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Suggest Treatment For Loose Bowels With Occasional Gas

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Posted on Mon, 9 Jun 2014
Question: Very loose bowels the past 3 years. Not diareah, there is no urgency. Have tried dietary adjustments many times without success and over the counter meds . Lots of intestinal gas also.
I forgot to mention that I had a colonoscopy in Oct 2013. Nothing to report
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vasudha (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Meet Gastroenterologist, Imunologist and psychologist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Watery stool, though asymptomatic can form an obstacle in travelling/ busy daily routine. Weakness due to water depletion is another challenge. I understand your concern.

In watery bowel movements large colon fails to absorb water from food in digestive process. Most of the times it's resolves on its own & no treatment is needed. But in your case it's there for 3 years-& you have gone through food management/colonoscopy-& found no results. So we will have to think of it in another way. At this point of time, I think it is important that you know about few conditions that could be the cause:
- Bowel movements can be watery in few more conditions causing inflammation of colonic mucus membrane. I am happy that colonoscopy was normal.
- Infection of bowel which is asymptomatic, but the organisms stay in bowels & the person gets watery stools & acts as a carrier of the infection. For example- Giardiasis. This needs to be investigated & treated.
- Food allergies can cause inflammation of bowels & watery stools- immunological investigations are indicated to pin point & then treat it.
- Food with fewer fibres & more liquids may result this way.
- Some drugs have effect on bowel movements causing change in bowel habits. Out of the medicines you are taking, Lipitor, Aspirin can precipitate watery stools. However the indications of the drugs being vital from health point of view- you can try other ways to avoid watery stools / try to replace water/minerals (if found needful, after blood estimation) you should discuss it with your treating doctor.
- Psychological stress is another thing which can result in intestinal hurry & watery stools. If you are stressed, try to pacify your physic with help of Pranayama/meditation/+ve thinking.

A detailed evaluation is therefore necessary to by gastroenterologist, immunologist and psychologist. I would first check the stool (routine stool examination) & others as advised- to rule out infections/ inflammation in bowels. A referral to immunologist to recognize and rule out / treating food allergies. A psychological counselling/meditation will take care of psychological stress.

I know you been following dietary changes. But make sure you
- eat food which is bland, easy to digest (to avoid bowel irritation)
- drink boiled water,
- personal hygiene will avoid feco oral reinfection
- supplementation of digestive enzymes will help digestion & reduce gasses.
- replacement of Lactobacilli will help maintaining bowel health.

This way you can overrule your problem of watery stools; have good digestive & general health.

I hope the answer was informative & helpful to you. Any further query is welcome.

Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Vasudha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1970

Answered : 10395 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Loose Bowels With Occasional Gas

Brief Answer: Meet Gastroenterologist, Imunologist and psychologist Detailed Answer: Hi, Watery stool, though asymptomatic can form an obstacle in travelling/ busy daily routine. Weakness due to water depletion is another challenge. I understand your concern. In watery bowel movements large colon fails to absorb water from food in digestive process. Most of the times it's resolves on its own & no treatment is needed. But in your case it's there for 3 years-& you have gone through food management/colonoscopy-& found no results. So we will have to think of it in another way. At this point of time, I think it is important that you know about few conditions that could be the cause: - Bowel movements can be watery in few more conditions causing inflammation of colonic mucus membrane. I am happy that colonoscopy was normal. - Infection of bowel which is asymptomatic, but the organisms stay in bowels & the person gets watery stools & acts as a carrier of the infection. For example- Giardiasis. This needs to be investigated & treated. - Food allergies can cause inflammation of bowels & watery stools- immunological investigations are indicated to pin point & then treat it. - Food with fewer fibres & more liquids may result this way. - Some drugs have effect on bowel movements causing change in bowel habits. Out of the medicines you are taking, Lipitor, Aspirin can precipitate watery stools. However the indications of the drugs being vital from health point of view- you can try other ways to avoid watery stools / try to replace water/minerals (if found needful, after blood estimation) you should discuss it with your treating doctor. - Psychological stress is another thing which can result in intestinal hurry & watery stools. If you are stressed, try to pacify your physic with help of Pranayama/meditation/+ve thinking. A detailed evaluation is therefore necessary to by gastroenterologist, immunologist and psychologist. I would first check the stool (routine stool examination) & others as advised- to rule out infections/ inflammation in bowels. A referral to immunologist to recognize and rule out / treating food allergies. A psychological counselling/meditation will take care of psychological stress. I know you been following dietary changes. But make sure you - eat food which is bland, easy to digest (to avoid bowel irritation) - drink boiled water, - personal hygiene will avoid feco oral reinfection - supplementation of digestive enzymes will help digestion & reduce gasses. - replacement of Lactobacilli will help maintaining bowel health. This way you can overrule your problem of watery stools; have good digestive & general health. I hope the answer was informative & helpful to you. Any further query is welcome. Thanks