I know you guys are not the “oracle” but, when I went to visit a few weeks ago, dad has lost weight, said he has painful guts, diarrhea, only eats a handful at a time. He’s been to the doc- and they have gotten vials of blood and stool samples.

While there they had him on a 2 week regimen of some $900 antibiotic that was supposed to kill e-coli in his gut. Also said he has IBS. Pills gave him the same symptoms as the stuff he already had. He went thru it and nothing has changed. He got another doc for a second opinion who has started new testing. Was also on a “smooth muscle relaxer”- for his intestines I guess.

No cancer, no celiac disease. He’s lost a lot of weight over four months. He only eats because he knows he has to. Only very bland foods don’t give him pain (pasta with only butter). he said he ate a small Wendy’s hamburger and it was like “ it just got bigger in my mouth” he only has a burger with ketchup pickles and mustard-doesn’t do condiments.

I have a service friend who got bit by a tick and can’t eat red meant due to Alpha-gal syndrome. And I think dad might have something close but he can be a very bad patient.

Any thoughts?

78 yo male who smokes (since the 60s) drinks too much, and doesn’t follow doctor advise. Basically hard headed. Any thoughts as to what to ask him? He has finally had enough pain in his guts to tell me and my older brother what’s going on.

I am no doctor, but it sounds like he may have AGS

I would think trying no mammal meat or milk products and taking a probiotic to see if things improve. If they do, then it may be AGS. If not, then it is probably something else. I hope he finds relief.

Sounds a bit like SIBO and/or "leaky gut". How's his mental status these days?

Lyme disease or this new red meat allergy from Texas ticks.

Have him take a good probiotic every day. Look into FODMAP for food intolerances. I can no longer eat garlic or onion which are high FODMAP. Gluten free may help even if he isn't celiac.

Went through a similar problem. My neighbor, an EMT, said to get an IgG test, which is a blood test for food allergies. My doctor said he didn't prescribe it because it cost $400 (over 20 years ago, not sure what it costs now). It made my life so much better, I can't tell you how good.

I then went to a doctor who practiced traditional Chinese medicine. With acupuncture and herbal supplements, it took about 6 months to fix the root-cause of the problem, which was a blocked bile duct, missed by my gastro doc.

Not sure if any of this applies.

Sounds a lot like what I'm going through.

Long story short, I'm now sensitive to gluten, dairy, and nuts.

Have him isolate foods that put him in pain. Start with cutting out breads and try some gluten free foods. Limit dairy or start using products that are lactose free, or take the pills.

I'll add that fast food breads are the worst for my condition. Whatever is in them sets it off for me.

I've been dealing with this for over 18 months, that's when I realized it was the foods I was eating. My older sister had the same thing happen about 2 years ago. Neither of my brothers have it, what ever it is.

Good luck

78 y/o male with pain, diarrhea, only tolerates small meals.
Blood and stool samples performed.
Antibiotic prescribed for ??
Needs CT scan to look at stomach, pancreas lower GI tract.

I learned when one has multiple symptoms that don’t add up, the most likely diagnosis is alcoholism.

Not judging, BTW; but I’ve seen this played out.

I didn't know it but,
You can become allergic to stuff in your later years.

At 74, my sibling became allergic to some nuts, not all , just a few.

How weird is that.
He was never allergic to them before.

Ok he said the first doc he went to said he may have UC ulcerative colitis or IBS irritable bowel. & he was given.

They tested for gluten and have ruled that out as he actually tolerates pasta fine. I dunno if there’s a test for gluten-but mom says they ruled it out.

The second opinion doc has ordered stool testing and they are waiting for results from that.

WRT alcoholism, he drinks 6-8 beers daily, my older brother was there visiting also and that usually encourages dads I take, so his normal may only be 4-6.

I’m waiting for them to make him have a colonoscopy and endoscopy, that’s probably next.

Yep, had all those tests too. The only test that came back with results was the food allergy test. Changing my diet has resolved the issues but I sure do know when I eat gluten.

I'm not saying your Dad has what I have but it sounds very similar...

I'm guessing his answer is no but have you asked him to stop drinking to see if the symptoms reduce?

He did stop drinking two years ago when he had pain in his liver. But I guess that quit hurting and he started drinking again.
I’m sure that will be the next thing the new doc will suggest. We’ll see.

My dad is not a good patient. Rarely does what anyone tells him. He was an only child and I’m guessing he got what he wanted. When he’s done with the pain and being tired after a few minutes of work he will comply. Smh

+1 on the CT scan.

It is 100,00 to 1 against this being it, but as almost no one is aware of the disease, it could be NET cancer (Neuro-Endocrine Tumor).

This sounds fairly similar to my initial symptoms. But a CT scan showed spots on my liver and then a colonoscopy and endoscopy found the primary tumor in my gut.

Again - probably NOT. But worth the mention. Doctors will say I'm 'hearing hoofbeats and thinking zebras'.

Your father's doctors should test him for C-Diff. It is a bacterial infection. It causes un-controllable diarrhea, generates spores in the stool which are highly contagious. It is not uncommon in elderly folks and damn near killed my father several times.

I do not believe many GP's are that familiar with C-Diff.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org...548-c-diff-infection

Not much to add but I have something he can try for IBS. I have had that for about 13 years now and I saw a new doctor to have my third colonoscopy done earlier this year. I had my first colonoscopy at 40 due to IBS symptoms but my first gastro dr did nothing for the IBS.

My current gastro said he would prescribe something for the IBS that would be life changing (I did not believe him in the slightest). I actually picked up the medicine by mistake (I did not plan on taking it) but since I paid for it tried it. It cured the IBS after about the third day. It is like taking Metamucil and it is taken daily.

You might mention it to his dr if it is kosher with his other meds. It is called Cholestyramine powder. Previously I used Cholestipol (which is supposed to be similar) pills for digestive issues after my gall bladder remolding but it did nothing for the IBS. The Cholestyramine powder was originally for lowering cholesterol so it will do that too.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark in Michigan:
Your father's doctors should test him for C-Diff. It is a bacterial infection. It causes un-controllable diarrhea, generates spores in the stool which are highly contagious. It is not uncommon in elderly folks and damn near killed my father several times.

I do not believe many GP's are that familiar with C-Diff.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org...548-c-diff-infection

This is what I came to post. Had a bout of it 3.5 years ago after the antibiotics I had been given to fix diverticulitis killed the good bacteria in my gut and the C-Dif bacteria took over.
Make sure they have ruled it out. BTW its transferable very easily. They had me quarantined.

antibiotics will wreak havoc on you gut......If needed I always, always have plenty of Greek Ono Fat Unflavored Yogurt!!!!!!!!!!!
Best of luck.

quote:

I do not believe many GP's are that familiar with C-Diff.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
C-Diff is common in hospitals and nursing homes. Unless your PCP is not up to speed it is tested whenever there are liquid stools that are foul smelling.

Aren’t liquid stools generally foul smelling? The solid ones don’t exactly smell like ice cream, either.