Chronic Gut Issues

Posted by lexic10 @lexic10, May 12 8:04pm

Hi, I'm Lexi and very new to chatting online like this. I find myself here because the past two years I've been dealing with almost nonfunctional gut pains. I make so many irregular bathroom trips, followed by extreme nausea and vomiting. It was so hard to eat even the smallest amount of food. Eventually, I had to drop out of school, quit my job and become bedridden for months. I've spent so much time at the doctors with so many different opinions about what's wrong with me. When I was getting all my scanning and tests done, I was told there was internal bleeding in my lower abdomen but nothing would be done because I wasn't anemic. However, going to my doctors not even two weeks later, I was told there's no bleeding in the pictures but I'm fairly anemic.

I've been on countless medication and diets from the doctors without a single diagnosis to my name. The best advice they had was for me to drink out of a straw. I've lost so much weight and am hurting myself to try to maintain a healthy number on the scale.

I just don't know what to do anymore and feel so defeated. Thanks for listening. < 3

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@lexic10

It's honestly so relieving knowing I'm not the only one who's been passed between doctors without a straight answer or a consistent solution. I've been put on a few mood stabilizers- I asked the doctor what in the world that meant and she told me I have anxiety. I actually do not have any form of anxiety until after those medications. I would be scared trying something like that again, but I haven't had any tranquilizers so I better give it a shot!

Thanks a lot @blessedwildapplegirl !!

Jump to this post

You’re welcome. I have anxiety and doctors have occasionally tried to put me on mood stabilizers, but I refuse. I’ve heard horror stories about those drugs. And I hate it when doctors treat a physical complaint as if it’s psychological when it’s not. I’m not saying that emotions don’t affect our bodies because they do, but if you have something organically wrong, you need some kind of treatment. I do, however, take a benzodiazepine tranquilizer at night to help me sleep because I have insomnia. I’ve never had any issues with it, but I take as little as I possibly can. I hope a stomach tranquilizer will help you!

REPLY
@lexic10

This might sound silly but I'm getting borderline emotional with all of these helpful suggestions that I've been begging the doctors for 2 years about. Thank you so much for all your time and insight on this! I'm excited that there are more outlets for me to inquire; they way medical professionals were speaking to me, made it sound like I was coming to an end on finding a solution.
I used to love salads and these little probiotic yogurts (I forget what they're called), but I noticed how much burning I'd feel from lettuces and spinach. I even found tons of discomfort in apples- that was my favorite snack with peanut butter. I found I can only eat a limited amount of fruits and veggies. I haven't tried milk shakes with healthy fats though!
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to find all these links for me and list tons of different approaches!

Jump to this post

I’ve been reading about SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), and it says not to eat apples. I think I might have that. Anyway, you mentioned apples bothered you, so I thought of that. Also, I have found great relief by putting my food in a blender. You have to be careful if you have high blood sugar though, because your food is absorbed more quickly and it can raise your blood sugar. so if you do that, I would stay away from high sugar foods, which is probably a good idea anyway, of course. The moderator on this page mentioned Covid and I knew one person who got it and it manifested only in her stomach – no other symptoms at all. I wondered if I might have that also because I had been around someone five days before I suddenly started having a terrible stomachache, worse than I’ve ever had. There’s a lot to navigate here, and I wish you luck. Keep asking questions! I’m so glad this forum is here, but it’s sad that we get better answers here than from our medical system. Whenever you get money involved in something, it seems to ruin it. Take care.

REPLY
@blessedwildapplegirl

I’ve been reading about SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), and it says not to eat apples. I think I might have that. Anyway, you mentioned apples bothered you, so I thought of that. Also, I have found great relief by putting my food in a blender. You have to be careful if you have high blood sugar though, because your food is absorbed more quickly and it can raise your blood sugar. so if you do that, I would stay away from high sugar foods, which is probably a good idea anyway, of course. The moderator on this page mentioned Covid and I knew one person who got it and it manifested only in her stomach – no other symptoms at all. I wondered if I might have that also because I had been around someone five days before I suddenly started having a terrible stomachache, worse than I’ve ever had. There’s a lot to navigate here, and I wish you luck. Keep asking questions! I’m so glad this forum is here, but it’s sad that we get better answers here than from our medical system. Whenever you get money involved in something, it seems to ruin it. Take care.

Jump to this post

I've never tried blending my food, but it doesn't sound like a bad idea- just not appetizing lmao. Thank y'all again for all of this support and I hope your body feels better!

REPLY
@dlydailyhope

@lexic10
Have you tried protein drinks, smoothies or milk shakes with healthy fats, protein, organic fruits/veggies? Have you tried taking a probiotic to help your gut recover some healthy bacteria? You may want to look up building back up your microbiome in your gastrointestinal system.
1. https://www.healthline.com/health/10-gut-foods
2. https://healthpath.com/gut-health/restore-gut-flora/
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-simple-ways-to-improve-gut-health
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325293
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/25201-gut-microbiome

I add this to my protein shakes/smoothies:
COUNTRY FARMS Super Greens Berry... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRLGSH3F?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Jump to this post

This is interesting- I looked up the super greens drink you suggested because I think I would benefit from it and it contains guarantee gum, which some places say you should avoid if you have digestive issues!! ???Frustrating!!!

REPLY
@njzmom

This is interesting- I looked up the super greens drink you suggested because I think I would benefit from it and it contains guarantee gum, which some places say you should avoid if you have digestive issues!! ???Frustrating!!!

Jump to this post

@njzmom
I read that guar gum has some health benefits but some people may want to limit intake.

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/guar-gum
2. https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/guar_gum.htm

REPLY
@njzmom

This is interesting- I looked up the super greens drink you suggested because I think I would benefit from it and it contains guarantee gum, which some places say you should avoid if you have digestive issues!! ???Frustrating!!!

Jump to this post

REPLY

Hello @lexic10
I read your initial post and have been sitting on it since. I just have not known how to reply. I need to start, so here goes…

Welcome! I hate to hear how defeated you feel. For what it is worth you sound very clear and confident in what you do know. Have you ever thought there is just way.too.much.noise around you? I felt like I was being totally logical in plain sight and no one noticed how much I was struggling. There was just so much noise around me. I am so, so sorry you are going through this.

You found a good place here. It is safe and each and every one here wants to help. I am in no way a medical professional so I can’t offer medical advice. Heck, what I am the best at is failing to figure my own stuff out myself. Maybe you can learn from some of my mistakes. (That’d make it all worthwhile for me, ha!) Keep holding on.

You sound like you are in a downward spiral and trying to get out of survival mode. Is that accurate?

Curious……how did you find Mayo Clinic Connect, how did you find your way here? You can do this!

REPLY
@jlharsh

Hello @lexic10
I read your initial post and have been sitting on it since. I just have not known how to reply. I need to start, so here goes…

Welcome! I hate to hear how defeated you feel. For what it is worth you sound very clear and confident in what you do know. Have you ever thought there is just way.too.much.noise around you? I felt like I was being totally logical in plain sight and no one noticed how much I was struggling. There was just so much noise around me. I am so, so sorry you are going through this.

You found a good place here. It is safe and each and every one here wants to help. I am in no way a medical professional so I can’t offer medical advice. Heck, what I am the best at is failing to figure my own stuff out myself. Maybe you can learn from some of my mistakes. (That’d make it all worthwhile for me, ha!) Keep holding on.

You sound like you are in a downward spiral and trying to get out of survival mode. Is that accurate?

Curious……how did you find Mayo Clinic Connect, how did you find your way here? You can do this!

Jump to this post

Hey! It's nice to meet you and thanks for the warm welcome. I am so happy I found this platform and I owe it to an old therapist I reached out to after my health got overwhelming. She recommended finding health support groups and thankfully I found this platform.

REPLY

I have pancreatic insufficiency. The doctors are not good at diagnosing it. One of the symptoms is poop the consistency of peanut butter. More severe symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea. I take pancreatic enzymes which contain lipase, protease and amylase. If I am doing dairy I must take lactase. The best way to be sure is take these enzymes and see if you get better. Amazon sells them for around $20. I take 2 capsules at every meal. The prescription meds like Creon are very expensive.

REPLY
@boyersandy

I have pancreatic insufficiency. The doctors are not good at diagnosing it. One of the symptoms is poop the consistency of peanut butter. More severe symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea. I take pancreatic enzymes which contain lipase, protease and amylase. If I am doing dairy I must take lactase. The best way to be sure is take these enzymes and see if you get better. Amazon sells them for around $20. I take 2 capsules at every meal. The prescription meds like Creon are very expensive.

Jump to this post

Hi @boyersandy . I have never heard of pancreatic insufficiency so I did a quick search on this site and found quite a few discussions and comments. Have you found them? Here is one that has the most recent activity…
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pancreatic-insufficiency-no-cause/
Nice to meet ya,
Janell

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.