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I Have Abdominal Pain And A Persistent Change In Bowel
Question: I have abdominal pain and a persistent change in bowel habits for a few months now. I used to be pretty regular, passing a normal brown formed stool every morning. Now, I have soft, pebble-like stool that I strain to pass frequently. My stomach hurts while I'm pushing, and the stool is often tiny, marbled or fuzzy in appearance, or very shiny. It doesn't appear firm, and the pebbles fall apart when I flush. After a few days, I will then pass a large amount of loose stool; not quite watery or diarrhea in consistently, but mushy and flaky with jagged edges. This cycle is continuous. I also have anal pruritus that happens in the evenings only; I'm not sure if it's related, but my anus is very itchy, and it seems to happen only at bedtime.
I have a colonscopy and upper endoscopy scheduled for next month with my gastroenterologist, but I'm looking for some additional diagnostic help or suggestions in the meantime.
I have a colonscopy and upper endoscopy scheduled for next month with my gastroenterologist, but I'm looking for some additional diagnostic help or suggestions in the meantime.
I have abdominal pain and a persistent change in bowel habits for a few months now. I used to be pretty regular, passing a normal brown formed stool every morning. Now, I have soft, pebble-like stool that I strain to pass frequently. My stomach hurts while I'm pushing, and the stool is often tiny, marbled or fuzzy in appearance, or very shiny. It doesn't appear firm, and the pebbles fall apart when I flush. After a few days, I will then pass a large amount of loose stool; not quite watery or diarrhea in consistently, but mushy and flaky with jagged edges. This cycle is continuous. I also have anal pruritus that happens in the evenings only; I'm not sure if it's related, but my anus is very itchy, and it seems to happen only at bedtime.
I have a colonscopy and upper endoscopy scheduled for next month with my gastroenterologist, but I'm looking for some additional diagnostic help or suggestions in the meantime.
I have a colonscopy and upper endoscopy scheduled for next month with my gastroenterologist, but I'm looking for some additional diagnostic help or suggestions in the meantime.
I've attached a picture of the fuzzy stool from this morning. Sorry, it's gross.
I've attached a picture of the fuzzy stool from this morning. Sorry, it's gross.
Brief Answer:
Possible hemorrhoid with depleted gut Flora.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.
I have seen the photo attached by you.
Your food is deficit in fibers. Pebble like stools are suggestive of fact that diet lacks fibers.
You have to take minimum 40gram of fibers daily.
Straining is again suggestive of constipation which again is secondary to low fiber diet.
Itching in anus could be due to Hemorrhoid.
Hemorrhoids develop due to over straining while passing bowel moment.
I would suggest you to take-
Fiber supplement Isabghul husk available online/Walmart 10 gram with a cup of like warm water three times a day.
Along with it two serving of fruits and vegetables salad.
Drink 2 litre of water daily.
Take a stool softner for few days to avoid straining.
Take Sitz bath two times a day(sit in tub of XXXXXXX warm water two times a day for 15 minutes).
Strict no to non vegetarian diet for few weeks.
No dairy and alcohol etc.
Take Capsule VSL#3 twice daily(probiotic).This would help to replete the depleted gut Flora.
Keep stepping up fibers in diet till it starts to float on water(floating means stool is Rich in fibers).
Take Albendazole 400 mg tablet once daily for three days for deworming.
Try this for 1 week and you would start feeling much better.
Thanks!
Possible hemorrhoid with depleted gut Flora.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.
I have seen the photo attached by you.
Your food is deficit in fibers. Pebble like stools are suggestive of fact that diet lacks fibers.
You have to take minimum 40gram of fibers daily.
Straining is again suggestive of constipation which again is secondary to low fiber diet.
Itching in anus could be due to Hemorrhoid.
Hemorrhoids develop due to over straining while passing bowel moment.
I would suggest you to take-
Fiber supplement Isabghul husk available online/Walmart 10 gram with a cup of like warm water three times a day.
Along with it two serving of fruits and vegetables salad.
Drink 2 litre of water daily.
Take a stool softner for few days to avoid straining.
Take Sitz bath two times a day(sit in tub of XXXXXXX warm water two times a day for 15 minutes).
Strict no to non vegetarian diet for few weeks.
No dairy and alcohol etc.
Take Capsule VSL#3 twice daily(probiotic).This would help to replete the depleted gut Flora.
Keep stepping up fibers in diet till it starts to float on water(floating means stool is Rich in fibers).
Take Albendazole 400 mg tablet once daily for three days for deworming.
Try this for 1 week and you would start feeling much better.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
Possible hemorrhoid with depleted gut Flora.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.
I have seen the photo attached by you.
Your food is deficit in fibers. Pebble like stools are suggestive of fact that diet lacks fibers.
You have to take minimum 40gram of fibers daily.
Straining is again suggestive of constipation which again is secondary to low fiber diet.
Itching in anus could be due to Hemorrhoid.
Hemorrhoids develop due to over straining while passing bowel moment.
I would suggest you to take-
Fiber supplement Isabghul husk available online/Walmart 10 gram with a cup of like warm water three times a day.
Along with it two serving of fruits and vegetables salad.
Drink 2 litre of water daily.
Take a stool softner for few days to avoid straining.
Take Sitz bath two times a day(sit in tub of XXXXXXX warm water two times a day for 15 minutes).
Strict no to non vegetarian diet for few weeks.
No dairy and alcohol etc.
Take Capsule VSL#3 twice daily(probiotic).This would help to replete the depleted gut Flora.
Keep stepping up fibers in diet till it starts to float on water(floating means stool is Rich in fibers).
Take Albendazole 400 mg tablet once daily for three days for deworming.
Try this for 1 week and you would start feeling much better.
Thanks!
Possible hemorrhoid with depleted gut Flora.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.
I have seen the photo attached by you.
Your food is deficit in fibers. Pebble like stools are suggestive of fact that diet lacks fibers.
You have to take minimum 40gram of fibers daily.
Straining is again suggestive of constipation which again is secondary to low fiber diet.
Itching in anus could be due to Hemorrhoid.
Hemorrhoids develop due to over straining while passing bowel moment.
I would suggest you to take-
Fiber supplement Isabghul husk available online/Walmart 10 gram with a cup of like warm water three times a day.
Along with it two serving of fruits and vegetables salad.
Drink 2 litre of water daily.
Take a stool softner for few days to avoid straining.
Take Sitz bath two times a day(sit in tub of XXXXXXX warm water two times a day for 15 minutes).
Strict no to non vegetarian diet for few weeks.
No dairy and alcohol etc.
Take Capsule VSL#3 twice daily(probiotic).This would help to replete the depleted gut Flora.
Keep stepping up fibers in diet till it starts to float on water(floating means stool is Rich in fibers).
Take Albendazole 400 mg tablet once daily for three days for deworming.
Try this for 1 week and you would start feeling much better.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thanks. What is VSL and Albendazole? Do I need to ask my doctor for a prescription for these?
Thanks. What is VSL and Albendazole? Do I need to ask my doctor for a prescription for these?
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and sorry for a bit delayed reply,
VSL#3 is a probiotic which help the intestines to replete good flora.
Intestines consists of colonies of both good and bad bacteria. When bad bacteria outnumbers good ones digestive issues appears.
Itchy anus is some times caused by eggs of a worm called Pin worm.
To kill them Albendazole or Mebendazole is given.
VSL#3 is over the counter in pharmacies, so it doesnot need a prescription. Albendazole will require written prescription from local doctor.
So You could take Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days.
Follow up after 5 days.
Thank you!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and sorry for a bit delayed reply,
VSL#3 is a probiotic which help the intestines to replete good flora.
Intestines consists of colonies of both good and bad bacteria. When bad bacteria outnumbers good ones digestive issues appears.
Itchy anus is some times caused by eggs of a worm called Pin worm.
To kill them Albendazole or Mebendazole is given.
VSL#3 is over the counter in pharmacies, so it doesnot need a prescription. Albendazole will require written prescription from local doctor.
So You could take Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days.
Follow up after 5 days.
Thank you!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and sorry for a bit delayed reply,
VSL#3 is a probiotic which help the intestines to replete good flora.
Intestines consists of colonies of both good and bad bacteria. When bad bacteria outnumbers good ones digestive issues appears.
Itchy anus is some times caused by eggs of a worm called Pin worm.
To kill them Albendazole or Mebendazole is given.
VSL#3 is over the counter in pharmacies, so it doesnot need a prescription. Albendazole will require written prescription from local doctor.
So You could take Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days.
Follow up after 5 days.
Thank you!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and sorry for a bit delayed reply,
VSL#3 is a probiotic which help the intestines to replete good flora.
Intestines consists of colonies of both good and bad bacteria. When bad bacteria outnumbers good ones digestive issues appears.
Itchy anus is some times caused by eggs of a worm called Pin worm.
To kill them Albendazole or Mebendazole is given.
VSL#3 is over the counter in pharmacies, so it doesnot need a prescription. Albendazole will require written prescription from local doctor.
So You could take Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days.
Follow up after 5 days.
Thank you!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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