I suffer from ibs and have just passed some unusual stool this morning, a little worried please help!

Hi Marl

With all digestive problems the stool can change in texture and colour. It could have been the Imodium.Its sounds like soft and hard bits of stool mixed together the pellet like ones are usually darker because of lack of fluid and loose ones lighter because of too much fluid , immodium sometimes does this, but if it continues for days on end then you need to see doctor. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your reply jane. Its was just a little worrying as iv never experienced this before!

I've never studied my stools in depth until two weeks ago when, having become 60 years old, I undertook the Bowel Cancer Screening program - I was amazed at the inconsistency of stools over the three day test period - different colours and textures. As Jane says- keep an eye on it and if you're worried see the doc.....better safe than sorry

"Irritable bowel syndrome:

Almost a quarter of people with coeliac disease had previously been told they had IBS or were treated for it before they were diagnosed with coeliac disease, according to recent research.

It is important that the NICE Guidelines (to GP's) are followed and that coeliac disease is screened for before a diagnosis of IBS is given."

Taken from Coeliac UK website. Do read up on this condition to know if you may suffer from it.

Your GP should offer you a specific blood test for it before diagnosing you with IBS.

You need to read up on what gluten does to your gut and know of all the products which you eat which contain it...including beer and lager (although gf versions are now available!) You need the help of Coeliac UK to do this after diagnosis. They provide a Food Directory which is essential in the early days.

GP's seem to like to screen for bowel cancer before Coeliac disease....yet untreated Coeliac disease increases the risk of bowel cancer....so should be checked for first! Cart before the horse unfortunately.

No-one should have to take Immodium on a regular basis....you need to find the cause.

Start with Coeliac tests via your GP! Ensure you are eating bread and gluten containing products for at least a month before the test or you may get a False Negative result.Good Luck!

Yes before I was diagnosed with ibs my gp sent me for some tests at the hospital (blood test and a stoolsample) to check for coeliac and other conditions (can't actually remember the others now! Was over a year ago) and the results all came back as normal. I don't no if it's something that could of developed since then. Thanks for the advice though

You could always go onto the Coeliac UK website as they answer questions via their "Talk to Us" link (down left hand side list) from IBS sufferers as well as possible Coeliacs. You can always ask their opinion of any symptoms you might suffer now or in the future - they are well qualified to give you educated answers, and there is lots of information on the website worth reading. Coeliac disease takes most of us by surprise - different things seem to trigger it, so the more informed you are the better your chance of an accurate diagnosis. The bottom line is if you have it it is best to be diagnosed as soon as possible. They talk about all this on the website. Try and remember what you have been eating the day before if you have a flare up. An increase in gluten containing foods (to what is your norm) can result in an unexpected upset tummy....I found out when eating in a canteen for a few months and indulging in extra puddings, like apple pie and rhubarb crumble etc....which I would not normally have had at lunchtimes! But we had moved house so that, along with being unwell for two years - said to be post viral syndrome by my old GP - I went to a new GP who mercifully was more on the ball! I was diagnosed within a month afterwards.

Keep monitoring yourself so you can go armed with some details.

Best Wishes.

I literally had the same thing happen just 5 minutes ago. I also have ibs. I switched from ibs d to ibs c adter having ibs d for years. Ive been having horrible back and bladder pain for a while because my constipation seems to be every other day. Get some ginger for diarrhea imodium is bad for you and might be why in in this situation that and poor diet and zyrtec side effect. I gotta say im so relieved right now. My bm started out soft with hard dark stool connected at the end. Im thinking it was a slight blockage because it seemed old like it was in my colon too long. 3 fiber one bars did the trick. Dont take imodium too often and definitely dont drink on it. Thats probably why your stomach hurts. My ibs and acid reflux prevents me from drinking.