation I bought a very expensive product called Enterosgel which has brilliant reviews and everyone says it cures their diarrhoea but it has done nothing for me. I have no idea why these products aren't stopping the diarrhoea.

I am really panicking that something is very off. I did a private fit test last week which came back as normal. I have been to the GP this week and she ordered stool tests (wants to do an NHS fit test, a calprotectin test, an h pylori test and a C&M test??). I only popped these back on Tuesday so no news on any of these yet.

I have no idea what could be causing this. I don't think it's anything I ate as I am so careful what I eat. I don't feel unwell with it and dh and dc have been fine.

The diarrhoea is usually a couple of times in the morning and then settles by the evening but my guts are growling and gurgling on/off all day, I have acid indigestion, burping, gassy and feel as though my whole digestive system is upset and angry. The upper digestive issues are normal for me but have been worse since the diarrhoea.

What can I take or do to ease things? What on earth can be causing my guts to be so unsettled. It's driving me insane.

Luckily I do have my yearly follow up with my gastroenterologist next Friday so I will discuss it with her.

Should add that I have had various tests over the last few years,

2019 - endoscopy with biopsies for h pylori and coeliac disease
2019 - colonoscopy - came back as normal
2022 - pill camera endoscopy to check small intestine - all ok except for a small erosion area in my stomach but gastro said this was likely caused by the prep I had to take?
2023 - Another colonoscopy because they didn't take biopsies the first time - all ok for miscoscopic colitis
2023 - SeCHAT scan to check for BAM
2024 - Upper abdominal Ultra sound scan

I am very fortunate to have had these tests but I am still so concerned as to why my guts would suddenly be so off.

I’ve read this with interest as this was me 5 months ago. Randomly woke up one day with diarrhoea, urgent, yellow liquid 3-4x per day. Settled on its own every evening but awful awful trapped wind and gurgling. I am also very careful about what I eat and nobody else was ill so I don’t know if it was a bug or what.

had various stool samples done, all normal.

it did finally go away (lasted 3 weeks) but I have been left with constant left sided abdominal pain / feeling of swelling and waiting for a colonoscopy.

I'm sorry you've suffered with this too. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the colonoscopy, do keep me posted.

I’ve had this (have this!) - a month of needing to go as soon as I’m fully awake. Very loose. I’m then starving and grumbly all morning, as presumably all the food in my system is gone and I’m refilling.

I’ll eat normally, but it’s rinse and repeat day on day. I’m veggie and I’ve had all the tests - all clear.

however I do have repeat duodenal ulcers - small ones. So pain a couple of hours after eating, very mild, bit of acid reflux occasionally. I’ve gone via private healthcare and the specialist said it’s (for me) the acidity causing the issue. I’m back on another 6 months of omeprazole and sure enough, within a week it’s settled again. Gurgling is another symptom.

do you have acid reflux/heartburn?

I had this for 6 weeks a couple of years ago - luckily it stopped suddenly and that was it. No idea what it was about but it was unpleasant!

This is interesting because I keep saying that I believe my issues are generated in my stomach. I get lots of acid, excessive burping, gurgling etc. I have an annoying tickle cough and the base of my throat is raspy and I'm sure it's acid related.
My gastro says it's just functional dyspepsia?

Does the omeprazole help with the diarrhoea?

My husband and our 3yr old has this and my husband is now thinking it's giardiasis.
It's a parasite that causes this. You may need antibiotics

Yes. Absolutely.

i take it on an empty stomach 15 mins before eating or drinking anything when I wake up. It stops the gurgling, the endless farting (usually early hours of the morning), the acid reflux (which is almost undetectable, I presume ‘silent’ reflux’ hence me not taking action sooner) and the upset stomach/loose bowels.

That's interesting, how do you get this?

My GP has ordered several stool tests. One is called a C&M test. I just looked it checks for bacteria, parasites etc.

My GP has sent over a prescription for famotidine. I need to try it.

You get it from various places. It’s very unlikely it’ll be that - you can usually tell by the smell and it’s high volume watery yellow diarrhoea.

My stool test for parasites and bacteria has just come back as clear.

I hope your family feel better soon.

Hey, did you find out was was wrong? I’m currently three weeks deep and my symptoms are very similar to yours. Did you many to get any answers?

I know this is an older discussion, but I came across it while looking for solutions for similar problems and wanted to leave a thought.

It’s interesting that ENTEROSGEL didn’t work for you, because on most forums people treat it like a miracle solution.

For me, it took about a week before I really felt like my system was clearing out, but I think it also depends a lot on what is actually causing the irritation.

Sometimes these kinds of adsorbents are the only thing that actually help me, while other medications just numb the symptoms without really dealing with the cause.