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What Causes Soft And Unformed Stool While On Multi Vitamin Supplements?
Question: Hi, no matter what type of diet I eat, my stools remain soft and unformed. Recently I have been taking a multi vitamin with iron and of course this constipates me, but at least the stools are hard. However, if I miss the vitamin tablet for just one day, then I get diarrhea. Could a previous bout [8yrs ago]of C Diff have caused some long term problems?
Brief Answer:
Investigations/ expert advise as per need/ self management would help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for your query,I understand your concern.
* Soft & unformed stool can be due to-
- Excessive fluids & water intake with less fibers.
- An alcohol abuse,
- Diabetes,hyperactive thyroid,
- some intestinal diseases,
-Anxiety/ psychological stress
- eating food that you are sensitive to,
- Some intestinal conditions.
* The constipation/ well formed stools after taking iron supplements.. is due to iron facilitating/ helping growth of bad bacteria in intestines.. which suppress normal & helping bacterial flora. This results in constipation.. that is why you see well formed stools while on iron.
* You suspect of C diff as a recurring cause of soft unformed stools . C diff infection is ( as you must have experienced before )associated with abdominal pain & pus, blood in stools.. which you do not mention.
So though less possible cause it should be excluded by c diff antigen test.
In order to exclude other possible causes , consultation of your family physician you in detail he may order for certain pathological tests ( glucose tolerance test/ thyroid function test/ stools routine & microscopic examination/ C diff antigen test )
After this he may give you medications for controlling your problem. / he may refer you to endocrinologist/ gastroenterologist for further evaluation & cause specific management.specific management.
Management would depend on cause, but it will relieve you of your problem.
Self management-
- Drink 10-12 glasses of water/ juice/ soups/ tea, coffee.
- Eat sufficient fibers in your diet ( fruits with skin whenever possible/ salad/ vegetables/ eat food in natural form as far as possible.)
Fibers absorb water & form a bulk for motion.
- avoid alcohol
- Take regular treatment advised by doctor ( for thyroid, diabetes, intestinal problems )
- learn stress management by mind concentration & meditation techniques
* thus with an expert's advise & help you would find exact cause & get specific treatment . This will remove the basic cause.Personal management tips would help the specific treatment & give you complete freedom from your symptom.
I hope, the answer was informative & useful to you. Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
Investigations/ expert advise as per need/ self management would help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for your query,I understand your concern.
* Soft & unformed stool can be due to-
- Excessive fluids & water intake with less fibers.
- An alcohol abuse,
- Diabetes,hyperactive thyroid,
- some intestinal diseases,
-Anxiety/ psychological stress
- eating food that you are sensitive to,
- Some intestinal conditions.
* The constipation/ well formed stools after taking iron supplements.. is due to iron facilitating/ helping growth of bad bacteria in intestines.. which suppress normal & helping bacterial flora. This results in constipation.. that is why you see well formed stools while on iron.
* You suspect of C diff as a recurring cause of soft unformed stools . C diff infection is ( as you must have experienced before )associated with abdominal pain & pus, blood in stools.. which you do not mention.
So though less possible cause it should be excluded by c diff antigen test.
In order to exclude other possible causes , consultation of your family physician you in detail he may order for certain pathological tests ( glucose tolerance test/ thyroid function test/ stools routine & microscopic examination/ C diff antigen test )
After this he may give you medications for controlling your problem. / he may refer you to endocrinologist/ gastroenterologist for further evaluation & cause specific management.specific management.
Management would depend on cause, but it will relieve you of your problem.
Self management-
- Drink 10-12 glasses of water/ juice/ soups/ tea, coffee.
- Eat sufficient fibers in your diet ( fruits with skin whenever possible/ salad/ vegetables/ eat food in natural form as far as possible.)
Fibers absorb water & form a bulk for motion.
- avoid alcohol
- Take regular treatment advised by doctor ( for thyroid, diabetes, intestinal problems )
- learn stress management by mind concentration & meditation techniques
* thus with an expert's advise & help you would find exact cause & get specific treatment . This will remove the basic cause.Personal management tips would help the specific treatment & give you complete freedom from your symptom.
I hope, the answer was informative & useful to you. Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doc, here is a bit more information. I rarely drink alcohol and neither do I drink fruit juices and very little of fizzy drinks. I try not to gain weight so my diet consists of low carbs, low fat, low calorie. I cook from fresh 90% of the time and I don't eat much red meat. So, my diet mainly consists of vegetables, a little fruit, chicken and fish, also eggs and a few pulses. Very little dairy, bread, potatoes or pastas.
I do have some abdominal pain which seems to be there all the time. This last 3 weeks I have cut out having too many vegetables, as well as whole grains, and this has helped the bloating and has lessend the pain somewhat.
I am not obese either and I do drink a good amount, especially fruit or green teas. I also do sports. So, other than this problem, I'm fitter than a lot of 40 yr old's. Lowish blood pressure, low cholesterol, no diabetes and I have had my Thyroid checked which is ok. So Doctor, thats why I am at a loss.
I do have some abdominal pain which seems to be there all the time. This last 3 weeks I have cut out having too many vegetables, as well as whole grains, and this has helped the bloating and has lessend the pain somewhat.
I am not obese either and I do drink a good amount, especially fruit or green teas. I also do sports. So, other than this problem, I'm fitter than a lot of 40 yr old's. Lowish blood pressure, low cholesterol, no diabetes and I have had my Thyroid checked which is ok. So Doctor, thats why I am at a loss.
Brief Answer:
Consult a gastroenterologist/ needful investigations/ management.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Texirac 2,
Thanks for the additional information.
I have read it carefully, & happy to note that you are already conscious about the causative factors. You are eating freshly prepared food, not taking alcohol, aerated drinks. You are taking sufficient fibers & water too.Your health seems to be good including absence of diabetes, thyroid hyperactivity which can cause your problem under consideration.
Now what remains is increased muscular movements of colon..( which usually absorbs excess water in residual food & a well formed stool is expelled out )But the hastened movements cause early bowel evacuation thus the stool remains soft & unformed.
The causes for such disturbed peristalsis can be-
1. - Intestinal infections( bacterial, amoebic,candida-albicans ( fungus).. though this does not seem to be a possibility as you do not have ant cramps, mucus, blood in motions . Still it remains to be excluded by routine & microscopic stool examination .
-Psychological stress.. It is said to change Brain gut axis & cause bowel problems, So psychology also counts in gut problems...
- food sensitivities (Gluten ,lactose intolerance )- These sensitivities cause inflammation & irritation of gut & so the intestines are irritated & hyper stimulated to cause hastened motion( as described before )
- Disproportion between fibers taken & water intake. ( more fibers & less water cause constipation whereas low fiber intake & more water intake cause loose motion.
In this respect I remember, you had found some improvement in symptoms when you stopped taking whole grains .. this can be suggestive of gluten sensitivity ( Coeliac disease)
I also feel Lactose intolerance to be a possibility.. you are taking little of dairy products But there are some food items which have lactose though they are non dairy products.. .. as potato chips.
Concluding every thing, I know every thing is a bit confusing .. I never intended to confuse you.. provided you the details because you are the person who would know the basic.
In this context I still think you need expert opinion & help of a gastroenterologist & probably a dietitian.
I hope that helps you . Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
Consult a gastroenterologist/ needful investigations/ management.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Texirac 2,
Thanks for the additional information.
I have read it carefully, & happy to note that you are already conscious about the causative factors. You are eating freshly prepared food, not taking alcohol, aerated drinks. You are taking sufficient fibers & water too.Your health seems to be good including absence of diabetes, thyroid hyperactivity which can cause your problem under consideration.
Now what remains is increased muscular movements of colon..( which usually absorbs excess water in residual food & a well formed stool is expelled out )But the hastened movements cause early bowel evacuation thus the stool remains soft & unformed.
The causes for such disturbed peristalsis can be-
1. - Intestinal infections( bacterial, amoebic,candida-albicans ( fungus).. though this does not seem to be a possibility as you do not have ant cramps, mucus, blood in motions . Still it remains to be excluded by routine & microscopic stool examination .
-Psychological stress.. It is said to change Brain gut axis & cause bowel problems, So psychology also counts in gut problems...
- food sensitivities (Gluten ,lactose intolerance )- These sensitivities cause inflammation & irritation of gut & so the intestines are irritated & hyper stimulated to cause hastened motion( as described before )
- Disproportion between fibers taken & water intake. ( more fibers & less water cause constipation whereas low fiber intake & more water intake cause loose motion.
In this respect I remember, you had found some improvement in symptoms when you stopped taking whole grains .. this can be suggestive of gluten sensitivity ( Coeliac disease)
I also feel Lactose intolerance to be a possibility.. you are taking little of dairy products But there are some food items which have lactose though they are non dairy products.. .. as potato chips.
Concluding every thing, I know every thing is a bit confusing .. I never intended to confuse you.. provided you the details because you are the person who would know the basic.
In this context I still think you need expert opinion & help of a gastroenterologist & probably a dietitian.
I hope that helps you . Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
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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