People often seek diarrhoea treatment at Harmony Digestive and Liver Wellness Centre in Milton Keynes with two heavy thoughts. The first is, “Is this something serious like inflammatory bowel disease?” The second is, “Will anyone take me seriously, or will they say it’s in my head?” Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Arjun Prakash starts by answering both: your diarrhoea is real; it matters; and there’s a clear way to find out what’s going on.
When to Take Persistent Diarrhoea Seriously
If loose stools have been hanging around for more than six weeks, happening three or more times a day when that isn’t normal for you, or if urgency and accidents are creeping into daily life, it’s time to assess properly.
If there’s blood, weight loss, or new mucus—it’s simply a reason to explore proper diarrhoea treatment
The Common Diagnosis: IBS Explained Differently
Most people Dr Prakash sees with ongoing diarrhoea turn out to have IBS. He knows that label can sting. He explains it differently: IBS is a gut–brain nerve axis disorder. The nerves of the bowel become extra sensitive and the bowel can speed up. It’s physical and common—and treatable. He talks about IBS after checking for treatable medical causes, so you don’t feel dismissed while you’re still worried.
Your First Appointment: What to Expect
The first appointment is a conversation. What does a good day look like? What does a bad day look like? Any travel, tummy bugs, new medicines, night-time symptoms, or food that seems to trigger things?
Small details can big decisions. One woman came in hoping for something gentle for abdominal cramps. During the chat she mentioned a previous history of polyps and the pattern didn’t fit typical diarrhoea predominant IBS. Dr Prakash suggested a colonoscopy. It found a tight narrowing in the transverse colon. Only fluid could slip past, so it felt like diarrhoea. Acting on that one clue changed everything. Not everyone needs a colonoscopy—but some people absolutely do, and careful history can guide us in the right direction for effective diarrhoea treatment.
Exploring Other Causes of Chronic Diarrhoea
He also evaluates for some elusive reasons for diarrhoea. Bile acid malabsorption can follow a tummy bug or gallbladder surgery—or appear without a clear trigger—and produces urgent, watery stools that often get labelled as IBS. It’s very treatable, once recognised. Pancreatic enzyme deficiency is another: when there aren’t enough digestive enzymes, stools can turn pale or greasy, weight can drift down, and people feel bloated and drained; a simple stool test can catch it. Then there is microscopic colitis, where symptoms can wake you at night and certain medicines are known to nudge it along. In one of his cases, those two details—night-time symptoms plus an offending drug—led to the correct diagnosis and, more importantly, to a simple treatment that worked.
Diagnostic Tests: What They Show and Why They Matter
Testing is explained in plain language. A faecal calprotectin looks for bowel inflammation and helps separate inflammatory conditions (like Crohn’s or Ulcerative colitis) from IBS. Routine bloods check for anaemia, thyroid issues general inflammation and a coeliac screen. Stool tests for infection are used when the story points that way—after travel, for example. If there’s a question about the pancreas, a faecal elastase can help. Colonoscopy is suggested when it’s likely to change what happens next: red flags, abnormal results, or a new change in pattern. If you’re younger, your stool inflammatory markers are normal, your coeliac screen is negative and a recent colonoscopy was normal, repeating it rarely adds value. It isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing the right for you, including the right diarrhoea treatment.
Treatment and Management Options
No one needs to “wait it out” without help. While investigations are running, symptom relief usually starts straight away so the next few weeks feel liveable. People are often nervous about fibre because they worry it will make diarrhoea worse; used in the right way, soluble fibre can actually help firm things up in IBS-D. Loperamide has its place, but it shouldn’t be the whole plan. Diet matters, but endless elimination diets tend to shrink life more than symptoms. A targeted, time-limited low-FODMAP approach with careful re-introduction can work very well when guided by a good dietitian. Cost matters; Dr Prakash is upfront about when dietetic input is likely to be worth it so you don’t spend blindly.
The Role of the Gut Microbiome
The microbiome sits in the background of many of these conversations. It helps to think of it as a garden. After infections, stress or antibiotics, that garden can drift out of balance. Prebiotic fibres are the food that help the right plants grow, but they work best when you start low and go slow to avoid gas and cramping. Probiotics can help some people with IBS-D, though results depend on the strain and on the person. Try one for a few weeks (not the off-the shelf ones) and judge it by how you actually feel.
When to See a Gastroenterologist in Milton Keynes for Diarrhoea Treatment
If your symptoms are short-lived, clearly linked to a bug or a one-off dietary misstep, and you otherwise feel well, simple self-care is reasonable: fluids, rest, and time. But if diarrhoea has crept past six weeks, if there’s blood, weight loss or night-time symptoms, or if life is being planned around the nearest toilet, that’s the moment to see a gastroenterologist in Milton Keynes for Diarrhoea Treatment.
Harmony offers stool, blood and breath testing, evidence-based IBS care, and endoscopy when needed. For practicalities, Dr Arjun Prakash and his team are recognised by major insurers including Bupa and AXA, among others, which can make authorisation simpler; self-pay is available as well. Patients come from across Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Newport Pagnell, Buckingham, Bedford, and Northampton and from other areas within Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire.
Book a Consultation
If you’re still dealing with diarrhoea and want a thorough, well-led plan you can book with Dr Arjun Prakash at Harmony Digestive and Liver Wellness Centre, Milton Keynes. The real goal is simpler: answers, relief, and getting your life back through the right diarrhoea treatment.
(General information only; please seek personalised medical advice. If you have red-flag symptoms mentioned above, get care promptly)
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