SIBO, or Duodenitis, or what?
I’ve been through a battery of tests with no issues found so I figured it’s time to reach out to see if someone else’s experience could help diagnosis.
Prior to my current issues I’ve had minor digestive issues such couple days a week i’d have diarrhea multiple times in the morning, or id be woken up at night by digestive “rumblings” but nothing that seemed worth seeing a doctor over. I was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about a year ago (probably have had it for a while before then though)
My current issues started with me waking up one night with what felt like just typical bad indigestion from eating spicy food to late at night. Normally when this happens I just sit up for a few minutes and the pain passes with a bit of gurgling sensation in my stomach. This time it didn’t the ache just wouldn’t stop. The next day I felt a little less of an ache so I had some tomato soup for brunch. Two hours later I felt very nauseous and vomited. And barley at anything all day. At the end of the day desperate to eat something I tried smoking some marijuana. All though I still had pain in what felt like my stomach the nausea cleared up and I was able to eat. Three days later I saw my doctor he said wait 5 days to see if it’s just a “bug” I did and it didn’t go away. After having and ultra sound, a gastric empty test, and endoscopy all come back normal with no issues found my doctor agreed it could be trulicity causing the constant pain in what felt like my stomach as well as the diarrhea I had developed. After a month of no trulicity some of my worse issues like nausea did clear up but I was still left with the following symptoms. Alternating constipation and diarrhea, excessive belching to the point of (where is all the gas coming from?) and a sore ache in the dead center of my abdomen right where I the think the duodenum is. What ever is hurting I can actually touch by pressing the spot and it instantly gets more sore. After having a CT and CCK HIDA to check my gall bladder all come back ok no problem. I’m now waiting (have to wait 4 weeks) on a breath test for SIBO. (At this point I’ve had the constant pain for 2 and a 1/2 months). I am concerned though about what this test will show because some things do or don’t make sense for SIBO. For example although I do get bloating and belching the main thing that hurts is the thing I can touch and push on which dosn’t feel like the small intestines. Looking up SIBO online the pain should be from the bloating. Also I’ve had zero extra flatulence. I’ve been trying to fallow a low FODMAP diet and although what I eat does make some difference in the amount of belching, it dosn’t seem to match up to high or low FODMAP . For example two hard boiled eggs and oatmeal causes as much belching as a steak and cheese sub with onions and Mayo. The tenderness in the middle of my chest as well as the ache which at times can feel like hunger pain matches symptoms of duadentitis, bust my endoscopy show no problems.
If anyone could provide some insight if this sounds like SIBO or what it could be it would help me immensely.
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Don’t feel like an idiot. You are doing YOUR BEST. Half the GI specialist don’t understand half the problems. Extremely complicated is the GI TRACT. GOOD LUCK
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3 ReactionsHi @blessedwildapplegirl
How did regrouping with your GI group go yesterday?
They were not able to schedule my colonoscopy until June 9, so I may go in for a CAT scan before that. I don’t understand why I can have severe stomach pain for a couple days in a row and I can’t eat anything and then I’ll have a day when I’m fine. I eat the same thing every day! That’s just weird. Has that ever happened to you?
I have the problem with slow digestion called gastroparsis. If I eat red meat it sits on my stomach for about three or four days with nausea and vomiting.
It’s really hard to digest. They recommend if you have gastroparsis to blend your food for easier digestion. Yogurt bloats my stomach up for a couple of days afterwards.
There are certain foods I do and do not eat that makes it worse.
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3 ReactionsOh, yes I have. That is the million dollar question, 🤔 and exactly the reason there are trained professionals we work with. They know the science / we know our body. I do know it all is truly systemic, affects my entire body. What I eat, my activity level, strengthening and stretching all make a difference.
What are you expecting these tests to pin down and/or rule out? Are these tests your GI clinic recommends you get done next or are you telling them what you want done? Aren’t you just tired of running in circles? ⭕️
No, I didn’t request these tests; the doctor did. I think they’re looking for diverticulitis, colon cancer (it runs in my family), and a hiatal hernia. I finally tried some aloe vera gel yesterday, and it made me feel better even though I only drank a tiny bit. I just watched an interesting video on YouTube by a Dr. Berg that my neighbor sent me and discovered that low thyroid and not enough b vitamins can cause a lack of stomach acid, which of course can cause acid reflux and Gerd because your food doesn’t get digested and then it pushes against that flap. I probably don’t get enough vitamin B because the only one I take is B12, so I’m going to do that. I also have a low thyroid and I’ve been treating it with iodized salt because I was using a different salt that a doctor recommended for me years ago and I didn’t even realize it didn’t have iodine in it! So whenever I can eat, I put a lot of salt in my food, which would probably be bad for most people, but I have low sodium in my blood for some reason. Probably because I don’t eat enough! I was so happy to be able to eat yesterday. It makes all the difference in the world. But I got up too late today and was so hungry that I wolfed my food down and I’ll probably pay for it later. Oops!
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3 ReactionsHow in the world are you able to figure out a cause and effect of anything if you keep changing what you eat/take? I am super confused I guess. I thought you said you eat the same thing every day. I guess you do….except for they days when you don’t. 😜
I eat the same thing every day when I’m able to eat, but I’m trying to introduce some remedies that have been suggested by my doctor, like the aloe vera gel and also I need to take some extra vitamins, like b vitamins. I don’t change my food though. It’s just that some days I can’t eat anything.
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1 ReactionI also have gastroparesis. A very tough disease. I tried all the motility drugs including Reglan. And all the different diets. Two things that helped on diet was going gluten free and dairy free. Hard to give up. Breakfast was my primary and sometimes only meal of the day. Have not been able to eat red meat or pork in a very long time. Only chicken or turkey. Nothing fried.
The biggest help for me was my GI doctor was able to get FDA approval for me to take Domperidone. It is a old drug no longer available in the US. You have to get approval from a cardiologist to be on it and all other medical avenues have been exhausted. It has been a life saver for a, a true blessing.
How that some of this is helpful in your fight with this disease. Blessings on your day.
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