Bowel Changes - Cannot Stop Crying - Please Help

Dear All,

Hope you are all doing well.

I am 23 years old female.

I cannot stop crying for my recent bowel change which has been going on for 3.5 weeks now.

I started a 5 day course of antibiotic on the 22nd of Jan for my sore throat. While I was on the antibiotic, I started having diarrhea. The diarrhea stopped after my antibiotic ended, but I had 2 more days of constipation. The constipation perhaps caused me to bleed a little from my rectal area.

I got better for that and everything was normal for another week until.... a week ago. I started bloating and started having a diarrhea again which had mucus all over and the diarrhea & the mucus was all green.

Now the green color, pain and bloating has gone away but the diarrhea is still here. Sometimes in the morning my stool gets normal, sometimes its soft, sometimes its watery.

I never had any of these before, and I cannot stop crying. I am thinking of the worst situation ever. I suffer from general anxiety and OCD anyway.

Googling symptoms and reading stories of young people dying is killing me inside.

I want a normal life again.

I went to a doctor. He checked my stomach to see if he can feel lumps or tenderness. He did a digital rectal examination. And he thinks they are all fine. He gave me a blood and stool test telling me he thinks it is probably an infection or so. He will call me again in a week or so.

I cannot stop crying. I don't want to die. I want to live so bad. I want to be with my mom, my little brother, my boyfriend..I want to love them so much.

I can't believe everything was so normal just 3.5 weeks ago.

Everything is still normal - the only thing that's changed is that you're having a massive anxiety flare.

You probably already know this, but you need to stop Googling. Your GP isn't worried, which means that you have no real need to be worried, either.

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Originally Posted by BlueIris

Everything is still normal - the only thing that's changed is that you're having a massive anxiety flare.

You probably already know this, but you need to stop Googling. Your GP isn't worried, which means that you have no real need to be worried, either.

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I hope you are right. Thank you so much for your reply. Can anxiety and OCD really effect people this much?

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Originally Posted by glittery

I hope you are right. Thank you so much for your reply. Can anxiety and OCD really effect people this much?

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Yes, definitely.

Also antibiotics can ruin the good bacteria in the gut for much longer than the time you take them for, try some probiotics of some kind. And a kind diet for your bowels.

Positive vibes,

Mouse


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midnight-mouse

Yes, definitely.

Also antibiotics can ruin the good bacteria in the gut for much longer than the time you take them for, try some probiotics of some kind. And a kind diet for your bowels.

Positive vibes,

Mouse


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Thank you for your reply. I don't know how to manage the anxiety anymore. I think I need to see a doctor to manage my anxiety too. Reading people's stories of dying from similar symptoms has made me very upset.

I have taken yogurt as a probiotic, and they didn't help much. Lets hope my doctor will give me something good.

---------- Post added at 21:35 ---------- Previous post was at 19:16 ----------

I just wanted to add that I am also having my period from today... maybe this is making it worse as I get diarrhea, anxiety, and all during my period.

Period poos are definitely a thing and they're horrible :blush:
Hormones affect everything, including your digestive system. So while that might be the cause, it may well not be helping for the time being.

The trouble with googling is that you're only going to find stories of people dying because nobody writes stories about how their diarrhoea was nothing to worry about (unless on a forum like this one).

Someone else on here had problems after taking antibiotics quite recently. As said above, they destroy good as well as bad bacteria so you can end up with a gut imbalance which can cause bowel changes.


How long did you take the yoghurt probiotic for? It takes time to work - for me it was 7-10 days of taking a probiotic drink daily to notice a difference and that's with minor upset. It could take longer if the imbalance is worse.

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Originally Posted by WhereIsMyMind

Period poos are definitely a thing and they're horrible :blush:
Hormones affect everything, including your digestive system. So while that might be the cause, it may well not be helping for the time being.

The trouble with googling is that you're only going to find stories of people dying because nobody writes stories about how their diarrhoea was nothing to worry about (unless on a forum like this one).

Someone else on here had problems after taking antibiotics quite recently. As said above, they destroy good as well as bad bacteria so you can end up with a gut imbalance which can cause bowel changes.


How long did you take the yoghurt probiotic for? It takes time to work - for me it was 7-10 days of taking a probiotic drink daily to notice a difference and that's with minor upset. It could take longer if the imbalance is worse.

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Thank you for your reassurance. I agree that most of the stories in Google are just very rare situations.

I took probiotics just three times, stopped when I could not notice any difference. I guess I will start again.

I am just really sad, and feel upset when I think it is taking too long to get fixed, it keeps alternating between normal, diarrhea (mostly), constipation, etc.

I never had this going on for so long.

My anxiety makes me worried that things will go worse, and I keep looking for symptoms in my body. I just hope and pray that things get better soon.

My diarrhea isn't that bad so far. I go three or four times, and it is mostly soft stools and sometimes diarrhea.

I keep losing control of my anxiety.

It sounds to me like your gut bacteria isn't getting back to the healthy state it should be in, and when one bacteria is killed (by the antibiotics) and another takes over it can lead to all sorts of digestive issues. Probiotics could be helpful, and can take a few weeks, but if its not settling then you should perhaps ask for a stool sample to be done spo they can ascertain what is out of kilter?!

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Originally Posted by Carys

It sounds to me like your gut bacteria isn't getting back to the healthy state it should be in, and when one bacteria is killed (by the antibiotics) and another takes over it can lead to all sorts of digestive issues. Probiotics could be helpful, and can take a few weeks, but if its not settling then you should perhaps ask for a stool sample to be done spo they can ascertain what is out of kilter?!

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Yes, doctor did ask for a stool sample. It will take few more days for the result to come back which is making my anxiety worse. I haven't tried any medicines or anything to ease my digestive issues tbh, because I am worried it might make it worse.

This is quite common after an anti-biotic course, honestly, don't worry they will sort it out! You aren't going to die, you aren't going anywhere! This is just 'one of those things' that we all have to face in life, a dodgy stomach for the moment, which you will look back on as a memory in a short while I'm sure.

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Originally Posted by Carys

This is quite common after an anti-biotic course, honestly, don't worry they will sort it out!

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Thank you so much for your reassurance. Lets hope you are right :)

Well look, either disturbed gut bacteria, or a tummy bug, or a touch of irritable bowel after the anti-biotics - either way, I'm betting you ANY MONEY there is nothing to get so upset about and think you are about to peg it. :winks:

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Originally Posted by Carys

Well look, either disturbed gut bacteria, or a tummy bug, or a touch of irritable bowel after the anti-biotics - either way, I'm betting you ANY MONEY there is nothing to get so upset about and think you are about to peg it. :winks:

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Hope so :) thank you for making me feel better

Hi all,

So, I am really confused as to what is happening to me because now I don't have much bloating/gas/pain. However, there is still some mucus (sorry, tmi), and now the stools are dark brown and harder than before but still not formed, and a lot of indigestion.

What is it?

In the last few days I have diagnosed myself with ovarian cancer or colon blockage...especially partial blockage I thought creates similar symptoms?

I am crying myself to sleep every night.

I think its possible you could have a touch of IBS (irritable bowel) when the gut flora is messed about with these things can happen. Look up IBS ?

oh glittery i feel your pain. Try eating a simple diet for a few days and if it continues make a GP appointment. It does sound like it could be IBS though.

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Originally Posted by MrsEd

oh glittery i feel your pain. Try eating a simple diet for a few days and if it continues make a GP appointment. It does sound like it could be IBS though.

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But i am having no bloating/gas/pain anymore..maybe mildly. So what could be causing the not so normal bowel movements as before?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Carys

I think its possible you could have a touch of IBS (irritable bowel) when the gut flora is messed about with these things can happen. Look up IBS ?

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I have. I really hope it is IBS or something simple that goes away with time. I just want everything to go back to normal

Does anxiety actually cause IBS? I have always had ocd and anxiety, but this is the first time I am having such a bad health anxiety.

Anxiety can certainly give you a horrible stomach - I know this from experience.

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Originally Posted by BlueIris

Anxiety can certainly give you a horrible stomach - I know this from experience.

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Oh well..the irony ��

I keep on saying this to people, but acceptance is the key. Sometimes a weird bowel movement is a weird bowel movement, and nothing more :winks:

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Originally Posted by BlueIris

I keep on saying this to people, but acceptance is the key. Sometimes a weird bowel movement is a weird bowel movement, and nothing more :winks:

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I hope you are right :)

How you feeling glittery?

Hey MrsEd,

I am feeling better. Thank you for caring��

My anxiety keeps coming back but I try to handle it. I have no gas or pain (maybe very mild), which is a good thing. Mucus has also lessened (still there tho).

I am very anxious for the blood test and stool test result tho. I hope they are fine.

Dr. Google is making me feel worse, and I keep diagnosing myself with random things.

Seriously, stay off Google. Find something fun to do instead.

haha i am trying BlueIris. I was at work, and all I did in between was google ��

Btw, has anyone experienced this? my stomach suddenly feels very soft. Usually it is a little hard..is it a good or bad thing i wonder.

And i am having this feeling that WHAT IF symptoms get worse or new symptoms appear.

It could be postural. My stomach is soft when I'm sitting, and harder when I'm standing.

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Dr. Google is making me feel worse, and I keep diagnosing myself with random things.

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Well, yeahhhhhhh.......just don't do it.....don't DO IT....:)

I have had EXACTLY all the symptoms you are describing, which started after a bad stomach bug picked up abroad. I had when I was in my 20's. I am now 50 plus. It confused and upset me for a long time, but there was nothing really wrong....just the gut 'not getting back to normal'. Nothing life-threatening, nothing serious, just inconvenient and mildly grotty with symptoms. Stomachs 'feeling soft' is good, they would be rock hard and spasming if something serious.

Carys, Thank you for sharing your experience! Did you get all tests done as well? And what did the doctors tell you? How long did it take you for things to get back to normal? Would love to hear back.

Can someone explain me why have I lost 2 kgs recently? It seems like blood and stool test did not show anything too abnormal. Otherwise, they would have called urgently.

But I lost 2 kgs..

Before I skipped my breakfast, had a lunch for bread and used to have a heavy dinner. Recently, I try to have something for breakfast, have more food during lunch and a less heavier dinner.

Is that why I am losing so much weight? I was 68.5 kg before, and now 66.5 kg in 2 weeks.

I am crying and relating this to the worst.

Stress can make you lose weight.

Is it really just my anxiety?

Today morning I saw that my weight was 1 kg less, after 5 mins I noticed my weight was 1 kg more. Was I hallucinating I wonder.

I just found out after going to the washroom that I have blood from my anus, but then I remembered it was probably my period blood as I have my period right now. Still my mind makes me think "what if it was not your period blood but something else?"

Overthinking my mind till it explodes.

If there was something truly horrible, then blood test would have shown it, isn't?

Woke up to a bad news as well, one of my distant relatives got a brain tumor. This just doesn't help me at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glittery

Is it really just my anxiety?

Today morning I saw that my weight was 1 kg less, after 5 mins I noticed my weight was 1 kg more. Was I hallucinating I wonder.

I just found out after going to the washroom that I have blood from my anus, but then I remembered it was probably my period blood as I have my period right now. Still my mind makes me think "what if it was not your period blood but something else?"

Overthinking my mind till it explodes.

If there was something truly horrible, then blood test would have shown it, isn't?

Woke up to a bad news as well, one of my distant relatives got a brain tumor. This just doesn't help me at all.

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And today I have floating stools and indigestion, but no bloating or pain.

Gas in stool can make them float, same if you have eaten a fatty meal. About half of mine float.

Positive vibes,

Mouse


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aw Glittery. Did you go to the doctor to help manage your anxiety?

Honestly this sounds like anxiety-induced IBS to me. Sometimes my only IBS symptom is a change in stool. I know you think that googling will help, but it won't. You will read something that scares you, you are likely to then have loose stools, which will scare you, etc. It's a cycle and you need to try and nip it in the bud.

Floating stools means that you've eaten something with a high fat content as far as I'm aware. x

Also there’s a lot of daily fluctuations in weight, as you’ve seen yourself. I have read up to five pounds (just over a kilo) is quite normal throughout the day.

Mouse


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I will go to my doctor to manage my anxiety, especially because I always tend to overthink about every situation. In the past I have doubted my wonderful boyfriend for cheating on me, even though he is amazing as ever and there is no way he is gonna cheat. I used to overthink about the way I look and all.

Now, all of a sudden all that has turned into anxiety. I never used to have bowel issues with anxiety before. I did have urgent need to urinate before, but not such changes in my stools every single day.

Right now this is how my mind is working:
1) Pain in my back/buttocks (very mild): Sciatica
2) Floating stools and indigestion: Malabsorption
3) Slight weight loss: ^ related to Malabsorption
4) Malabsorption = some sort of scary cancer
5) Scaticia = my cancer has spread everyone in my body

I cannot stop crying... I keep thinking about having to leave my family, my loved ones. And that breaks my heart into 1 million pieces.

Thank you so much to all of you for making me feel better. I would love to hear your experiences as well.

And the reason why I suspect Malabsorption is because I am not digesting my foods properly. I see bits and pieces of what I ate (VERY GROSS I KNOW)..but I never had this!