Oh boy, where do I start?
Background - I have had Covid 4 times, plus Pfizer vaccine plus 1 booster. My initial infection was at the beginning of the pandemic and was quite severe.
My first issue was symptoms of IBS-C. I saw a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy and said I was fine. Then, after my vaccinations, I ended up at ER with gastritis. I found a new gastroenterologist who did an endoscopy and found multiple ulcers and damage from reflux. He started me on Nexium and also confirmed my suspicions of IBS-C, recommending dietary and lifestyle changes to start. The Nexium was working great, but the bowel issues continued off and on. Linzess caused bowel leakage even at low doses, fiber supplements made the bloating and constipation worse. I continued to bloat and gain weight, people often assumed I was pregnant. Regular bloodwork showed rising cholesterol and blood sugar. My primary kept telling me I needed to exercise and improve my diet, lose weight, but chronic fatigue which was exacerbated by exertion made physical activity impossible.
Meanwhile I was also having issues with severe allergic asthma and chest pain. I ended up having to start Dupixant injections just to be able to breathe without using a nebulizer multiple times daily.
Finally I was diagnosed as suffering from long Covid but no help was suggested.
The abdominal pain and constipation worsened. I had another colonoscopy which showed minor diverticulosis. I was also found to have signs of fatty liver.
I also ended up in ER with chest pain. Stress tests and scans showed a mildly reduced ejection fraction and an enlarged spleen.
Then I experienced abdominal pain which got so bad I ended up going to urgent care, who then referred me to the ER with concern about Gallbladder infection. Tests showed multiple gallstones and due to the pain, removal of the Gallbladder was recommended. During that procedure lesions were noted on the liver, so a biopsy was performed. Based on the results of the biopsy which indicated chronic and acute inflammation and granuloma formation, my gastroenterologist is now testing for potential autoimmune diseases and I am currently waiting on results which are in progress.
I am still struggling with bloating, gas, intermittent abdominal pain, and intense fatigue. I am unable to participate in normal activities and it’s difficult to stay positive at times Just hoping to find a path to recovery.
tiredinvegas, COVID did a number to my gut & acid reflux. I had to bump up to 80 mg of Protonix and 1 Pepcid AC at night for back up reflux. It took about a year for this to calm down and now I am only on 20 mg of Protonix and 1 Pepcid AC at night.
I have lost weight and do not eat after 6:30 at night and that has helped. Head of bed is elevated. I also am taking a probiotic.
I take Linzess 72 mcg for IBS-C at night and it works wonderfully.
Praying for you and wish you the best with all of this.