What Causes Constipation Follwed By Diarrhea?

Posted on Tue, 11 Nov 2014

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

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 Answered on

Fri, 5 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been having stomach issues lately. I started out be constipated, then it went to diarrhea. Now my I still have some diarrhea but my stomach hurts and i felt urgency. I take nexium.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be related to Nexium use...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.

1. When patients with constipation alternating with diarrhea problems come to my office, I usually advise to run following tests:
- examination of stool for ova/parasites
- culture of stool for pathogenic bacteria/candida
- abdominal ultrasound

2. Colonoscopy is also advised to determine the cause to your problems.

3. For the moment, I advise to:
- increase water intake
- Continue taking pepto until diarrhea is stopped
- start taking probiotics

4. You are reporting to be using Nexium. May I know for how long you've been using it? Sometimes, patients taking Nexium do report constipation/diarrhea problems.

Hope it helped!
Dr.Klerida

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (8 minutes later)

I've been taking nexium for 2 years

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (25 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possibly IBS,organic issues to rule out first

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for providing more of your medical data.

At this point, I advise to schedule an appointment with GI specialist and to consider running colonoscopy.

If everything will be ok, then, all your symptoms are indicating IBS. However, I still think that organic problems should be ruled out first.

Dr.Klerida

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