Okay my autonomic neuropathy has really been messing with my colon lately. Any suggestions. Took half of an Imodium today, but try not to have to do that often.

What medications do you take? Medications can do that.
Even simple everyday GERD acid blockers cause diarrhea.
Gabapentin and Lyrica can cause bowel incontinence.
SSRIs like Cymbalta also increase serotonin which causes excess motility.

Foods too. There are many additives in processed foods, including gums, powdered cellulose, malted barley flour and malt extract, sorbitol. Some people get loose eating these.

Gluten intolerance.

Spices from the nightshade family. Paprika, green and red chilies and peppers.

Dysbiosis from antibiotic use...Candida. Kefir may help this.

Excess histamine in foods...or foods called histamine releasers.
( I have a thread in the subforum on histamine).

Fructose (fruit or high fructose containing foods). 1 in 3 people are fructose intolerant and may get loose consuming this.

Crohn's may develop or colitis. There is also a condition called Habba's which results in too much bile salts being released at mealtimes, and this causes diarrhea. You can look that up...it was on Mystery Diagnosis on TV Discovery Channel.

There are many contaminated foods out there. You could pick up something that way.

I would think that nerve damage would lead to constipation, and not the reverse. But I guess anything is possible.

There are so many possibilities I could go on and on!

I take dicyclomine for a spastic colon. Other than that I do not take anything. It is probably just one of those things I will have to deal with. I wish mine caused constipation. It is horrible missing out on things because of your stomach or having to make sure you have something to take at all times and know where bathrooms are. It could be worse though.

Oh don't ever wish for constipaption, as those sufferers will tell you it's pure hell. At least you can go when you get to the bathroom. My poor aunt got impacted and had to have it...um..removed by hand.

My sister also has it., I feel so bad for them.

Have you tried flax seed? It adds bulk and actually helps both conditions. For some reason every time I eat turkey dogs I get "loose" stools so I always take flaxseed when i want to eat them. 2 Tablespoons before I eat and it gives bulk and makes all ok.

good luck

I was very ill on vacation.... everyday...like you are having.

It turned out to be Chobani yogurt... which was recalled in August, and I discovered that when we returned. It also has gums in it which cause gas and diarrhea in some people. But it was contaminated with a dairy yeast (which was not named) that causes GI disturbances! I never left our island... 5 weeks as a recluse because of my need for a toilet (which up there is an outhouse!)

I have been loose my whole life. Just recently this has been explained more in detail. 1) I have a malrotation of the GI tract that is a birth defect...so gas will set me off with a torsion or obstruction. I've been hospitalized once for 10 days with that.
Now I thought this was IT. But it turns out I most likely have a second problem, called hereditary angioedema...this explains the "spells" I have with normal in between times. This all came to a crisis in Feb because of my ACE inhibitor blood pressure drug--lisinopril. So now my doctor says I have both conditions. The HAE when in the GI tract is pain, followed by either diarrhea or vomiting, or both.(When I was young it was alot of vomiting, but that doesn't seem to happen much now that I am older). It comes on suddenly and leaves in 2-3 days.
The chemical mediator of this situation is bradykinin which is a biogenic amine related to serotonin. It causes the bowel to swell up inside so then it cannot move properly and it goes haywire instead.

I used to use Bentyl (dicyclomine), but found it not so effective. I've really taken every bowel drug there is over the last 50 yrs.
Atropine, ProBanthine, Combid (all 3 are no longer available), Lomotil (too strong) Bentyl, and now I like Librax (the old formula). I also have Levsinex if the Librax does not work, but I think that is too strong. I also use 1/2 Imodium for minor twinges, and full dose like this summer for major issues.

Metformin for type II diabetes makes me very very ill... worse than ever. I've tried 3 times to use it...the last failure was Glumetza which is supposed to be gentler, but really isn't. So my reaction is probably more of a confirmation of the HAE status I think.

I only eat whole foods, and cannot tolerate many processed things at all. I can do some veggies, except the cabbage family.
And fruit is definitely a trigger for me and is listed as a trigger for HAE patients. I only drink Lactaid milk. Anything that causes gas will put me into an agonizing situation. So I do understand limitations and public embarrassment very well. In my case over the years I found processed foods to be the worst triggers after fruit. The things I listed in my first post on this thread are all triggers for me. Malted barley flour and malt extract are in most breads and many other baked goods. Malt is a laxative. So for people with a "tendency" to be "fast transit"...it should really be avoided.

I do like Kefir.... it really helped me over a year ago. I used to be much much worse! (if that is possible). I think it fixed my antibiotic dysbiosis from many years of antibiotics.
So you might try some too. That may help. I get Lifeway Kefir which is very good, with 12 probiotics in it, at Kroger's and Costco now.

I've been at both ends of the spectrum. IME the pain from IBS/Crohns' was far worse than the discomfort of constipation; whichever end I was at, the other would have been welcomed just to even things out. YMMV.

Doc

I have noticed that some fruits like blueberries really set it off. Sugar makes it worse as well. I love tea bu can't drink it but rarely. I usually stick with water. I am probably going to have to do a serious elimination diet. Thanks

Here are the HAE links:
http://www.haea.org/patients/what-is-hae/

http://www.hcplive.com/publications/...-04/2005-04_02

The angioedema I am speaking of is not "allergic" and does not have hives. But it does cause swelling...and I have had this quite a bit over the years. My last was my left hand before vacation...for no reason. I have had my tongue and lips swell, and some of my gums at times, as well. But most of my symptoms are confined to the GI tract. The mediator of allergies is histamine. The mediator of HAE is bradykinin. For this reason, antihistamines, and steroids do not typically work for HAE attacks.

I have to say, I am flabbergasted about this new situation for me. But then I have over 60 yrs of history and anguish to show for it.
I always get better.. so I keep on truckin'. But someday it might close off my windpipe, or if I have surgery it might rear up too.
So I will have to get the testing from an immunologist soon, just in case.

BTW I can drink teas but I can't handle coffee at all!