Covid Recovery: How can I manage GI issues?

No, it has not seemed to affect my dysautonomia symptoms or exercise intolerance at all.

I am 2 1/2 years out from my initial diagnosis of Covid. I had bilateral Covid pneumonia and had no gastrointestinal issues until after recovery. I have experienced diarrhea and intestinal cramping for nearly two years but never connected it to Covid. I recently had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with pan ulcerative colitis. I will be starting a medication soon that will address the inflammation. I have been on Simponi for a year for rheumatoid arthritis. Make an appointment to see a gastroenterologist to see if they can help you with your symptoms.

Everytime I am put on I.V. antibiotics, whether for covid or for pneumonia, I get uncontrollable diarrhea as a result. My gastroenterologist NP has speculated I get SIBO in these situations. Twice when I have taken Xifaxan the diarrhea has mostly cleared up. I am terribly afraid to be put on anti-biotics for this reason.

Oh I feel your pain! I had COVID in October of 2021 and developed intermittent terrible diarrhea and intestinal in for months - I was diagnosed with SIBO. It has mostly cleared up after a course of Augmentin and following a low FODMAP diet. When I stray from the FODMAP diet and when I am under stress the SIBO acts up. It usually lasts a few days to about a week after I go back on the FODMAP diet.

Sorry to hear this.I had serious gut issues for 5 years.I went to my dr.and she prescribed me carafate.Off and on for three years.It helped.Now it's virtually gone.I stopped taking it recently,and no pain.But I'm also taking anti inflamatory vitamins.My immune system was hammered by long covid.Reacting at the smallest things it seemed.It's not happening only rarely now.I feel good again.Not stopping what I'm taking.(vitamins to target my cells).Dr Paul Anderson is your friend on utube.God Bless now.-

Thank you for reinforcing the low FODMAP diet. I have been halfheartedly following it, not sure it would work. Now I will give it a better chance.

I will check out Dr Anderson on YouTube. I think I have watched some of his videos butnot all.

ts: It is frustrating as the gut microbes contain much of our immune system so one doesn't want to damage them. Antibiotics do damage them. A vicious cycle.

The trick is to avoid getting sick until you have a chance to balance the gut microbes. Then hopefully the balanced microbes and better immune system will help you fight infection in the future.

My husband was having neurological symptoms as well as digestive symptoms including daily diarrha. His copper was low and did not respond to supplementation.

Very long story short, I figured out that the neurological symptoms were due to daily use of his antacid for GERD and diverticulitis. The proton pump inhibitor usage caused malabsorption. The med itself was blocking absorption of copper.

After discontinuing use of that OTC med and receiving a course of Augmentin, his symptoms resolved.

Also, if you don't have a gallbladder and your colonoscopy was normal, constant diarrhea can be controlled with Colestipol! It's called BAD (bile acid diarrhea).

Antibiotics mess with my gut horribly, too! So much so anymore that I require IV fluid support when I must take them.

I wonder about GasEx. I use that about 3 times a week and I wonder if that causes neurological issues for those of us with long COVID?

It's not a proton pump inhibitor. PPIs are acid reducers. Gas-X is for relief of gas and bloating.

That said, vitamin and mineral deficiencies from malabsorption DEFINITELY can cause neurological symptoms.

POTS - or dysautonomia - frequently rear their ugly heads after COVID infection.