Expert: Jacqueline Jacques, ND - 3/25/2011

Question
I am 52 years old.  Had gastric bypass in june of 2004.  I have developed constant watery diarrhea for the past three days. I do not feel sick at all like a flu...but water or any food goes right through me.  I'm not sure what to do or if it could be related to the gastric bypass I had 8 years ago.  I hope to get some insight about what to do.  I had my surgery at Mayo. Please answer as soon as possible.  I'm afraid I will get dehydrated and malnourished...in a very short time. Thanks so much. I'm afraid something is terribly wrong.

Answer
Hi Liza,

Because your bypass was so many years ago, it is not likely that it is the cause of your current diarrhea.  Most cases of acute (versus chronic) diarrhea are caused by an infection - usually from bacteria, but also from other causes.

That said, 3 days is a long time, and you are at higher risk for complications from diarrhea (as you already said yourself :)).  It would be advisable for you to see a doctor today to see if you can find out the cause of the diarrhea and get it treated as soon as possible.  As with any acute illness, it is important to tell the doctor you see that you do have a gastric bypass so that they can keep that in mind (it can impact everything from tests ordered to prescriptions).

So while I would not be overly concerned that this is bypass related, I would definitely get seen by a doctor for appropriate diagnosis and treatment right away.  

In Health,

Dr. Jacques