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Suggest Treatment For Diarrhea And Abdominal Cramps
Question: I'm 73 years old. I have been having loose bowels on and off for the past two months. Some times I will return to almost normal then experience cramping and start with the loose bowels again. It isn't like diarrhea which keeps you on the toilet all day. Just that elimination isn't normal and is sometimes accompanied by cramping. Kaopectate will help as will gas meds.
Brief Answer:
IBS of diarrhea type
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern for GI symptoms
1) Your symptoms are suggestive of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) of diarrhea type.
2) In this condition, small bowel movement will be fast due to different reasons.
3) Allergy/irritation to particular food, celiac disease, lactose intolerance are different cause for IBS of diarrhea type.
4) Confirmation of this disease require upper GI endoscopy with biopsy from start part of small intestine (for celiac disease) and occasionally colonoscopy with biopsy from last part of small intestine (in other causes).
5) To get relief from symptoms, you can take anti-motility (tab. Loperamide) group of medication to reduce bowel movement, anti-spasmodic medication (Tab Spasmoproxyvon) to control cramp type pain (you may need to obtain prescription from your local physician for this).
6) Once confirmed the condition then appropriate treatment must be started.
7) IBS is purely medication condition and symptoms improve with medical therapy + diet-modification only.
Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you.
Have a good day!
IBS of diarrhea type
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern for GI symptoms
1) Your symptoms are suggestive of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) of diarrhea type.
2) In this condition, small bowel movement will be fast due to different reasons.
3) Allergy/irritation to particular food, celiac disease, lactose intolerance are different cause for IBS of diarrhea type.
4) Confirmation of this disease require upper GI endoscopy with biopsy from start part of small intestine (for celiac disease) and occasionally colonoscopy with biopsy from last part of small intestine (in other causes).
5) To get relief from symptoms, you can take anti-motility (tab. Loperamide) group of medication to reduce bowel movement, anti-spasmodic medication (Tab Spasmoproxyvon) to control cramp type pain (you may need to obtain prescription from your local physician for this).
6) Once confirmed the condition then appropriate treatment must be started.
7) IBS is purely medication condition and symptoms improve with medical therapy + diet-modification only.
Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you.
Have a good day!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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