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Brown pellet like stools with minor cramps. COLON CANCER?

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About 5 weeks ago I got watery diarrhea for one day. I had to keep going to the bathroom and I think I had a fever, and I had chills. There was a bug going around the house. The next day I felt better. We went on vacation and I didn't notice any problems with diarrhea. The following week the diarrhea started a couple of times a day after I ate. It was soft, or watery and sometimes it was small but formed. There were pellet like stools. I didn't feel an urgency to go just a little cramping to let me know I had to go. It was only about 2-3 times a day. Sometimes it would be brown, light brown and sometimes a fluffy yellowish with undigested food in it. It also was green with undigested lettuce. I really had no pain just minor cramps. I had no blood or mucus. Once when the diarrhea was very soft it looked to me like little bits of rice or sesame seed size white things. I don't have very much gas. I haven't loss weight or lost my apatite and haven't felt nauseas. I am not tired and it hasn't interfered with my work day. I am taking priobotics and yogurt. Previously I was not eating good at all. A lot of fast food, milkshakes and the like. I am now trying to eat a healthier diet. I do take a lot of medicine for BP, Irregular heart beat, blood thinner. I am almost 69 years old patientold. I have an appointment with my GP on Friday and I have also scheduled a colonoscopy which is in September. Does this sound like it could be colon cancer, or IBS or a parasite infection?

Category: Gastroenterologist, Medical

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Category: Hepatologist
 29 Doctors Online

Hello.
Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.
I went through your post about altered bowel habits. The features you have mentioned does not fit in to colon cancer.
It looks more like infection only.
A stool test may be done for confirmation.
IBS is the second possibility.
Go ahead with colonoscopy also as a screening test as you are 69 years old patientold.
I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.


Patient replied :

Hello Doctor,
Thank you for your response. I went to my Doctor on August 22. I explained my symptoms to him. He wanted a stool sample. He thought it could be a bacterial infection or possibly lactose intolerance. I told him I was eating yogurt. He told me to stop the yogurt and diary products which I did and he said to take a prebiotic which I have been doing every day. In the last week or so my bowel movements have returned to normal. He told me not to get the sample if the diarrhea stopped. Today, I had a very large milkshake and 2 hours later I had mild diarrhea. So it does seem to be lactose intolerance. I had already scheduled a colonoscopy for the middle of September which I will follow through with. So do you think it is lactose intolerance and recommend no diary products also?

Thank you so much.


Hello.
Yes it could be lactose intolerance.
But only after a stool test or a breath test I can tell for sure.
Try to avoid dairy products and see if there is any improvement.
Regards.


Dr. Ratnakar Kini
Category: Hepatologist
Experience: 
Fellowship - DM - TN Dr.MGR Medical UniversityResidency - TN Dr.MGR Medical University Medical School - Stanely Medical College, TN Dr.MGR Medical University
Dr. Ratnakar Kini and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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