Why Do I Have Diarrhea So Often?

Diarrhea is a condition that can come and go and sometimes be life-threatening. If you’re having diarrhea regularly, taking a closer look at your lifestyle, medications, and diet is a good idea.

Sometimes, though, medical problems can lead to chronic diarrhea, which could cause health complications and dehydration. Getting to the bottom of your diarrhea helps you understand your body and how to change certain aspects for regular bowel movements.

At Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dr. Ilyas Memon is our gastroenterology specialist who uses various diagnostic tools to get to the bottom of bothersome diarrhea. Whether you have bouts of sudden diarrhea or it’s ongoing, Dr. Memon has a treatment that helps.

Understanding diarrhea

Diarrhea is either a symptom of another condition or a problem all in itself, which often results in looser-than-normal stools and watery or more frequent bowel movements.

Sometimes, diarrhea happens suddenly without other symptoms, while other times, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain accompany it. You may feel an urgency to go to the bathroom or notice mucus or blood in the diarrhea.

There are several types of diarrhea based on what’s causing the problem; watery, inflammatory, and fatty are the three main forms that affect people.

What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea has many different causes, from diet to certain medications, and getting to the root cause is the best way to prevent it in the future. The main culprits behind diarrhea are diet, bacteria, and other medical conditions.

When you're dealing with diarrhea for more than a few days, there are several reasons why, and they include any of the following:

• Lactose intolerance
• Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol and caffeine
• Parasites and bacteria
• Viruses
• Celiac disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Certain medications also cause diarrhea to come and go. Antibiotics are one of the main culprits behind sudden diarrhea. They kill bacteria, including the good bacteria that regulate your intestines and promote healthy bowel movements.

When should I see a doctor?

In many cases, diarrhea lasts only a few days and then subsides either on its own or with simple lifestyle changes. However, sometimes diarrhea lasts more than a few days, which could be a sign of a bigger issue.

You should seek medical care from Dr. Memon if you have any of the following symptoms related to diarrhea:

• You have had diarrhea for more than two days
• You have a fever of more than 102℉
• You’re dehydrated
• Diarrhea contains blood or is black
• Diarrhea along with rectal pain
• Diarrhea with severe abdominal pain

When you have diarrhea, it’s crucial to keep drinking liquids to replace those lost through frequent bowel movements. Failure to do so may result in dehydration and other issues.

Managing chronic diarrhea

Managing frequent diarrhea depends on the root cause of the problem. Changing your diet, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, and cutting back on dairy can help reduce bouts of diarrhea.

If you’re on antibiotics, diarrhea may subside once you’ve taken the last pill and your normal intestinal flora replenishes. However, lifestyle and diet changes aren’t always enough for chronic diarrhea.

Frequent diarrhea is also a symptom of conditions like IBD, IBS, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Memon discusses your symptoms and orders testing to determine if a medical issue is causing diarrhea.

Treatment focuses on reducing the symptoms of the bowel disorder to help you achieve regular bowel movements and decrease other symptoms, such as abdominal cramping or nausea.

Fiber supplements are also an excellent option to help bulk your stools and slow them down through the intestines.

Call Texas Digestive Disease Consultants in The Woodlands, Magnolia, and Willis, Texas, today to get help for frequent diarrhea or request a consultation on the website.