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Suggest Treatment For Frequent Urination

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Posted on Mon, 15 Feb 2016
Question: Drank odd tasting bottled water the other day. Symptoms later that day were frequent urination. That has resolved. Since then, have noticed perhaps change in stool colour. I have a hard time telling if it is normal brown or maroon color. Seems a bright shade of brown. Not watery or diarrhea. Otherwise feeling fine. Not sick. Should I be concerned about some infectious organism in the water like C difficil?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
No.

Detailed Answer:
HI and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this odd tasting bottle water you drank. I have reviewed this information fully and there is really nothing to get worried about. The colour of your stool is not the same and depends so much on what is eaten. With no further symptoms, do not even return to this scene for any possible infectious origins. We all have Cdiff in our intestines, it only becomes a problem when an antibiotic kills the good germs and allow it to overgrow. In itself, it is not a problem and for sure you do not really need to be concerned about it and more so because you are not on any antibiotics at this time.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Above all, thanks for using our services.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (48 minutes later)
I took antibiotics two weeks ago for urinary tract infection. Is that an issue?

When you say do not return to scene at all. What do you mean? I read that cdiff can be transmitted by drinking contaminated water. This is concerning in light of stool that appears bright brown so maybe blood? Hard for me to tell. Are you saying there would be other symptoms - I would be sick if GI bleeding was present or contaminated water poisoning had occurred?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
That is not a problem!..Cdiff is diarrhea and not stool changes!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

This incident really has very limited possibility to cause a disease condition. This is because the surrounding circumstances and absence of other symptoms suggestive of such a disease make it unlikely. Cdiff is a problem in sick persons who take antibiotics and not healthy persons. Besides, this germ is in the system all the times. It only becomes a problem when for some reasons it gets more to overgrow like when broad spectrum antibiotics are used.Also, GI bleeding without real pain? Please avoid thinking of the worse as this is not where you are and nothing even makes me think that is possible.

To me, spare yourself the fears of a possible infection. Nothing really points to that at this time. Be calm and if anything comes up, then we are going to address that together.

I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)
Thank you for your advice. And your reassurance. I am still wondering though - if we leave aside cdiff, can the stool colour be a problem in and of itself - a sign of bleeding? And could stool colour be affected by water contamination.

Do you advise getting the bottled water tested by asking the store to do so, or should I forget about it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Forget about it!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

If we look for something wrong without guiding symptoms, we will always end with something which is totally harmless and should not be investigated or managed. I will suggest that you really forget about.

On another note, this is not bleeding. bleeding would present with dark and vey offensive stools. This is often accompanied by abdominal pain. Water cannot change stool colour and stool color alone without any other symptoms should be left alone.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (44 hours later)
Ok I am glad I can rule out the water as possible source of what could be unusual stool colour. A couple of final questions. 1) Should I be concerned about having taken antibiotics two weeks ago? Could that cause cdiff or GI bleeding two weeks later?

2) I read that blood in stools could also present itself as maroon colour indicating lower GI bleeding. My stool looks bright brown. Is that possibly same as maroon? Or am I overreacting because as you say bleeding or infection would be associated with other symptoms like abdominal pain or diarrhea? All I notice is possible unusual colour...not sure if it is a normal brown.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (22 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You are overly concerned and hurting yourself!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for these follow up questions.

You are so so concerned to an extent that you are actually hurting yourself than being happy. Antibiotics could affect cdiff but that is a very rare observation. It is not an everyday occurrence.

I have again reiterated, stay observant but not need for any further probing on this. Brown is not maroon...and happens when bleeding is low enough such that the blood is not fully digested. But with no other symptom, there is no reason to get this frightened.

I wish you well.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Frequent Urination

Brief Answer: No. Detailed Answer: HI and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this odd tasting bottle water you drank. I have reviewed this information fully and there is really nothing to get worried about. The colour of your stool is not the same and depends so much on what is eaten. With no further symptoms, do not even return to this scene for any possible infectious origins. We all have Cdiff in our intestines, it only becomes a problem when an antibiotic kills the good germs and allow it to overgrow. In itself, it is not a problem and for sure you do not really need to be concerned about it and more so because you are not on any antibiotics at this time. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Above all, thanks for using our services.