Loose stool/Diet Changes.

Ive only noticed them being yellow quite recently, but always smelly when its diarrhoea flaring up.

I just don't know whats causing things to be this bad. All the foods Ive added in which is only peaches, oranges and kiwi fruit - I eat anyway and feel fine, Ive just been eating more of them. The only other difference is before I would eat a lot of crisps and chocolate, and Ive cut those right down to about 1 a day.. I pick something and save it until the evening. But I'm wondering if my body is used to the junk food because Ive always snacked on that, I struggle a lot with meals because of my picky eating and even as a child, I wouldn't eat vegetables or fruit so unhealthy foods has been the bulk of my diet for a long time. Ive never worried too much about it until now because Ive developed this fear towards putting on weight.

The other thing which has crossed my mind is I'm on a 6 week course of amoxicillin (I'm 3 weeks in), but when I take that normally I don't experience any side effects and its only one tablet a day for 6 weeks. All my other medication has stayed exactly the same.

I can't think of anything else which could be contributing because nothing else has changed. And usually whatever triggers it whether thats stress, my anxiety, or food its not this bad.

I have noticed I'm feeling dizzy a lot and keep getting shaky too, Ive thought maybe its dehydration from constantly being on the toilet but honestly I have no idea. Im usually really good at knowing whats going on with my body.

Ah you mentioned amoxicillin, for what may i ask? I would see about swapping them i have just had antibiotics and tjey gave diarrhoea towards the end of the course. Try some probiotics if you possibly can stomach them? Is there any other way you can do this? Good luck sounds tough! If medication is giving you the runs they could be wrong.

I shouldn't really be on the antibiotics because I don't have an infection.

I'm under an ENT consultant and hes has cameras up my nose, hearing tests done, pressure tests done and he cant figure out why Ive had earache for 17 years and why i constantly have infections etc. Ive tried steroids which didn't work so hes put me on antibiotics for 6 weeks. I didn't agree with it since I don't currently have an infection, but I had to see if this worked before I was put on the list for surgery.

Im not sure how Id go about getting them changed since it was someone higher up than my GP who put me on them and when I told my consultant I was allergic to the antibiotic he wanted me on, I also asked if I could avoid flucoxacillin as it gives me the runs and makes me throw up constantly and he said 'side effects are normal and you just have to keep taking them anyway, if you get side effects from amoxicillin I want you to take them'.

Im half way through the six weeks of them, and been fine up until the last couple of days so im not sure if its those or not.

Ive had some things done, I had to give a stool sample and I had bloods done (I think they check for inflammation to rule out IBD?)

Its been put down to being connected to my hypermobility syndrome, now known as hypermobility spectrum disorder.. because IBS is very common when you have this.

I know stress, anxiety, certain foods and my period tends to make things flare up but never this bad. I can usually deal with it by taking diarrhoea relief/laxitives, buscopan and Im on strong painkillers daily anyway so they do tend to help the pain when my IBS is flaring up..but this time its a lot worse.

I have looked into foods you can and can't eat, but because I'm so picky with food and food textures its been a struggle to change my diet because Ive eaten pretty much the same meals for years, everyday. I am slowly trying to change my diet, but as I said its really hard for me so its taking a while. Its only now I've tried to stop eating a lot of junk food and eat fruit and things instead that things have got worse - but the fruits Ive been eating have never been an issue for me before, if it is those thats caused this.

I'm 17, all of this has been going on since I was around 12. I noticed at first it just seemed to be my period/my anxiety which caused the symptoms (so didn't think much of it because I know thats normal), but then it begun to happen after eating and got worse as I got older - I couldnt leave the house without diarrhoea relief and I wont go anywhere not near a toilet. So when I received the HMS diagnosis and got more information about what other conditions are connected, it all made sense and I mentioned it to my consultant.

Thankyou, hopefully it will begin to improve once Ive gotten help for my mental health and things.

You could try deep breathing exercises or look into relaxation therapy from your doctor.

I have been eating healthier, which is why we think eating healthier could be contributing because Ive never had a very good diet and all of a sudden ive cut out my usual diet completely due to a fear of gaining weight because Im not leaving the house and just eating fruit now. My doctors always told my mum to just feed me whatever she could because if I force myself to constantly eat foods I don't like I wont be eating enough. I do eat small amounts of veg and things i don't like but its not enough for even a child, nevermind somebody my age. I'm really trying with foods I don't like but if I force too much of a food I don't like I end up being sick. My doctors know my diets bad and Ive always had bloods done regularly to keep an eye on things, so far theres no issues.

I only think the things my ENT consultant has put me on isnt necessary, but in order for surgery to be considered I needed to give this ago. My gastroenterologist was really good, put me on all the correct medications for IBS, reflux, nausea etc but no longer saw a reason for me to see him after that and my GP's don't want to refer me to anywhere else, theyre trying to manage things themselves.

Thankyou.

It's true that new foods can cause upsets but maybe you changed too much at once? My decades long experiences have shown me that often there is no obvious reason for bad patches (whether long or short). It was the antibiotics I was referring to re changing Consultants. What does your GP say about that? Does s/he think they could be adding to your problems?

Unfortunately, though, sometimes there seem to be no answers. Or none that seem to make sense.

I really do hope you find some relief soon.

I have today&yesterday tried to mix my old diet with this new one and I feel a bit better, so Im wondering if that was contributing. I think Im going to try and do it slower this time.

I havent mentioned the antibiotics/my consultant to my GP, my consultant now is my second opinion... my first consultant just did a hearing test and sent me on my way and it took me years to convince my GP to do me a referral to the consultant I have now. Im 3 weeks into my 6 week course of amoxicillin so I dont know if its worth going now; my consultant is seeing me again very soon and then Ive got to decide then whether to be put on the list for surgery as thats my last option.

Yeah, Ive been thinking that.

Thankyou.

I changed my diet to eating oranges daily to ease my constipation and abdominal pain. It helped with the constipation and without them my bowel would stop working. I still had undiagnosed abdominal pain and my doctor told me to stop oranges to see if it got rid of my pain. Instead, I got increased abdominal pain, constipation and nausea. I went back on oranges and my symptoms improved. I was eventually diagnosed with IBS.

So it goes to show that diet change can upset or help your gut. MIxing your old diet with your new one is a good idea so your gut doesn't rebel with the change.

Thats so interesting..maybe once I'm eating a healthier diet things wont be how they are. I get constipated all the time, so Im trying to eat a bit healthier and drink more etc to try to improve that. Today& yesterday Ive had no episodes of diarrhoea or nausea, just a little bit of abdominal pain but its bareable - Ive been eating my 'new diet' so lots of fruit between my meals for snacks and healthier meals too.. and then Ive been making sure Ive had a little bit of chocolate or something which is what my old diet was made up of and Ive noticed a huge improvement in the symptoms.

I know things will flare up every so often, but hopefully over time Ill learn what foods may set certain things off etc.

The odd naughty treat is OK combined with healthy eating so long as your stomach continues to tolerate it. You seemed to have food a good eating plan that works for you.