recurring diarrhea

Hi, this is my first forum post. I'm hoping I can get a little help. I'm going to the doctor this Thursday for the first time, and am hoping to clarify what's been troubling me, and if anyone has any idea if my symptoms sound bad or not.

Just a little family background: my father had surgery for diverticulitis. Since he was 30ish, he suffered from what he said was dairy allergies, a lot of diarrhea and stomach aches that persisted for years. Apparently, he was fine as a younger adult drinking milk, eating eggs, etc. I don't know much about it other than it's from a bad diet. I believe I've inherited the dairy allergies, possibly wheat, too, especially since I sometimes get little red bumps on my inner elbow after drinking milk. Dad used to say, it's what you can't see that you should be worried about, and has told me to try and cut out dairy, which I mostly have.

OK, so now my symptoms. The last 2-3 years (I'm 29, female), I've had recurring diarrhea that won't go away. I'd say 3 or 4 out of 5 stools are not "normal." I've tried to attack my diet first, thinking it's just allergies to dairy & wheat. I've been eating very clean, but haven't seen anything change. As for stress, I've just bought a house this past April, and I'm a grad student taking night classes while working full-time, but honestly I think I handle stress really well. I exercise 3 to 4 times a week, take lots of walks in nature (the best remedy for me), and get plenty of rest, and have a wonderful partner. But it keeps coming back.

I talk to my Mom and we discussed how we'd always get diarrhea around period, but now this is happening during my off-period days. I've been on the pill for 3 years - maybe that's upset my stomach, bacteria balance?

Anyway, I'm just worried how much worse this is going to get. When I do get diarrhea, I only go once that day, so once it's out I feel great. Do you think it's just a diet problem? What do you think my doctor will say? I've never had much to do with doctors, other than seeing my gyno for yearly exams.

Am I worried over nothing, or is this the cusp of something more serious (like IBS)? Should I be more restrictive in my diet? I've cheated a little with pizza and pasta, now and then. It's hard to let food go that I've eaten all my life. In general I just want to feel better, and since it hasn't just "gone away" I thought I should tell my doctor and let someone know that may help (like this forum). I'm gassy a lot, uncomfortable, and just not feeling great in my guts.

Thanks for reading.

Hi, and thank you for responding to my post.  Today's my doctor's appt, and I'll be sure to ask for a referral to a GI specialist if it doesn't seem like I get any help - he's just a family doctor.  Yes, there's never been any blood in my stool, just ongoing diarrhea, sometimes every day at least once, sometimes every 2-3 days.  It's been going on for what seems like forever.  I put the last 2-3 years, but I really can't remember when it started, since I always got diarrhea at least once with my period.  But now I'm getting it all the time.  Hopefully, I'll get some answers later today.  

The blood work is a good idea and the stool sample will rule out parasites, bacteria, etc. IBS does flare up when you are under stress. The lightheadedness could be a vagal reaction but one thing you might try doing (I have Generalized Anxiety as well) the next time you are at the doctor and start feeling lightheaded try really hard to pay attention to your breathing-you may be hyperventilating a little bit- I get extremely dizzy sometimes with diarrhea and that is hypothesized as being "vagal" reactions-now I also get lightheaded sometimes when I'm nervous-I get almost dizzy-I was taught at a program I attended at the University of Georgia to actually focus on my breathing-focus on how frequently you are inhaling-are you inhaling more with your chest or deep in your belly-what you want to do is put your hand on your stomach and make sure you feel that rising and falling-(breathing deep) and then try to slow your breaths; slow deep breaths-next time your at the doctors office-try this-while you are trying to breathe deep and regulate your breaths-close your eyes and try to count for instance how many red things there are in your house-or how many letters there are in the chorus to your favorite song-this may help and if you notice a difference you will start to reassure yourself that you are just anxious and everything is okay. I would also still continue to keep an eye on your stool-watch for blood; especially black stools and if you start having severe recurrent pain I would really push for GI consult. Glad you went to the doc and I hope you start feeling better-keep us posted :)

CloudReader,

Have you ever been tested for Celiac, (Gluten Allergy)?  Start keeping a food diary of what your eating throughout the day and whats happening after you eat it.  Gluten and wheat bothers many of us here.

Do you take any probiotics?  IF not start taking a good quality one morning and evening on an empty stomach to replace the good bacteria that is lost by all the diahrea.  I take 2 different ones and both are excellent-in my signiture.  Probiotics willl help form the stool.

Metamucil Fibre is important as well it absorbs the water in the colon, bulks up the stool and makes things easier to pass.  Dont use the one with aspartame it will worsen your symptoms.

You mentioned your eating clean-raw veggies can cause alot of discomfort and pain when things are inflammed.  Cook your veggies.  LEttuce especially romaine can be hard on the colon.  LEan protiens, rice products, cooked veggies are good.

Anything artificial, boxed and high in sugar are bad for diahrea.  Coffee bothers many IBS people as well.

Hormones and your period will worsen symptoms, I always have multiple loose BM's when I get my period.

I have not been tested for Celiac, from my understanding it's not that reliable of a test.  I limit my dairy/wheat though since I do notice I feel better when I cut back on it.  I'm going to look up those probiotics you recommended, puffrice. Thank you!

I recently got my stool test back, no blood, so that's good.  Still waiting on the blood work.  So far, my symptoms have remained the same except today I have a sharp pain in my left side, lower abdomen.  It's not agonizing and feels better if I massage it, and fart a lot, but even after going all day, I still have an ache there and feel really bloated, even after eating very little.  I'm on my period now, so maybe it's from that.  I've had the left-side abdomen pain before, but it happens only a few times, can't remember how often...

Once my bloodwork is done, I'll visit my doc and tell him about the new symptom, and possibly see if he thinks I should see a gyno about the endometriosis others have suggested, even though I think that one is unlikely.

Been stressed out at work, deadlines, but trying to stay positive and watch what I eat.

Hey CloudReader, I don't know if you'll see this as your thread was from 3 years ago but I have the EXACT same symptoms as you and we are approx the same age too. Diarrhea regularly but not chronic, pain in my lower left abdomen (I think that is from ovarian cysts...) and my diarrhea used to be only when I got my period too but now is everyday/every other day. I tried to change my diet as well, less dairy and wheat but to no avail. I had bloodwork and stool samples taken but they came back with nothing - so I was just wondering if you found any answers? I am going to try a probiotic called Primal Defense Ultra and see if that helps.

Anyway, hope you see this somehow!