Struggling w/ Chronic Diarrhea

[titan05 174]

I have had my lab band for over 3 years . I have had constant diarrhea since I have had the band. I talked to the doctor and they said had nothing to do with the band and told me to see another doc. I saw a GI specialist and have done a endoscopy and all kinds of stool samples and he can't find anything wrong with me. My situation is bad - I have to go a lot and it's embarrassing and my stomach makes all kinds of loud liquid gurgling noises. It has effected my life adversely. I have only lost 30 pounds with the band and could live with out. I have a decent fill but had problems before the any fill. Anyone have any experience with this, or have any ideas? My Dr says he will not take out a properly functioning lap band. Do I need to take it out. I appreciate all responses.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

Have you had your gallbladder removed? There has to be a reason why you are having chronic diarrhea. Maybe you have colitis or it could be many other things. Do you take Imodium to stop the diarrhea? If you could try the brat diet it is bananas, rice, apple sauce and tea to see if this will help. There are many things that cause diarrhea but I don't think it is band related. I would also seek out a second opinion and take all your records to a new gastro doctor. This really could be anything from a food allergy to an infection in your intestines. I hope you get some relief soon but don't wait too long before getting a second opinion I know this must be miserable for you.

[titan05 174]

I have had a colonoscopy and other tests as well as 2 different rounds of strong antibiotics, my GI specialist( who has a great rep) is perplexed. My surgery was a disaster and I don't even know if they took my gall bladder out. It took way to long and he said he had problems because I have a long torso. I went on low carb, gluten free and any other thing you can think of. I took Fiber etc. I really want this thing out or converted to something else. No solid poops for 3 years is embarrassing.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

I can imagine this has taken quite a toll on you. I sure wouldn't want it. Ask your surgeon did he remove your gallbladder at the time of your surgery because that could be the very reason and he didn't tell you. If your colonoscopy came back okay and all the other test I would think it might be a food allergy but then again it sounds like you are having some sort of dumping syndrome. Try the brat diet and see if it helps. Do you eat a lot of dairy? Does it come with gas and nausea or does it just come with no other symptoms. You definitely have something going on there but hard to pin point that. We get a lot of patients with uncontrolled diarrhea but they have colitis or crohns disease. They usually give them a colostomy for about three months to let the intestines rest then reverse it. I know that you feel your doctor has a good rep and I had one of those too that diagnosed me with Barretts esophagus which is precancerous tissue in the esophagus well when I moved to north florida I went to a new gastro and he did an endo to check how everything was and he did not find anything but inflammation from acid reflux. So all that time I feared that it would turn to cancer for nothing. There has to be something going on because people do not just have diarrhea for no reason.

[kimk1999 450]

Do you have something consistent every day? I cannot tolerate anything with egg yolks - scrambled whole eggs, mayo, most creamy salad dressings, various sauces at restaurants, etc - it will go right through me. I've avoided the flu shot for years. What about lactose (any milk or cheese) intolerance? Also, if I take zinc (typically in a multivitamin) I feel extremely nauseous. It was very difficult to find a Multivitamin without zinc and I can not take Zycam.

Have you seen a nutritionist that could help you isolate what you're eating vs. timing of symptoms? My GI doc stated that there's no way that eggs could have that effect on me. It's that when I eat an egg containing item (say some great creamy sauce at a restaurant on my chicken) within 30 mins I'm running to the bathroom. The GI doc said things don't work that fast, but they do with me when I've eaten eggs.

I've only had the band for about 2.5 weeks. I had diarrhea since I've had the band, but it was the whole liquids in = liquids out. I've started the pureed/mushy/blended diet and I was hoping that since it was more solid food that things would firm up, but I have not been lucky yet.

If you know you don't have a lactose issue, have you tried yogurt to get a healthy bacteria levels? Maybe stick with the Activia specifically or some organic stuff with the proper good bacteria added? As someone else suggested, have you been tested for colitis? My fiancé has random stomach spasms quite often with diarrhea. No band. He was finally diagnosed with mild colitis. He takes a pill every day and things are much better. Have you done the different diets (gluten free) for 2 whole weeks without cheating to determine if that's a trigger?

If your GI doc won't help, do you have the option to try another? I'm not sure of another doc to try but maybe your primary could refer you to some other speciality. 3 years is a long time to have this problem and to worry about dehydration let alone the embarrassment and uncomfortable feelings.

[titan05 174]

I was negative for celiac, crohns and everything including IBS. I have tried removing stuff all grains and dairy from diet but it's constant diarrhea. It's manageable if I take a pro-biotic but I still have diarrhea but not as often.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

Maybe if you continue on the probiotic faithfully it will help. At this point anything to try won't hurt you. I hope you find out what is causing your issues.

[kimk1999 450]

I hope you find out what's going on. Try new docs and stick with the pro-biotics.

[hiddnstar 167]

I have had my lab band for over 3 years . I have had constant diarrhea since I have had the band. I talked to the doctor and they said had nothing to do with the band and told me to see another doc. I saw a GI specialist and have done a endoscopy and all kinds of stool samples and he can't find anything wrong with me. My situation is bad - I have to go a lot and it's embarrassing and my stomach makes all kinds of loud liquid gurgling noises. It has effected my life adversely. I have only lost 30 pounds with the band and could live with out. I have a decent fill but had problems before the any fill. Anyone have any experience with this, or have any ideas? My Dr says he will not take out a properly functioning lap band. Do I need to take it out. I appreciate all responses.

Hi

I'm completely sympathetic about your situation and more than a little angry with the responses you've gotten from your doctor. With just the info you provided, I would move in the direction of having the band removed.

I have considerably low tolerance for doctors who say certain symptoms one brings to their attention have nothing at all to do with the band. In your case, you didn't have these symptoms before being banded, so how can the doctor say that so unequivocally? GRRR. (my surgeon did the same thing...so that's where my anger comes from)

You've seen specialists to rule out other things, but I don't hear anything that rules out the band as the cause.

The doctor also says he will not take out a properly functioning lap band. What tests has he done to ensure the band is properly functioning? Reading what you wrote, it sounds to me like it is not functioning properly for your particular body. I can't imagine he really thinks someone losing 30 pounds in 3 years has a band that is functioning correctly.

The band can be such a life saver for many people, but it can also not be the right solution for some of us.

I'm glad you are taking a probiotic.

My new surgeon suggested taking Metagenics Acute Care. There is a particular ingredient in it that really impacts some people (in a positive way). I think the ingredient is spelled S. Boulardii.

I would suggest you try that particular probiotic. It worked absolute wonders for me. If you don't see a huge difference in a week, then it's not the miracle it was for me. My surgeon says you'll know real soon; some people feel the difference immediately.

I, too, saw several specialists when my lap band surgeon said my symptoms had nothing to do with the band. In the end (after 2 years of specialists and misery), I saw a different surgeon who was open-minded about complications. He saw immediately what the problem was and said the band needed to be removed. After 3 years of being banded, the band came out and the symptoms are gone.

So, hang in there. Get your medical records together (test results, etc) and see if you can consult with a different surgeon about your concerns. Try the Metagenics Acute Care probiotic. You might want to add a Prebiotic as well.

You've lost 30 pounds in 3 years, which is low. So the lap band is NOT functioning as a weight loss tool.

It seems worth it to me to take it out and see what happens. You won't have a lap band, but you don't really have one now, either.

Im really sorry to hear what you've been through. I don't think this is something to wait on; get an appointment as soon as you can arrange one.

I'll be interested in hearing the outcome!

~hiddn

[terrydumont46 1,954]

the diarrhea you describe sounds just like what i had when i was taking a certain drug. i hated it , out boating and my husband would have to take me back to the boat launch. i never had a solid stool during the time i was on it. so check your medications in case the doctor missed something. the other problem i had was hyperperistalses. that is when the intestines move to fast. it causes pain and loose stools. it has only shown up on 1 of the many upper and lower gi's i have had. the doctor says that it goes into remission is why we don't see it all the time. the medication is hyomax-sl. i was just thinking that if you have even the smallest of food allergies it could get your intestines going. i hope you get to the bottom of this, no pun intended. but taking out the band should be the last resort but at least discussed. some ppl can't tolerate all the Protein that we eat this could be the problem too. perhaps a barium swallow to follow the barium as it goes through the digestinal tract. good luck. and i do hope you find out what the problem is even if its the band. i just though of another one, diverticulitis, a upper and lower gi missed this but a barium enema did not on me. just some ideas

[kll724 3,055]

I have no advice, but just wanted to wish you the best as you search for answers. The others have given wise advice, but the best would be to just keep serching for an answer. Perhaps you should keep a food diary to study what can cause the attacks, too. Karen...aka..kll724

[lisacaron 5,075]

I would keep checking in with your doctor and keep taking the pro-biotics. I have known digestive issues, and occasionally have a flare up that can cause the stomach rumbles and loose stools as well.

If I have too much dairy or even too much whey Protein which is actually made with milk byproducts. When I find that I am eating more Protein Bars, or shakes I will take lactaid before and/or after consuming the item. This helps and prevents the diarrhea. I also take Probiotics every day. I took them before the band and I take them now after the band. I still have flare ups, but for the most part this is a tremendous help.

food allergies play a big part here as well, and anything that is too greasy or has too much fat, and/or sugar also have adverse affects on me, so for me it's trying to keep a healthy balance of the foods I eat daily. I know it's frustrating but I dealt with this issues much worse before banding. Since being banded it's been that much easier for me to balance and control what works for me and what doesn't.

Best of luck to you! I hope your feeling better fast!

[titan05 174]

Just an update- I went back to GI doc and he ran a cat scan for cancer, chrons and something else. It all came back negative and has come to the conclusion I have a hyperactive small intestine and put me on medicine to slow down my small intestine. It has helped a lot and once and calmed everything down. It's not serious and may go away . Supposedly it's very rare. Thank The Lord!

[lisacaron 5,075]

So glad to hear your update. Keep feeling well!!

[titan05 174]

I have had a semi -break through. My GI doc has been treating me for a hyperactive small intestine with medicine and it is working great. Constant bowel sounds and diarrhea have disappeared but I still believe they are all band related.