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What Causes Abdominal Cramps And Diarrhea?
Question: I'm a 44 year old female. For a month I have been experiencing cramps and diarrhoea 2-3 hours after eating meals with high carb content . I'm exhausted and cranky. I was diagnosed with ME in 2000 but haven't relapsed for 3 years. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
see below
Detailed Answer:
If your symptoms are mainly when you have a high carb meal, it is probably because you are not digesting well these meals, therefore resulting in abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. You may be having malabsorption of these meals.
This can happen if you develop celiac disease (which is intolerance to gluten), lactose intolerance, etc. These disease can develop, even if before you were able to tolerate all type of foods. sometime these are triggered by "immunologic reactions" or even viruses.
I am not sure what you mean by being diagnosed with "ME", is that Myalgic Encephalitis? if that is the case, I don't think it would be related to your current gastrointestinal symptoms.
My suggestions at this time: diet modifications, which obviously would include to decrease carb intake, also avoid foods containing dairy and even do a gluten free trial.
You can take anti-diarrheals over the counter as needed in the meantime, and if symptoms persist you should seek medical attention by a gastroenterologist, who will likely do some blood testing (to check your thyroid, celiac blood test, pancreatic tests, liver tests, etc), and may suggest for you to get endoscopies.
Hope that helped, let me know if you have any further questions, or concerns
see below
Detailed Answer:
If your symptoms are mainly when you have a high carb meal, it is probably because you are not digesting well these meals, therefore resulting in abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. You may be having malabsorption of these meals.
This can happen if you develop celiac disease (which is intolerance to gluten), lactose intolerance, etc. These disease can develop, even if before you were able to tolerate all type of foods. sometime these are triggered by "immunologic reactions" or even viruses.
I am not sure what you mean by being diagnosed with "ME", is that Myalgic Encephalitis? if that is the case, I don't think it would be related to your current gastrointestinal symptoms.
My suggestions at this time: diet modifications, which obviously would include to decrease carb intake, also avoid foods containing dairy and even do a gluten free trial.
You can take anti-diarrheals over the counter as needed in the meantime, and if symptoms persist you should seek medical attention by a gastroenterologist, who will likely do some blood testing (to check your thyroid, celiac blood test, pancreatic tests, liver tests, etc), and may suggest for you to get endoscopies.
Hope that helped, let me know if you have any further questions, or concerns
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. Could this be symptomatic of type 2 diabetes which runs in my mums family? Yes, that's what I meant by ME.
Brief Answer:
it could be related to diabetes
Detailed Answer:
patients with diabetes do get plenty of gastrointestinal symptoms, however these are usually late symptoms of the disease. If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, it is unlikely that these are linked. Get your fasting blood sugar tested with your primary physician.
it could be related to diabetes
Detailed Answer:
patients with diabetes do get plenty of gastrointestinal symptoms, however these are usually late symptoms of the disease. If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, it is unlikely that these are linked. Get your fasting blood sugar tested with your primary physician.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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