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What Causes Abdominal Distension, Lack Of Appetite And Loose Pale Stools?
Question: I am a 54 year old female. My upper abdomen is distended, lack of appetite, cramping pain when I try to eat something, loose pale stools. Symptoms for four days now that started after recovery from a cold. I have had my gallbladder removed years ago, as well as a full hysterectomy, and appendectomy. I take several medications for dilated cardiomyopathy and type 2 diabetes. If it continues, should I go to the hospital?
Brief Answer:
may not need to go to hospital
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
May not need to go to the hospital, in most cases, the symptoms resolve on their own with home management.
The distension, decreased appetite, abdominal pain and pale stools may be due to co existing viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
If a person passes stool more frequently than normal, the bile in the stool does not have the time to undergo the chemical changes necessary for the stool to have a normal brown color.
Treatment: (1) make sure that you are using enough fluids to replace what you are losing with your loose stools.
This would prevent dehydration , be careful not to use too much since you have heart disease.
Using oral rehydration packet or a sport drink may be best because these would give back both fluids and electrolytes.
(2)probiotics would also help to restore the colon- can be used on their own or using yogurts that have probiotics
(3)monitor your blood sugars
(4)hold off solid food until there is a 4 hour window with no symptoms then restart with small amounts of bland foods
(5)pepto bismol or lomotil may help with the loose stools
(6)continue pepcid
I hope this helps ,feel free to ask any other questions
may not need to go to hospital
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
May not need to go to the hospital, in most cases, the symptoms resolve on their own with home management.
The distension, decreased appetite, abdominal pain and pale stools may be due to co existing viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
If a person passes stool more frequently than normal, the bile in the stool does not have the time to undergo the chemical changes necessary for the stool to have a normal brown color.
Treatment: (1) make sure that you are using enough fluids to replace what you are losing with your loose stools.
This would prevent dehydration , be careful not to use too much since you have heart disease.
Using oral rehydration packet or a sport drink may be best because these would give back both fluids and electrolytes.
(2)probiotics would also help to restore the colon- can be used on their own or using yogurts that have probiotics
(3)monitor your blood sugars
(4)hold off solid food until there is a 4 hour window with no symptoms then restart with small amounts of bland foods
(5)pepto bismol or lomotil may help with the loose stools
(6)continue pepcid
I hope this helps ,feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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