Some folks might expertise constipation after diarrhea. Though it’s unusual, some medicines or dietary modifications might have an effect on bowel actions and trigger these drastic modifications.
Some folks might have underlying circumstances that have an effect on their digestive system as properly.
Taking a look at different signs might assist an individual and their physician determine the underlying trigger. Therapy will fluctuate based mostly on the trigger.
This text critiques some causes of constipation after diarrhea, therapies, prevention, and when to see a physician.
It’s potential to expertise diarrhea after constipation, however it isn’t frequent.
This text outlines just a few potential underlying causes.
Food regimen
An individual’s food regimen can usually trigger modifications in bowel actions.
Some meals might irritate the intestines, although these meals will fluctuate from individual to individual.
Some folks might have an intolerance or allergy to sure meals. The
These common food allergens embody:
The
If the signs happen often however are frequent sufficient to trigger annoyance, strive retaining a meals journal to maintain monitor of food regimen and bowel actions.
This may increasingly assist determine set off meals and intolerances.
Learn more about which foods can cause diarrhea here.
Abdomen bug
A abdomen or intestinal an infection
The signs
Some flu signs, resembling a excessive fever, might dry the physique out, which might result in a change of signs from constipation to diarrhea.
Look out for different telling signs of an infection.
Different indicators of a
- lack of urge for food
- fever
- chills
- physique aches or a headache
- vomiting
- abdomen ache
Learn more about a 24-hour stomach bug here.
Response to medicines
In some circumstances, drastic modifications in bowel actions may very well be on account of a drugs an individual has taken.
In response to
These medicines embody nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antipsychotics, antidepressants, and metformin.
Anybody who experiences gastrointestinal modifications after beginning a brand new medicine or adjusting a dosage ought to contact their physician for extra info.
A few of these modifications could also be momentary and can enhance because the physique will get used to a medicine.
Each drug and physique is completely different, so it’s best to speak to a physician in every case.
Learn more about the potential side effects of medications here.
Being pregnant
Pregnancy causes numerous modifications within the physique. An individual’s hormonal fluctuations might have an effect on the transit time of their bowel actions. For instance, elevated progesterone throughout being pregnant might scale back intestine motility and result in constipation in as much as
An individual can work with a physician to seek out methods to ease any uncomfortable circumstances or signs that happen throughout being pregnant, resembling constipation and diarrhea.
Learn more about constipation during pregnancy here.
Underlying digestive problems
Somebody who experiences constipation after diarrhea recurrently might have an underlying digestive dysfunction, resembling the next.
IBS
In response to the
IBS signs can fluctuate from individual to individual, however these modifications usually happen together with different hallmark signs, resembling:
- fatigue
- belly ache
- gas
- bloating
- mucus within the stool
IBS signs may additionally happen on account of different triggers, resembling consuming one thing the physique has a sensitivity to, excessive ranges of stress, or modifications within the intestine micro organism.
The
An individual may additionally have IBS with combined bowel habits (IBS-M). Individuals with this situation might recurrently expertise each diarrhea and constipation.
An individual with IBS-M experiences no less than 1 / 4 of their stools as laborious and lumpy and no less than 1 / 4 as watery and free.
Learn more about foods to avoid with IBS.
IBD
IBD is completely different from IBS. IBD refers to a number of circumstances, together with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
These circumstances can develop if the autoimmune responses usually are not working correctly, and they don’t reply to triggers accurately.
In response to the
Persistent irritation can worsen signs and result in harm over time.
Signs of IBD might embody common and chronic diarrhea and belly ache. Different signs might embody fatigue, weight reduction, and rectal bleeding.
Signs might seem in response to sure meals or different triggers.
Remedies for constipation and diarrhea will fluctuate based mostly on the underlying trigger and severity of signs.
For infrequent circumstances, the particular person might solely must make minor changes, resembling consuming extra liquids and including extra fiber to their food regimen to enhance stool consistency.
An infection
When a light abdomen an infection is the offender, a physician might suggest that an individual drinks loads of fluids, resembling water, broth, and electrolyte drinks.
After the an infection clears, medical doctors might suggest an individual take probiotics to assist replenish their healthful intestine micro organism.
Treating IBS
Medical doctors might suggest alternative ways to manage the triggers of IBS in every case.
The
- leisure remedy to cut back stress and anxiousness ranges
- medicine to alleviate particular signs, resembling diarrhea or constipation.
- dietary modifications or taking fiber dietary supplements to extend stool well being
- taking probiotics
Learn more about other treatment options for IBS here.
IBD
There’s at present no treatment for IBD. The situation requires common remedy and checkups with a physician. Imaging procedures, resembling a colonoscopy, can assist medical doctors look at the bowels.
In response to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, medical doctors might suggest a lot of completely different medicine, relying on the particular person’s wants. These might embody anti-inflammatory medicine, immunosuppressant medicine, and particular medicine to alleviate diarrhea or constipation.
Some folks with IBD might require surgical procedure.
It is probably not potential to forestall constipation after diarrhea in each case. An individual ought to notice any private symptom triggers and attempt to eradicate them. It’s also vital to concentrate to general digestive well being in addition to food regimen and way of life components.
Strategies for stopping constipation after diarrhea might fluctuate based mostly on the trigger and situation.
Nonetheless, the following pointers might assist:
- keep hydrated
- eat a fiber-rich food regimen
- train recurrently
- keep away from overeating
- take common probiotics to advertise intestine well being
- scale back stress ranges
- scale back anxiety or conditions that trigger anxiousness.
- restrict tobacco use
- restrict alcohol consumption
Learn more about foods to avoid when Crohn’s disease flares up.
Whereas experiencing constipation after diarrhea is unusual, it isn’t normally a trigger for concern. Usually, an individual has a abdomen bug or has eaten one thing their physique has bother digesting.
Nonetheless, it is very important take note of some other signs that will develop. Anybody who experiences extreme signs or signs that final for a number of days ought to see a physician.
An individual must also see a physician in the event that they expertise sure signs, together with steady ache, bloody stools, and common fatigue.
Prolonged bouts of constipation might result in impacted stools which might be extraordinarily laborious to cross. This may increasingly result in issues, resembling hemorrhoids or tears within the anus pores and skin from an excessive amount of pressure. In some circumstances, the stool might grow to be too tough to cross in any respect.
If it turns into very tough or not possible to have a bowel motion, contact a physician.
Steady diarrhea might dehydrate the physique. Take note of any
- very darkish urine
- no urine manufacturing
- dry mouth
- elevated thirst
- headache
- dizziness and confusion
Anybody noticing the indicators of dehydration after common diarrhea must also see their physician.
Constipation and diarrhea might not generally happen collectively, however it’s potential. Just a few completely different points may cause this speedy change in bowel patterns.
Managing signs might typically be sufficient, resembling when a short lived an infection or meals intolerance has triggered constipation after diarrhea.
Extra persistent signs might require medical remedy, and medical doctors might want to diagnose and recurrently deal with the underlying situation, resembling in folks with IBS or IBD.
