Suggest Treatment For Alternating Diarrhea And Constipation

Posted on Tue, 20 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 Answered on

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I've been having diarrhea for mounths. Now, it's alternating between diarrIhea and constipation. I've never been constipated before. When I actually go to the bathroom, my bowel movements are very thin and sometimes like little balls. My stomack is sensitive. i'm worried that it might be colon cancer.

Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
it doesnt appear to be cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for putting your query in HCM. It may be simply IBS (Irritabke bowel syndrome). I am saying because one there is no alarming feature like weight loss abdominal pain and loss of apetite or blood Iin stool. Above all your age is less for colonic cancer and its very rare at this age. I will suggest you to visit a gastroenterologist who may advise tests like endoscopy colonoscopy stool examination etc to confirm the cause of alteration in bowel habbits. If all these tests are normal then it suggest that it is IBS only. Meanwhile I will advise you to take a course of probiotic, lots of fruita and vegetables. I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. Wish you a good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj