Comprehensive stool analysis

Digestive health
1

Hello,

I already posted about my experience a few weeks ago, and I would like some advice about comprehensive stool analysis.

To sum up, I have been feeling bad for about 2 years now, after an episode of gastroenteritis/food poisoning. My symptoms are mainly the same as a chronic gastritis: stomach bloating, especially after meals, acid reflux sometimes, but also fatigue, and skin rashes.

I have tried a lot of medication, all the time ineffective and making me even more ill sometimes. Now doctors just tell me I have post infectious IBS and they are not able to help at all. I had blood tests, gastroscopy, intolerance tests, etc. but no stool analysis.

So my question is, would a comprehensive stool analysis be useful and what can I expect from it?

Thank you

Loic

2

Hello Loic,

I feel your pain... About 15 years ago, for about 5 years, I had chronic hives. I didn'thave them every day; they came in waves. At one point it got so bad, I decided to get to the bottom of it. I saw 2 dermatologists and 1 allergist. I was put on anti-histamines and an anti-itch medication, both of which made me so drowsy during the day. I was told by all 3 specialists that no one knows why these rashes appear. I may have it for life or it may spontaneously disappear; not encouraging news... After several months of feeling horrible due to the medication, I visited a very popular naturopathic shop owner in my city (who happens to be a licensed pharmacist). He told me one thing: STOP all carbs. He said, "No bread, no potatoes, no pasta, no cereals, no fruit...and of course nothing sweet like juices, desserts, flavoured yoghurts, fizzy drinks etc.. Believe me, I was very motivated and willing to try just about anything. He told me that carbs cause inflammation and that any time a person has any kind of inflammation in the body (mine was the rashes on my skin), to stop ingesting carbs. I was doubtful it would work but keen to try out this diet...which was actually very nutritious. I had already learned that dairy products cause digestive issues and made me cough, nose run etc...so no dairy for me. I had almond milk instead in my tea. It was basically an Atkins diet; eggs (and bacon or sausages),  as many vegetables including salads as I liked with sugar free dressings and fish and meat. After 2 days I decided to reduce the pills...no rash.... and on day 3 cut them out entirely. I waited for the hives to return...but they didn't! I continued on the diet and lost 13 pounds without trying, in just 4 weeks...AND my hives never returned. Twice I tried a few bites of toast and the rash started. It was only after about 8 weeks that my inflammatory state calmed down and I was able to slowly re-introduce carbs. 

Three doctors were unable to help me...but my naturopathic / pharmacist practitioner was. And it was so simple! What I learned from that experience is to listen to my body and to eat what is good for me and to rely on my own judgement and common sense. Doctors to me are whom I go to consult when I have not been able to figure things out for myself. Doctors tend to reach for the prescription pad when there are LIFESTYLE alternatives that are more natural and have only positive side effects. Bonne change, Loïc!

3

Hi,

Thank you for this reply.

I already made a lot of changes, but I think my diet was not bad anyway.

I am on a diet without gluten, dairy and sugar. I got slightly better at the beginning, but after more than one month, I don't see it getting better. I tried a lot of natural products as well but no better.

I sleep well, do sport, not overweight at all so it is frustrating to see things not going better.

that's why I am asking about some stool analysis that could give me more information about my condition.

Thank you

Loic

4

I think if you cut out only ALL carbs and dairy, you will no longer have rashes...and your digestive issues will simmer down. Just write out a list of possibilites for means and stick to it. 

Breakfast: an omelette with cut red pepper in it. Maybe bacon or sausage. Or a smoothie made from almond milk and a few vegetables. I add protein powder myself. It stops cravings. 

Lunch: a big salad and cut up hard boiled egg or chicken pieces. Unlimited vegetables can be in the salad.

Dinner: bbq shrimp or steak with a variety of vegetables. Beets, cole slaw, cooked broccoli with butter and garlic, carrots in butter with onion bits, cooked pepper strips and onion in oil. 

Whatever you are trying in terms of a diet is probably far from the above because eating 100% healthy and cutting out grains, cereals, sweet foods is a challenge and just not how we normally eat. If we did, we would be much healthier.   It is quite resrictive but if you can do it for a week, you will notice the difference.

Milk and therefore all dairy is a very unnatural food for humans. It is the breast milk of another mammal...meant only for calves. Not even an adult cow would drink milk. Cows live on grass. No other mammal drinks the breast milk of another species...except humans.,...and we drink or eat dairy products into adulthood. Very strange...

Because I have IBS, I put acidophilus in my morning smoothies. It's called BioK but may go by another name where you live. They sell it in grocery stores and it is quite expensive but you only have 1 TBSP. I get the soy based kind...not dairy of course. Acidophilus keeps the good flora growing in the gut and elminates the bad flora. 

If you do have IBS with painful attacks, it is a sign of constipation. One needs to drink more water, take 2 - 3 magnesium citrate tablets at bedtime and stools will pass easily.  The aim is to have healthy, 1 foot long, bulky, easy to pass (3 seconds) stools like Africans who eat a high roughage diet (which we should be eating). Magnesium citrate helps you to achieve that. This helps eliminate waste quickly so that it doesn't fermet and 'rot' inside you causing bloating and discomfort. Maybe that is all you need; to be regular and produce African stools! lol

Good luck!

5

Well, actually my diet is really close to that since I follow this diet.

Gluten free oats in the morning (high fiber, no sugar), cooked vegetables + meat for lunch and dinner as well (or soup, or salad).

It doesn't go much better, so the reason is somewhere else for me....

I took acidophilus until recently for a long time as well.

My problem is more stomach than bowel, which is suprising considering IBS is more about bowel. I am afraid it is now a generic word for a lot of things doctors can't deal with....

Cheers

Loic

6

Hi there. I have very similar problems to you. Much the same diet as you but I have leaky gut and sinusitis apparently caused by the leaky gut.

I am considering having the stool test done and just wondered if you went ahead with it? How are you now, hopefully feeling better?

7

Hello Emma,

Unfortunately, no still not better.

I didn't go for this test eventually, as I did basic stools samples prescribed by my doctor and nothing showed up, so I didn't want to waste money on this.

But no solution at the moment for me I have to say. I hope you'll find what you need.

Cheers

Loic

8

Thankyou. Ive been strugging for 18 years now. Ive just been reading about a man on this site who suffered from acid reflux and gastritis and has been taking magnesium. He said it has really improved things. Have a look for it, it might be worth a try. 

9

I am so sorry for you. I take some for general fitness as I feel tired quite often, and it helps on this, but nothing about the digestive health.

10

Thats a shame. I dont think I will ever get better. I did have a really good five years in the middle after a course of homeopathy, but my stomach wont let me take it now. It starts burning with every medicine apart from probiotics. Going to try putting epsom salts in my bath in the hope it might help. Are you following a strict diet?

11

Yes, no dairy products, and I try to limit gluten but I am not allergic, just a bit intolerant to it.

Have you thought about this theory of yeast infection and candida albicans? It is quite controversial and on internet you probably found many crazy theories about it, but I would like to know your views about it.

12

I was told I had candida because if you have leaky gut, you normally have it. The diet I am on and have to do is no gluten/dairy/sugar plus I take probiotics so I'm not feeding the candida. I had colonic irrigation a couple of years back and the lady who did it said that no candida came out, and it normally is white and frothy if you do.  

Do you take ppis for the gastritis/acid reflux?

13

I used to take some, but it made my problems way worse. Better for stomach but it gave me intestinal bloating and eczema, and I just couldn't sleep anymore.

14

No I cant take them either. Too many side effects.