She is 88 and in general good health. She has had blood tests to exclude other things but is anxious and learning to live alone after her husband entered a care home. Should she have hospital investigations, should she change her diet? This has been going on periodically for 4 months.
Obviously stress and not eating right can create IBS disorder that caused diarrhea. Nothing serious.
Your mother should have hospital tests such as an endoscopy/colonoscopy to rule out other conditions since she has had these symptoms for an extended period of time. What blood tests has she had?
Stress can affect your intestine and trigger IBS. Stress triggered my IBS. However, other causes must be ruled out first before IBS is considered. She could try keeping a food diary to identify food triggers. Has she eaten anything she would not normally eat?
Good idea to request further investigation as unpleasant for old lady to have regular vomiting episodes etc. Thanks for advice.
IBS sounds likely - you must ensure that she doesn't become dehydrated both vomiting diarrhoea and stress will cause this, so ensure she increases her fluid intake. This also begs the question is she safe to live alone ?
Hard questions but IBS tends to manifest itself more keenly when an individual is feeling both physically and mentally weak
Hopefully you get it sorted.