How do I manage watery stools, gas, and abdominal pain?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have watery stools, but I also feel constipated. I pass stool only once a day. My abdomen feels warm, and I also experience gas and abdominal pain. Please suggest a suitable medicine for this condition. What steps should I take to manage this?

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Based on the limited information provided, a possible diagnosis is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This condition is also known as a disorder of gut-brain interaction. The symptoms may be triggered or worsened by certain types of food or psychological stress, including stress at the workplace or at home.

Practicing meditation and mindfulness exercises and maintaining a regular exercise routine may help reduce symptoms. A trial of a low FODMAP diet (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) may be beneficial, as it improves symptoms in many patients.

This diet is usually followed for about eight weeks while maintaining a food diary to identify specific dietary triggers. Once identified, these trigger foods can be eliminated from the diet.

I would like to suggest the following blood and stool investigations:

Complete blood count (CBC).
C-Reactive protein (CRP).
Fecal calprotectin.
Stool examination for bacteria, parasites, ova, and cysts.

You can take Pantoprazole 40 milligrams once daily for one week. Review the investigation results for further evaluation and management.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.