Digestive issues that won't get back to normal after stressful event

[Anonymous]

A month ago a close family member was diagnosed with a serious health issue. I was super anxious about this situation. The day they were diagnosed, I went to the bathroom about 5 times (nervous) and had loose stools. This always happens to me when I'm anxious or stressed--I have a nervous stomach. I then started feeling okay about the situation and my GI got more regular but not totally back to normal--had one episode of loose stools every day.

Then last Monday another stressful situation happened and I again went to the bathroom 3 times that day (loose stools) and then ate something a bit different for me and had one episode of watery diahrrea. I had water diahrrea two more times that week, alternating with loose stools (but only one BM per day though). So basically a week of loose stools once per day and three episodes of diahrrea. I saw the Dr. on Friday after 5 days of this and he was not too concerned, recommended to take Immodium. I did take that and it got rid of the watery diahrrea completely but the loose stools and nervous stomach feelings continue. I can't seem to get back to being "regular" when I'm nervous/stressed about something. I also have low appetite (but that's also typical for me when I get stressed/anxious).

I have no blood in stool, just the 3 total episodes of diahrrea, no abdominal pain, no cramps, no bloating, no fever, no vomiting, no nausea. But just a month of loose stools that won't clear up. I have a history of IBS and I feel like the stressful family member situation caused a flare-up.

Should I be worried that this is something really bad or just a flare-up of IBS given the timing?

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like you're stuck in a cycle of IBS flare-ups. There should be something your doctor can give you to get your system back in line.

[Anonymous]

I don't have IBS but sometimes with my acid reflux flare-ups I need to go on meds for a month to reset my system.

[Anonymous]

Watery diarreah is linked to Microscopic Colitis.

If you end up getting a colonoscopy make sure they do a lot of biopsies. Biopsies are the way Microscopic Colitis is diagnosed.

[Anonymous]

try probiotics. Stress can throw off the balance of your gut flora.

[Anonymous]

One word: Culturelle

[Anonymous]

This happens to me in stressful events. It is an IBS flare up. Try taking nexium. Immodium didn’t work for me.

Longer term you should also look at your diet. Stress flares up my IBS a lot. Limiting alcohol has helped control it. I also had to stop intermittent fasting as eating on a really empty stomach made me feel terrible.

[Anonymous]

I've always had a nervous stomach, no IBS that I know of. It's never bothered me, to be honest. My father is like this, my daughter is like this. It's not so urgent that we need to rush to the bathroom, we don't have painful cramps regularly... so it's just a sign we need to address the stress.

My mother, husband and son are chronically constipated. Now that is much more uncomfortable and concerning. I'd rather have my thing

[Anonymous]

This has happened to me too. Probiotic cleared up months of low-key diarrhea in just days. The other miracle remedy I found to handle an acute situation is Diaresq, but it’s hard to find.