Lots of intestinal noise, rumbling, and diarrhea.

For the past 9 or 10 days, I have been having a lot of intestinal rumbling and noise a couple of hours after I eat and diarrhea that is pretty significant (and sometimes really bad smelling).  This is very unusual for me.  At first I thought it was stress because I had 3 days in a row that were very emotional and stressful, but that was a week ago.  I have not started taking any new vitamins or medications and am not eating anything new.  I don't feel bad physically, so i don't think it is a bug.  I have been taking some Immodium, which helps the diarrhea temporarily, but it always returns.  I have tried avoiding hard to digest foods but that doesn't seem to make any difference.  I am drinking plenty so am not worried about getting dehydrated, but still...  I am headed out of town on business for a couple of days so cannot get in to see the doctor until I get back.

Any ideas what might be going on?

Lora

I don't know, Lora.

One time I had diarrhea for several weeks straight. My doctor ran all kinds of tests and cultures and never found anything wrong. He told me not to eat and to just drink gatorade and water to stay hydrated. Then after the diarrhea stopped (it eventually has to if you don't eat), to start refeeding slowly with broths and starches and work my way back up to regular food. This of course was pre-op.

I don't know how helpful that is to you. Maybe its nothing "wrong" but your digestive system just needs a reset or something.

Regardless, I hope you feel better soon!

Stomach bug, maybe?  Although I don't think they usually last ten days.  But you might need an antibiotic.

In the meantime, you could try eating a lot of yogurt or taking a probiotic.

Yeah, I didn't think of probiotics (separate from the yogurt) since I have never taken them (I have alays been a yogurt eater)  and I guess it could be some type of intestinal thing that doesn't include any flu-like symptoms.

Lora

i always have the intestinal noise and rumbling, i have always wondered what it was i have it even when i am not eating.. also when i am drinking or eating, so no clue, i just do not pay it any mind any more, lol... it is just something my body does now, lol.... since day one...

are you eating dairy?  I know this is a pretty typical question but many times after periods of time we can become lactose intolerant all over again. I know mines seems to come and go like crazy. It drives me crazy.  I was actually told by my surgeon at my preop to never take immodium post op that we need to figure out what is causing the diarhea and then to eliminate the food that is causing it.  It isnt like preop that we ate something that didnt agree with us, post op, it is a food that we shouldnt' be eating either too much sugar or too much fat or in some instances dairy.  Once you eliminate it, the diarhea should go away.  I have to say for me, this worked for the 2 years until my complications and now I just have diarhea all the time but I still wont take immodium because I am so afraid of getting constipating since that is what caused my problem in the first place.

My gastro told that during times of stress or after different surgeries, the villi can flatten or regrow and this causes our lactose in intolerance to go away or come back with a vengence and we just have to go with the flow and eat and drink accordingly based on how our system is at the time.  You can try using lactaid tablets to see if it helps.  I have to use 4 at a time - it is crazy.

My system is riddened by yeast at times though and that is when my diarhea is at its worst.  In the past 5 months, I have tested positive in my urine for yeast 4 times - I go on diflucan for 2 weeks and all is great - the diarhea stops, my urine is better for week or so and then it comes back.  cant get it to stop.  I just finished the diflucan the other day and I will see my urologist on the 2nd for a cath culture and then the infectious disease doctor a week later for the results and we will see if it comes back or a different bacteria this time - they usually take turns. The problem is I have been on antibiotics since June and I have an immune deficiency, so the combination and the yeast just keeps growing.  The weird part is it is in my urine, is rampant in my bowels and not in my vagina.  Go figure.  I think it was in my belly button last week too - it was red and raw but since I was on diflucan it healed up nicely.

sorry I got off track - are you eating anything high in fat?  When I eat stuff in fat - I get really bad foul smelling diarhea and large amounts of it - I actually had a post about it last week or the week before but not too many people had similar situations - to me, that is my dumping - if I eat too much sugar, too much fat or too much dairy - things go crazy and my toilet hates me.  Massive amounts  - I described it to someone the other day like a volcano erupted with all the lava

 I have Greek yogurt every day and have some cheese almost every day, so I will cut that out for a couple of days to see if it helps.  I was not aware that we could suddenly become lactose intolerant.

Lora

I have the same that has continued for over 2 weeks now. Had a sample taken and phoning if results are in tomorrow. stomach rumbling, diarrhea, yet feel fine otherwise.Hope I get answers tomorrow.

 

Funny you should post this, Lora. For the past couple of days, I've been having similar issues, however I think it's probably lactose. I'm cutting it out for several days to see if it changes, which is a bummer because I've relied on Greek yogurt and cottage cheese a lot since surgery. But, if it continually gives me gas and makes my partner want to kill me (or follow me around with a match), it's time to do something about it. Yesterday, I was feeling backed up but I've had diarrhea pretty much all day and don't feel great.

I hope you can figure out what it is and fix it. What a bummer. I guess if nothing else, keep the Immodium very handy.

Hugs,
Barb

I wouldn't think it's the dairy... Especially after almost 5 years of no trouble... But after reading the previous reply, it is certain worth trying for a couple of days. The funny thing is that even with all the rumbling, I don't have any significant gas (just a bit when I use the bathroom).

Lora