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From IBS-C to 10+ BMs a day???

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/6/2014 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have messaged my GI doc and am waiting for his response. Just wanted to get some opinions though....

Have had constipation basically my entire life, was especially bad for the past 7-8 months or so. Taking tons of meds, including Linzess, Misoprostol, Miralax, Dulcolax, and once a week, I add either mag citrate or bowel prep so I have my day of BMs. If I didn't do that, I'm not sure I'd ever go again....Well, until a week ago that is.

Suddenly, my severe C turned into having 10+ small/med BMs a day. Very narrow, ribbonlike. Very soft/mushy. I also have bowel incontinence, and have had quite a few accidents this week. I have been having increased cramping, bloating, nausea. Not really any warning before having a bm. Not sure what's going on.

Meds haven't changed recently. Eating habits haven't changed either. Only things I could think of that may play a part in this: 1. Stress. Lots of stress last week or so, much of it has been resolved. OR 2. Antibiotics. I was on Amoxicillan (sp?) for 2 1/2 weeks, then Cipro for 10 days because of a really bad infection in my upper jaw bone and surrounding tissue. Had oral surgery to clean out the infection, finished antibiotics about 1 1/2 weeks ago.

Any thoughts???
Posted 5/7/2014 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Some antibiotics are notorious for causing D especially Cipro. So it doesn't surprise me really that you're having an issue with this one.

Just keep an eye on the D...if it continues or gets worse, be sure to have your doc check you for C. Diff because antibiotics can cause this.
Posted 5/7/2014 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sherry.

Doc is attempting to make sense of what's going on.

Today I had 8 bms within the first 2 hours i was awake. I think my total since 8:30am is about 15 right now. That's usually about what I normally produce in a month's time (with the aid of MANY laxatives.) I normally pick a day about every week or so, load up on laxatives, and then things work for a few hours or more. Then nothing until the next week when I do it all over again. So this is totally foreign to me.

Thanks again for your comments.
Posted 5/7/2014 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Talked to the nurse again this morning. They are not sure what to think. So, they came up w/ 2 possibilities: 1. I don't understand how this would work, but if I am still "backed up", that may be causing this, so I was told to pick up another rx bowel prep, drink 1/2 and see what happens. If that does not get things back to normal (whatever that may be), then we'll look at #2. The possibility that I have C. Diff from the antibiotics. I know very little about that, although I have heard the term many times on the various forums. Guess I will look it up out of curiosity.

Ended up w/ a grand total of 16 BMs yesterday in a 14 hour time span. I generally have about that many in a month. (4 or so each weekend w/ my bowel prep clean out). In case you wanted to know!! Now, in the past 15 hours, absolutely zero activity. Still have some of the cramping, bloating, nausea, etc, but nothing coming out. (I did let the doc know this.) I think my guts are extremely confused and don't have a clue what they are doing!!

Any thoughts?
Posted 5/8/2014 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
There is no harm in them testing you for C. Diff....honestly I would recommend you do this anyway. To go from constant C to constant D highly suggests that you may have this. It's a simple stool culture.

Btw, I had C. Diff many many years ago....not fun! I already had Uc at the time and I went from my typical 6-10 times a day to 30+. I tested positive for C. Diff...was put on Flagyl and luckily it took care of it. But at the time, I was constantly sick with illnesses and the antibiotics caused it.
Posted 5/8/2014 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again Sherry,

Doc decided yesterday afternoon that he first wanted me to try another bowel prep/clean-out. Lucky for me, i do not work or anything, so today i will have a fun-filled day! Advised me to drink 1/2 gallon today, and if needed, the other 1/2 gallon tomorrow. Yum!! Pretty much almost done w/ todays stuff, had to pause for a while cuz of feeling really nauseous. So got a bit to finish and just waiting for the show to begin.

Have had zero action since Tuesday. My guts are definitely confused. I think the doc should install a GPS in my colon.

If things are still goofy on Monday, doc said we'll do the C. Diff test. Umm, I feel kinda stupid, but how do they do the test? Never had anything like that done before.

That is absolutely crazy that you were going 30+ times a day!! How the heck do you function like that? I think at that point I would hire someone to turn my recliner into a potty or something. You wouldn't even be able to go see the doc for the test or go to the pharmacy to get the cure for it. Wow!

Pretty sure i look about 8 mos. pregnant right now. If you pricked my abdomen w/ a pin, it'd pop like a balloon!

thanks.
Posted 5/8/2014 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
now 5:30pm. still waiting for bowel prep to start working. not a happy camper. a very nauseous and bloated camper.
Posted 5/9/2014 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
now 11:30pm. still waiting. thinking nothing is gonna happen tonight. hmmm....at least it wasted my whole day, tasted awful, and made me feel sick. AND, i get to do it all again tomorrow!! You KNOW you're jealous.


Well, that is, if anyone besides me is reading this.
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