
What Causes Severe Loose Motions Followed By Bouts Of Constipation?

Posted on
Mon, 30 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team


Question : I am a 42 year old female who has had chronic loose stool and urgency after I eat for the last 15-20 years. I do have short bouts of constipation occasionally. I have always struggled a lot with anxiety. Mostly the bowel movements are in the morning. The first one is usually more formed, but not always. Then I will eat breakfast and I will go one or two more times and it is very loose and unformed, but rarely watery. Occasionally I will have a lot of mucus depending on my anxiety level and what I ate the day before. I never have blood unless I am constipated and I can feel the hemorrhoid feel like its tearing and there will be bright red blood on the toilet paper or drip into the toilet and it resolves when the consipation resolves. That only happens once or twice a year. My rear end itches terribly when I go through months of loose stool. I had my gall bladder removed 2 1/2 years ago and the urgency after meals has gotten worse since then. I rarely have to go after lunch or dinner. Mostly in the mornings and I go 1-3 times and then done for the day. I am making an appointment with a gastroenterologist but dont know what to expect. I am terrified. What are the chances of colon cancer?
Brief Answer:
Very low chances!
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Have gone through your details.
As per the history chances of it being colon cancer are very low.
Initially you are symptomatic from more then a decade.
secondly problem is related more to anxiety levels.
Blood in the stools is usually present when you are constipated.
If it were colon carcinoma things were not related with anxiety,Blood would have been present in stool even when they are watery or loose.
Your symptoms point more toward a rectal or anal pathology likely Hemorrhoids or anal fissure.
Don't worry a Proctoscopic examination of anal canal by gastroentrologist will make things clear.
Don't worry its very unlikely that its carcinoma.
Thanks!
Very low chances!
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Have gone through your details.
As per the history chances of it being colon cancer are very low.
Initially you are symptomatic from more then a decade.
secondly problem is related more to anxiety levels.
Blood in the stools is usually present when you are constipated.
If it were colon carcinoma things were not related with anxiety,Blood would have been present in stool even when they are watery or loose.
Your symptoms point more toward a rectal or anal pathology likely Hemorrhoids or anal fissure.
Don't worry a Proctoscopic examination of anal canal by gastroentrologist will make things clear.
Don't worry its very unlikely that its carcinoma.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad


My appointment is today. Can you tell me what to expect during the appointment? What kind of tests if any will they more than likely run?
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
They are going to do Proctoscopy(examine anal canal and rectum by a scope)
Colonoscopy may be suggested depends on your gastroenterologist.
Stool routine and microscopy.
They are initially going to investigate you on lines of hemorrhoids and anal fissure.
Thanks!
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
They are going to do Proctoscopy(examine anal canal and rectum by a scope)
Colonoscopy may be suggested depends on your gastroenterologist.
Stool routine and microscopy.
They are initially going to investigate you on lines of hemorrhoids and anal fissure.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad


I visited with the gastro yesterday. He was very nice and thinks the diarrhea daily is due to stress and because its after I eat he thinks it is due to having my gall bladder removed. He says because the stool is yellow when I have diarrhea that is probably because of bile. My liver lab work was normal a few weeks ago when I had a workup done. He says that I should have a scope at my convenience, but what I have is nothing serious. I went ahead and scheduled the colonoscopy for tomorrow since I want to get it over with. I am still so anxious which is causing my symptoms to be worse. Thank you for your help. I am very nervous that they will find something bad, but he says no.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Dont worry just go for it.
Colonoscopy reports will be normal most likely.
Thanks and good luck!
.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Dont worry just go for it.
Colonoscopy reports will be normal most likely.
Thanks and good luck!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad

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