Alternating Diarrhea And Constipation

[Joyous]

My GI doctor told me that the only condition with alternating diarrhea and constipation is IBS (as evidence for why he doesn't think I'm gluten intolerant). I've read otherwise, but I'm curious as to people's actual experiences with this. Is this guy just simply wrong, or is the stuff I've been reading wrong, or is it sometimes the case?

[Ursa Major]

Your doctor is very ill informed. And of course, that is likely why he will 'diagnose' people with IBS instead of celiac disease or gluten intolerance (IBS is NOT a valid diagnosis, as there is something that is irritating the bowel, IBS is a symptom, not a disease).

I've had alternating constipation and diarrhea all my life, until finally an attempted bowel cleanse put me over the edge into chronic, watery diarrhea at the age of 52. That was the last straw, but I've been unwell from the age of three. With (as far as I can see, looking back) pretty obvious symptoms of celiac disease and dairy intolerance.

So, you appear better informed than your doctor (no surprise here), and he doesn't know what the heck he is talking about. Because of doctors like him I had to suffer for 50 years before I finally diagnosed myself and put myself on the gluten-free diet.

[confusedks]

My Dr. also told me the same thing....stupid GI docs! My question is, what could cause it other than celiac disease? I am gluten-free and have been, but still have this problem sometimes.

[Ursa Major]

My Dr. also told me the same thing....stupid GI docs! My question is, what could cause it other than celiac disease? I am gluten-free and have been, but still have this problem sometimes.

Both dairy and soy can cause both diarrhea and constipation, as can nightshade foods, rice, eggs, corn, legumes (especially dried ones), as well as ALL grains. In fact, every one of those will cause either D or C in me, sometimes one, sometimes the other.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Alternating diarrhea and constipation was one of my symptoms, too--but they were both mild enough that I pretty much ignored them. If you had asked me if I had intestinal problems, I would have said, "NO!" I was that good at ignoring them.

Both the diarrhea and the constipation completely disappeared when I went gluten-free. (What prompted me to go gluten-free was a rash that was later determined to be DH.)

Please feel free to show my post to your doctor. You can also tell him that the "S" in IBS stands for "syndrome," which is not an illness, but a collection of symptoms. Funny thing, those symptoms (of IBS) happen to be IDENTICAL to those of celiac. In fact, you can print out symptoms from websites on each one and show those to him, too.

I hope he is thoroughly embarrassed. He ought to be ashamed of himself.

[Sweetfudge]

When I get glutened, my BM's go to one for a day or two then to the complete opposite for a couple more days. Always thought it was weird