I’ve had loose bowels for three months. Should I be concerned?

[Anonymous]

I have it too only it's all water. I suspect the weed pills. So I keep hydrated. Once in a while I take Imodium. It slows down for a few days.

[Anonymous]

I did too for a few months. Every.Day. I ultimately figured out it was medication induced from Nurtec for my migraines that I took for several months without any issues. It ultimately just didn't mix with me. The experience left me very lactose intolerant for a while too. I guess I needed to heal from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any blood? Any pain? Start the ball rolling and get on the schedule for a GI doctor. You likely won't get an appointment for several months. if you still have loose BMs by then you will need the appointment.

No blood or pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Define loose - like diarrhea (7) or just mushy blobs (5)?

OP here. Like diarrhea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Define loose - like diarrhea (7) or just mushy blobs (5)?

OP here. Like diarrhea.

YES, you should be concerned. Have you seen a doctor?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely see a GI. Could be ibs, infection, more. Have you had gas or bloating? Have you started or stopped medication? If you have trouble getting into gi start with primary, they can do a stool test to check for bacteria etc.

[Anonymous]

Any new medications added in the past three months? I started a blood pressure medicine that is clearly causing soft stools. Trying to get off it asap.

[Anonymous]

I had this for a year! Doctors said ibs and never had an answer. Xifaxan helped. Doc also said he’d never seen diarrhea as a presenting sign of colon cancer fwiw

[Anonymous]

Had you been taking any new medications or supplements? Made any changes to your diet when this started?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I know this is a gross topic, but for the last three much essentially every bowel movement I’ve had (which is at least once daily) has been loose. I know this is not normal, but is it something I should be very concerned about? Also, I’m 50 so could this be related to peri-menopause?

It absolutely IS a big deal to have chronic diarrhea - I learned this myself the hard way. I had it after getting my gallbladder out, and developed a very bad vitamin deficiency (thiamine) and resulting neurological issues for years before doctors figured out what was wrong with me - they spent all their time looking for zebras instead of seeing the horse.

In any case there are many reasons that you might develop chronic diarrhea and they range from not so bad to quite bad, but the diarrhea itself can cause many other problems because you are messing with proper absorption of micronutrients, chronic dehydration of the gut, instability of the gut biome, putting electrolyte balance out of whack, etc.

This is absolutely worth going to see your GP and getting a referral to a GI specialist as necessary. Loose stool is gross but it’s a lot more than that, so PLEASE get working on a diagnosis/treatment ASAP.

My health was really wrecked by my chronic vitamin deficiency and years later I am still struggling to restore it. I hope you don’t end up on the same path.