Constant diarrhea that is accompanied with trouble eating is most likely caused by irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is a common digestive condition that primarily affects the large intestine. IBS either causes food to move too fast or too slowly through the colon, leading to digestive discomfort. Severe symptoms may make eating an unpleasant experience, leading to anxiety. IBS affects about one in five Americans, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Do not treat your diarrhea with over-the-counter medications without consulting your doctor for a proper diagnosis of your condition.
IBS Cause
The cause of IBS is unclear, according to MayoClinic.com. The symptoms are caused by erratic movements in the colon that lead to either diarrhea or constipation. The colon is lined with muscles that help move waste toward the anus. Once enough pressure builds up on the anus, your muscles contract, causing the waste to expel during a bowel movement. If you have IBS, the muscles in your colon may overreact and contract too often, causing chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea from IBS needs to be treated because the condition can lead to dehydration.
Symptoms
Symptoms from IBS may vary from person to person, but typically cause similar symptoms. FamilyDoctor.org states that common symptoms include mucus in the stool, constipation, feeling an urge to have a bowel movement, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping and feeling like you have to have another bowel movement after you've just had one. Symptoms do not cause any permanent damage to any part of your digestive system and symptoms typically do not get worse over time. Most symptoms are triggered after eating certain foods or experiencing increased stress.
Food
Some foods are more likely to trigger IBS symptoms. If you have IBS, you should probably avoid or limit alcohol, caffeine, dairy, beans, rye, barley, wheat, fried or fatty foods and chocolate. Most IBS sufferers react to some of these. Identify which foods trigger your symptoms by keeping a food log for one week. Write down everything you eat, how much of it you eat and how the meal affects your digestion. Share this with your doctor to pinpoint which foods are causing your symptoms.
Treatment
In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe medication, but most people can treat their symptoms with diet modification and a reduction of stress. Increase the amount of water you drink, eat a variety of low-fat foods, eat smaller meals more frequently and avoid any problem foods.
