How and where to get treatment for GI issues post Covid?

Posted by growens0458 @growens0458, Aug 4 11:30am

How and where to get treatment for post covid GI issues. Went to ER got IV fluids and was prescribed Zofran and bland diet. In 4 days no improvement. I live in a very rural area in Northern Wisconsin.

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covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | Aug 4 1:10pm

Is there a Gastroenterologist in your area? I had to see mine after COVID due to my reflux got so much worse...it finally calmed down.

Praying for you to get some relief from this. Blessings & Prayers....

glennathill | @glennathill | Aug 5 7:48am

You should probably see a specialist after covid I ended up with bad gut bacteria. It was treated with antibiotics. It wouldn't hurt to be tested for that

kayabbott | @kayabbott | Aug 6 10:16am

With diarrhea you are likely getting dehydrated so fluids with salts is important. Gatorade and other drinks that have electrolytes (salts are good). If you can eat yogurt, the probiotics (good bacteria) in it can help repopulate your GI tract if covid nailed them. A gastroenterologist can see if there is any GI damage and help with healing. Recommending a bland diet is the usual prescription, but doesn't address if you have SIBO, new food intolerances, or other stressful stuff. Stress has a huge impact on the GI tract, so try to escape however you can. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10644864/#:~:text=Only%2049%20patients%20completed%20the,months%20after%20acute%20infection%2017%20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9177081/

emo | @emo | Aug 10 6:46pm

I think you could seek out a gastroenterologist, even if your symptoms came on after COVID, but personally, I’d recommend looking for someone who treats functional GI disorders. Others may have different opinions.

It’s common to develop GI conditions after a viral infection, which happened to me, and then it got worse after COVID. But honestly, the approach to symptoms is the same either way. I’ve been seen at a large academic medical center with a long COVID clinic, and they refer to “regular” specialists to manage the symptoms because the treatment is the same.

It does usually take a really long wait for a GI doctor though, and I’m in a large city.

Ultimately, what’s helped me is working with my GI doctor, a pelvic PT and a GI-trained dietician. I hope you’re able to find relief.

covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | Aug 10 9:08pm

I agree with emo. My gastro doctor treated me after COVID when my GERDS & IBS worsened. He increased my Protonix and I also had to take 1 Pepcid AC 20 mg at night for back up reflux. It took months for my GERDS & IBS to calm down. I am now on only 20 mg of Protonix and 1 10 mg Pepcid AC at night. I hope to eventually wean myself down even lower.

Prayers to you & blessings.