What does it mean if stool sits in the colon for over 24 hours but is still watery D?

Quick history: Clinical remission confirmed via colonoscopy and blood test, no inflammation except small amount in rectum. Still urgent watery D.

If I take an Imodium, I don't go for over 24 hours. However when I do go, my stool is always still watery D. How is it possible that stool can sit in the colon for over 24 hours and still be watery? Transit time for normal people with solid formed stool is 24-48 hours, so what's going on here? Does Imodium prevent your colon from absorbing water?

Meds: Just Remicade and now Xifaxan. Mesalamines aggravate my system unfortunately.

I've had the general stool testing done that checks for the other average gut bugs, in addition to the C Diff test.

I'm increasingly suspicious of my small intestine. The fact that Vancomycin calms my gut down within hours of taking the first dose suggests to me it's a small intestine thing. I know that stuff isn't reaching my colon that fast. I'm suspicious that it's a bacterial issue in my small intestine that triggers the gastrocolic reflex, which causes my colon to rebel.

But I still don't understand why this would cause my stool to be liquid after sitting in my colon for 24 hours.

I eat virtually no foods that contain many salicylates. It's not that. I wish it was that simple. My symptoms are horrible no matter what I eat. I literally ate nothing but plain grilled chicken and plain white rice for a month straight with zero improvement.

I've tried everything. Numerous probiotics, fiber pills, no fiber pills. Nothing helps.

Post Edited (Canaveral) : 6/18/2017 12:54:05 PM (GMT-6)

FSLondon said...
I often used to have watery stools while in remission. There are a bunch of theories about why. 1) we also have IBS (I think saying I have IBS is the same as saying I have diarhea--it doesn't tell me anything), 2) lasting small scale damage to our intestine, 3) dysbiosis. It could be something else entirely. My gi wasn't surprised but did feel more medication wouldn't help. I will say for me SCD and yogurt have helped. It's not a panacea but my stools are now mostly (but not entirely) formed. Who knows what it's all about.

Edited to say just read your other post. I also respond well to antibiotics. My GI said some people do but it never lasts. He said he thinks their effect shows that for some with uc dysbiosis is the main problem. They just can't figure out how to treat it permanently.

this all makes sense. dysbiosis may be the distal cause. It would have to be mediated by issues with mucosal membrane, since the proximal symptom is failure to absorb.

In addition to damage to the mucosa, there could be some issue with electrolytes. Absorption requires osmosis, where water exists colon and enter tissues and blood vessels. But if the mineral balance on each side of the osmotic membrane is not favorable, the water does not move.

possibly a duiretic will lower water in tissue, thus concentrating minerals/salts, and water will again move form lower to higher concentration of minerals. BUT use of all but weak OTC diuretics should be done under doctor's care. Don't risk kidney damage.

Good luck

Very interesting observations DBwithUC. Makes a lot of sense.

Bacon Girl -I haven't had Welchol, but I tried the Cholestyramine powder. (The kind you mix with a drink an hour before a meal.) Didn't work, and if anything, may have made my upper GI tract a little more active than normal.

Well, Welchol is just cholestyramine in pill form so if the powder didn't help, then darnit!!

My main symptoms are burning pain in lower right side, lots of gas, bloating, nausea, and either diarrhea or constipation. It is SUPER LOUD and people always ask me if I'm hungry because that area just makes a ton of noise. It's so embarrassing.

Right now, I'm not in a diarrhea phase at all but I was only diagnosed with it a few years ago because my diarrhea got out of hand. I thought I might have c diff again even though it felt a little different (no fever which is a hallmark sign for me). My doctor told me to start vancomycin again since I always have a supply at home. I do well on it symptom wise and it gets rid of c diff every time for me. My doctor has even offered that as my main treatment and said he keeps patients on vancomycin long term.

Anyway, it was coming up on my yearly scope time around that event so he did a scope (and poop swab) and found that there wasn't any c diff bacteria in my colon but that my IC valve was totally gone and that there was a straight shot between my small intestine and colon. Just looked like a big hole. This can cause either constipation or "dumping" and alternate back and forth for patients. I take a mixture of things to help keep me regular and also things to thicken up my stool if needed.

Feel to free to email me if you need to. It's in my profile. Not sure how much of this would be relevant to your situation but I hope you can find an answer.

I think that has happened to me and it makes sense since the left side is where the end of the colon is. It's been a while since I dealt with the diarrhea aspect of this- I'm ALWAYS constipated now- but any time I am sick with food poisoning, the left side is bad for diarrhea!

During a UC flare, I can't lay in any position but perfectly still on my back. As soon as I move, I have to poop.