SOLID Diarrhea

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Cutecurlz

Guest
46 yr old with CF and CFRD.
For about a week now maybe longer I've had "solid" diarrhea. Anyone else have this?
Its diarrhea but solid and sometimes looks like what oatmeal would look like if you threw it on the floor. Its not liquidy or greasy.

I thought it was my meds for my heartburn so I stopped taking them (pharmacist said too) was fine for 24 hrs. Now I have solid diarrhea. I drink LOTS of liquids throughout the day and have lost almost 10lbs since its started...I have a doc apt next Friday...

Anyone ever have this and what did you do to "fix" it...

TIA
 

jshet

New member
Hi Cutecurlz. Though I am not sure what is causing this problem for you, i honestly don't think you should wait until next Friday to be seen. If you have lost 10 pounds this quickly, to me it sounds like you should be seen sooner. That seems like a lot of weight to loose in such a short time.
maybe call your doctor tomorrow, explain the rapid weight loss, and see if they can fit you in. With it being the weekend, it may not be a good idea to let this go on until Monday.
hope you feel better soon and get some answers, Jshet
 

Aboveallislove

Super Moderator
I agree re calling the doctor. Also, are you on enzymes? I'm assuming you are but if you were pancreatic sufficient maybe you aren't any more...that can change...and that might be an issue?
 

Rebjane

Super Moderator
Also, Have you been on antibiotics? Could you have C.dif? I would call your doctor ASAP...Hope you feel better soon.
 

imported_Momto2

New member
All good advice above. ONly want to add that eating a lot of rice and bananas can really help dry you up when you have the runs. You definitely need to figure out the cause though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldnt wait. Not only are you loosing weight, but valuable electrolytes, vitamin, minerals. You could start having a host of new issues if those get out of whack. Keep us updated pls!!!
 

Aboveallislove

Super Moderator
totally agree re the cdiff concern, although my understanding is that is very very painful....you didn't mention anything other than the diarrhea. any other symptoms?
 

LittleLab4CF

Super Moderator
As in peanut butter or some diabolical compound that is part adhesive, part irritant with a viscous cohesive consistency that can be extruded as long as you can strain? Or, this intermixed with gas and greatly increased volume that must come out?

This is unlikely but I had a gooey oatmeal diahrrea caused by too much vitamin D3, maybe. At any rate I tested high so I stopped my rather large supplements of D3 which included 2 10,000IU D3. However, it might be time to reevaluate your enzyme regiment and electrolyte/water intake.

For probably five years, my GI system has been the source of more pain and nausea and nothing close to normal. I spent a lot of time reviewing the known medical practices and current knowledge of optimization of the bowel. The change smacks of enzyme dysfunction. Either more enzymes need to be taken or more water is required to properly hydrate food in the small bowel for improved absorption. Hard diahrrea is either a mix of water and bits of hard stool or a perfectly pliant DIOS.

Distal Intestinal Obstructive Syndrome is often the cause of diahrrea like you describe. The bowel obstruction(s) usually occur at the junction of the large and small bowels however it's mainly the adhesive quality of the food/feces that causes the regions of pressure and the toxins in the food mix precipitating bowel spasms. Loose enzymes, enzymes and bile that miss combining with foods are superb irritants and maldigestion causes the liquid nails quality goo we call a bowel movement.

My CF is GI dominant and I recently had a pleasant surprise recently. In a turn of luck I am trying some extreme enzyme dose changes. First, increasing my Creon, doubling it gave me something that wasn't formed but was more like the skoots you're describing. After a visit to NJH's dietitian I am trying Zenpep and Viocase, an old immediate release enzyme and for the first time in a very long time, I had a formed stool and didn't require the modified belt sander I traditionally use to clean my bottom.

I really had to increase my liquids including electrolytes. As a suggestion, increasing your enzymes and varying when you take them might help. By taking an enzyme capsule half an hour prior to eating and one near the last bight might help tune the best time. It surprised me how wide the range of knowledge and experience doctors and dietitians have concerning the topic of enzymes.

Best of luck,

LL
 

Gammaw

Super Moderator
Are you finding that Zenpep is working better for you than Creon? I've often wondered about the differences which might warrant one prescription over the other.
 

LittleLab4CF

Super Moderator
Zenpep or maybe the combination of immediate release Viocase has been astonishingly effective. Granted I've been taking Zenpep for all of two weeks but my impression is the Zenpep works best compared to Creon.

By chance, I got the Viocase about a week before the Zenpep so I did try Viocase and Creon for a week and a day or two. Neither trial is very long but for two medicines with identical active ingredients, Zenpep has an advantage according to my gut. When my Creon dose was doubled, the horrible stomach ache from too little enzymes showed itself by going away. Maldigestion still made for a required hour or four to recover after a BM on occasion.

The reason I have decided to try immediate release enzymes in Viocase is two fold. My pancreas is still working with about 80% gone. I recently became 100% PI for practical purposes and it takes immediate release of enzymes to prevent stimulating the pancreas. Stopping the stimulus to produce enzymes should extend the life of my pancreas and stop the excruciating pain of pancreatic autodigestion every time I eat or feel hungry.

LL
 
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Cutecurlz

Guest
Hi all...turns out my "solid diarrhea" was nothing...ate something and my body said...No, don't like it. lol
I should have stated to begin with that I do NOT do anything for my CF (I only take Creon 25), that's it...NO antibiotics...NOTHING!!
I have a VERY VERY VERY VERY mild case of CF...

Also a few of the comments on MY post have NOTHING to do with my post?!!!
 
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