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What Causes Soft Stool After Eating Black Berries?
Question: I have fluid soft stools. Noticed it after I ate some black berries. I feel like I need to eat something to clean me out, relax my colon, or similar. Can you recommend something/
Brief Answer:
Some questions to help guide my answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
How many days have you had these symptoms?
How many times per day are you having loose stools?
Are you losing a lot of water with each BM?
Cramping or other abdominal pain?
Fever or chills?
After you write back, I can give you more specific information. Thanks.
Some questions to help guide my answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
How many days have you had these symptoms?
How many times per day are you having loose stools?
Are you losing a lot of water with each BM?
Cramping or other abdominal pain?
Fever or chills?
After you write back, I can give you more specific information. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Have had these symptoms for 3 weeks, comes and goes. 3-4 times per day. Losing alot of water, comes and goes. have cramping and other abdominal pain. no fever or chills. Not in alot of pain. But this is not normal for me. Typically one BM a day, firm. Typically eat high fiber foods, rasin XXXXXXX triscuts, apples, popcorn, oatmeal. Thank you.
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Brief Answer:
About diarrhea lasting 3 weeks:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Given that your diarrhea has lasted 3 weeks without signs of going away, it is time to go to your doctor for an evaluation. I'd make an appointment now.
Your doctor will likely do the following:
A thorough history including recent travel
CBC (complete blood count blood test),
Celiac blood test,
Albumin level (to see if you are losing a lot of protein),
Sedimentation rate (a nonspecific test for inflammation going on anywhere in the body)
Liver function blood tests
TSH (to see if your thyroid is working well)
Stool sample studies which should include tests for white blood cells, red blood cells, and culture. Also possibly fecal fat if there is suspicion of malabsorption.
You may have an ongoing gut infection. Or there might be an abnormality going on in your colon such as an inflammatory process, gluten intolerance, or malabsorption.
Treatment will depend on what is found. In the meantime, you can try a few different things.
1. Pepto Bismol: this drug is used to prevent and sometimes treat gastrointestinal infections (both domestic and from traveling) and is also soothing on the GI tract. Don't use it within several days of stools studies though, as it can temporarily skew what bacteria are seen. Please note that it can turn stools black or grey - this is from the bismuth in it and is ok.
2. An over the counter antidiarrheal such as loperamide or lomotil. Use in moderation (start low and infrequent) until you see how your body reacts to it as sometimes it can cause excessive constipation.
3. Consider a good quality probiotic that contains lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus to help rebalance your gut with the bacteria you need. Start low on this too as when people already have diarrhea, sometimes it can temporarily make it a bit worse.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. I hope you feel better soon!
About diarrhea lasting 3 weeks:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Given that your diarrhea has lasted 3 weeks without signs of going away, it is time to go to your doctor for an evaluation. I'd make an appointment now.
Your doctor will likely do the following:
A thorough history including recent travel
CBC (complete blood count blood test),
Celiac blood test,
Albumin level (to see if you are losing a lot of protein),
Sedimentation rate (a nonspecific test for inflammation going on anywhere in the body)
Liver function blood tests
TSH (to see if your thyroid is working well)
Stool sample studies which should include tests for white blood cells, red blood cells, and culture. Also possibly fecal fat if there is suspicion of malabsorption.
You may have an ongoing gut infection. Or there might be an abnormality going on in your colon such as an inflammatory process, gluten intolerance, or malabsorption.
Treatment will depend on what is found. In the meantime, you can try a few different things.
1. Pepto Bismol: this drug is used to prevent and sometimes treat gastrointestinal infections (both domestic and from traveling) and is also soothing on the GI tract. Don't use it within several days of stools studies though, as it can temporarily skew what bacteria are seen. Please note that it can turn stools black or grey - this is from the bismuth in it and is ok.
2. An over the counter antidiarrheal such as loperamide or lomotil. Use in moderation (start low and infrequent) until you see how your body reacts to it as sometimes it can cause excessive constipation.
3. Consider a good quality probiotic that contains lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus to help rebalance your gut with the bacteria you need. Start low on this too as when people already have diarrhea, sometimes it can temporarily make it a bit worse.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. I hope you feel better soon!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. XXXXXXX
As a follow up. I took some probiotics, and some MYlanta vs pepto bismal I purchased them before your last email. When i was on vacation i ate some raw oysters and drank some micro brewery beer. I am thinking this added. What ever i had i think it has made its way through my system, knock on wood. Thank you for your help.
XXXX
As a follow up. I took some probiotics, and some MYlanta vs pepto bismal I purchased them before your last email. When i was on vacation i ate some raw oysters and drank some micro brewery beer. I am thinking this added. What ever i had i think it has made its way through my system, knock on wood. Thank you for your help.
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Glad to hear you are better!
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for this follow up, XXXXXXX I truly appreciate it as I don't usually know how people are doing afterwards.
Yes, raw shellfish can be risky. I am very glad you are doing better now! And thank you again for the follow up.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Glad to hear you are better!
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for this follow up, XXXXXXX I truly appreciate it as I don't usually know how people are doing afterwards.
Yes, raw shellfish can be risky. I am very glad you are doing better now! And thank you again for the follow up.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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