Diarrhea

Diarrhea is an unpleasant experience that we all deal with at one time or another. Loose, watery stools can cause you to run to the bathroom when you least expect it. And it may feel like your symptoms drag on forever.

Symptoms that often occur with diarrhea include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Nausea

This page will first discuss when you should see a gastroenterologist for diarrhea and how we diagnose and treat this symptom. We’ll then outline the potential causes of diarrhea. Lastly, we’ll discuss how to stop diarrhea by making dietary changes.

When to See a Gastroenterologist for Diarrhea

Diarrhea often goes away on its own. But if your symptoms don’t resolve in a few days, it may be a sign of a medical condition.

Signs that you should see a gastroenterologist for diarrhea include:

  • Diarrhea lasting 2 days or more
  • Frequent diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Rectal pain
  • Blood in the stool
  • Fever
  • Weight loss

Gastroenterologists are specially trained to diagnose and treat the cause of diarrhea. If you live in Lubbock, Texas and want relief from your symptoms, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Diarrhea

Diagnosis of diarrhea begins with a discussion of your symptoms, including when they first started and how they’ve progressed. Understanding what makes your symptoms better or worse can help determine the cause of diarrhea.

Signs that we look out for include:

  • Abdominal pain that improves after a bowel movement
  • Bloating, gas, and abdominal pain after eating
  • Diarrhea after eating

After discussing your symptoms, we’ll then conduct a physical exam. We may need to complete additional testing depending on our findings.

Tests that can diagnose the cause of diarrhea include:

  • Stool culture
  • Blood tests
  • Breath tests
  • Upper endoscopy
  • Colonoscopy

Treatment of diarrhea depends on your diagnosis. We may prescribe medication, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications to treat your condition.

Dr. Islam’s Diarrhea Video Playlist

View a series of videos that Dr. Islam has created to educate his patients on Diarrhea. Get an expert rundown on the foods that could be causing you issues. You’ll gain an understanding of how to evaluate bowel movements and what the various shapes & colors mean. While diarrhea is a common symptom, the videos will help you to better prevent its occurrence and understand when to see a doctor.

What Are the Causes for Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is often a symptom of a digestive condition. But other factors can also contribute to diarrhea. We’ll discuss common types of diarrhea and their potential causes below.

Yellow Diarrhea

Fat malabsorption — a condition that occurs when your body cannot properly digest fats — may cause yellow diarrhea. This type of diarrhea may appear greasy and smell foul.

Potential causes of yellow diarrhea include:

  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Celiac disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Infection
  • Yellow-colored foods
    • Carrots
    • Sweet potatoes
    • Yellow food coloring

Black Diarrhea

Bleeding in the upper digestive tract may cause black diarrhea. This type of diarrhea may appear tarry in texture.

Causes of black diarrhea may include:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
  • Ischemia of the gut
  • Infection
  • Radiation therapy
  • Colon cancer
  • Medication
    • Pepto-Bismol
    • Iron supplements
  • Dark-colored foods
    • Blueberries
    • Black licorice
    • Chocolate

If you experience black diarrhea, you should contact your doctor to rule out potential medical complications.

Watery Diarrhea

Watery diarrhea is completely liquid with no solid pieces. This type of diarrhea spends very little time in the digestive tract.

Potential causes of watery diarrhea include:

  • Infection
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Fructose intolerance
  • Medication
    • Antibiotics
    • Antacids
    • NSAIDs

How to Stop Diarrhea

Your doctor may recommend dietary changes to treat diarrhea. Below, we’ll discuss how to stop diarrhea and solidify your stools with 2 short-term diet plans.

Clear Liquid Diet

A clear liquid diet includes clear liquids and foods that are liquid at room temperature. You may consume colored liquids and foods as long as you can see through them.

Clear liquids are easy to digest and can relieve symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

A clear liquid diet clears out your digestive tract and reduces stress on your digestive system. But this diet doesn’t provide all the nutrients that you need and should only be followed for a few days at a time.

Foods that you can eat on a clear liquid diet include:

  • Water
  • Soda
  • Coffee without cream or milk
  • Tea without cream or milk
  • Honey
  • Jell-O
  • Fruit juices
  • Popsicles
  • Strained soup
  • Vegetable or meat broth

Your doctor may prescribe a clear liquid diet to treat some digestive conditions. You may also need to follow a clear liquid diet before procedures such as a colonoscopy. If you have any medical conditions, you should always consult your doctor before starting this diet.

BRAT Diet

The BRAT diet consists of bland foods that are low in fat and easy to digest. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast. These foods are the main staples of this diet.

But you can also eat other foods including:

  • Crackers
  • Oatmeal
  • Grits
  • Yogurt
  • Cooked carrots
  • Chicken
  • Turkey

Foods on the BRAT diet are gentle on your digestive system and add bulk to your stool. Make sure to drink plenty of liquids while following this diet to prevent dehydration. Once your diarrhea resolves, you can resume your normal diet.

Lubbock, Texas Gastroenterologist

Dr. Sameer Islam is a West Texas native and gastroenterologist in Lubbock, Texas. He treats the root cause of your digestive symptoms and helps you feel better.

If you experience persistent diarrhea or a change in bowel habits, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.