QuestionCan a colonoscopy cause diarrhea? I am a healthy 61 year old woman. I had a colonoscopy on Sept 10, with normal results. I had slight constipation for about 2 weeks afterward. I took a very small dose (one tablet when 2 is the recommended dosage) of a stool softener.
I have had diarrhea attacks (usually two or three early in the morning and the same in the evening) every day since then. In addition, I have a small Bowel movement almost every time I go to the bathroom.
I have been taking Immodium AD daily (not a good practice, I know). This controls the small bowel movements, but not the diarrhea attacks, morning and evening.
I talked to the nurse in the office where the colonoscopy was done. She said the exam couldn't possibly have caused this and that I probably had diarrhea all the time, and just didn't notice it under after the exam. Balderdash! To put it politely. If I had this condition all the time, I would have known!
Regardless of the cause, what can I do about it?
AnswerHi Jo,
Stop taking Imodium-AD. Your symptoms suggest chronic constipation. When stool is compacted in the small and upper portions of the large intestines, it tends to cause leaky small bouts of stool. This is not diarrhea as diarrhea is a large bout of bile fluid mixed with solids. Taking Imodium-AD will only worsen the problem.
First, I would recommend scheduling an appointment with the gastroenterologist who performed the procedure for advisory and ignore what the nurse told you altogether.
Second, stop all solid foods for the following week and supplement it with a liquid and high-fiber soft diet. You should increase your fluids with electrolytes. I recommend at least 8-10 cups (8oz) per day mixed with 2 teaspoons of Karo syrup. The cheapest one in the market is Pedialyte. It works and saves you $$$! You should stop all juices containing "sorbitol" as it will decrease your colonic transit. The best juices are prune and cranberry juice without preservatives and sorbitol.
Lastly, 15-30 minutes of walking in the morning also helps increase your metabolism throughout the day.
Regards,
John Thai, MD
