I just came across your post, and I sincerely apologize for the tardy response. Did you mean to post something more, or perhaps reply to a member's post?
If you would like more information on how to use Connect, you can find it here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/
Do let me know how I can help.
I’m new to the Mayo connect. First day. I hv my info but not sure what to do from here. I’ve been working with a gastroenterologist. In fact 4 th one in 8 years to get to the bottom of digestive issue. Just wanted to share
Thanks for messaging
I’m new to the Mayo connect. First day. I hv my info but not sure what to do from here. I’ve been working with a gastroenterologist. In fact 4 th one in 8 years to get to the bottom of digestive issue. Just wanted to share
Thanks for messaging
Please feel free to share, as you are comfortable doing so, more about the digestive issue that is troubling you. Here at Connect, we share our own personal experiences and try to offer support and encouragement as we are able.
I look forward to getting to know you better.
I’m new to the Mayo connect. First day. I hv my info but not sure what to do from here. I’ve been working with a gastroenterologist. In fact 4 th one in 8 years to get to the bottom of digestive issue. Just wanted to share
Thanks for messaging
@jeoangel32 Hi, and welcome to Connect. It sounds as if you have been having digestive issues for a long time. Have you been able to get a good diagnosis and being treated? As @hopeful33250 said, we are all patients and trying to help others through our own experiences. I have a couple of digestive issues myself -- Barrett's Esophagus, and now lactose intolerance.
I look forward to hearing more from you.
JK
Thank you for your nice response. After all the tests including CT pancreatic elastase 3 SIBO’s in eight years
Blood work. U name it I’ve had it. Not due for another colonscopy til 2020. All negative. A little inflammation. A little diverticulitis no Crohns no Celiac no celiac and do on. Most doctors put me on enzymes probiotics. Crepn for digestion even tho I have no pancreatic issue. More pills and more pills. Easy for doctors to say Oh you gave IBS-D. Without searching for the problem. No matter what I’m I. The bathroom 1/3 times a day nothing changed except it became wires over the years So finally found a doctor that wanted to get to the root of the problem and was the first gastro doctor to do a Fructose malabsorption test. 3 hours. I tested so high she says she had never had a patient test that high on the chart. So I’m working with nutritionist and trying the restricted fructose. What’s funny is I’m not a big fruit eater nor sodas never fructose corn syrup but fructose is hidden n so many foods that aggravate the intestinal tract. Onions garlic wheat products asparagus zucchini peas all loaded with fructans. etc. I was in the food industry for 35 years so I’m a label reader by trade. Plus being Italian makes it hard so now I’m journaling foods reactions etc. only been a week but still reacting stomach wise. Visit the nutritionist every 4 weeks. We will see if any improvement in July. Almost afraid to eat. She’s stomach gets nauseous she cramps but could be just changing. Sorry this is so long. I apologize. I have been crazy trying
to figure this out and hope I’m headed right. If one more test came back alls good I’m not sure what I could do. Next was serotonin tests. More serotonin in the gut than in the brain which can cause digestive e issues
Still not feeling g good cheating very simple and plain but can add foods down the road to see if I get a reaction. Low FODMAP foods vs high and fructose restricted diet hopefully turns things around
Thanks for reading Ask any questions if you like
Thank you for your nice response. After all the tests including CT pancreatic elastase 3 SIBO’s in eight years
Blood work. U name it I’ve had it. Not due for another colonscopy til 2020. All negative. A little inflammation. A little diverticulitis no Crohns no Celiac no celiac and do on. Most doctors put me on enzymes probiotics. Crepn for digestion even tho I have no pancreatic issue. More pills and more pills. Easy for doctors to say Oh you gave IBS-D. Without searching for the problem. No matter what I’m I. The bathroom 1/3 times a day nothing changed except it became wires over the years So finally found a doctor that wanted to get to the root of the problem and was the first gastro doctor to do a Fructose malabsorption test. 3 hours. I tested so high she says she had never had a patient test that high on the chart. So I’m working with nutritionist and trying the restricted fructose. What’s funny is I’m not a big fruit eater nor sodas never fructose corn syrup but fructose is hidden n so many foods that aggravate the intestinal tract. Onions garlic wheat products asparagus zucchini peas all loaded with fructans. etc. I was in the food industry for 35 years so I’m a label reader by trade. Plus being Italian makes it hard so now I’m journaling foods reactions etc. only been a week but still reacting stomach wise. Visit the nutritionist every 4 weeks. We will see if any improvement in July. Almost afraid to eat. She’s stomach gets nauseous she cramps but could be just changing. Sorry this is so long. I apologize. I have been crazy trying
to figure this out and hope I’m headed right. If one more test came back alls good I’m not sure what I could do. Next was serotonin tests. More serotonin in the gut than in the brain which can cause digestive e issues
Still not feeling g good cheating very simple and plain but can add foods down the road to see if I get a reaction. Low FODMAP foods vs high and fructose restricted diet hopefully turns things around
Thanks for reading Ask any questions if you like
@jeoangel32 Oh my goodness, what a long time to go not knowing what was causing your problems! I’m so glad you know now and are able to modify your diet to avoid the problems. It really does demonstrate that sometimes you have to be very persistent.
I had a somewhat similar problem, very frequent diarrhea and gas. I thought the problem was from my immunosuppressants since it started right after I started taking them. After much detective work of my own I finally realized that when I stayed away from dairy, specifically lactose, I didn’t have diarrhea. It took a long time because I ate cheese frequently, and always have half and half in my coffee, so it just seemed as if the problem was always there.
I now figure that the immunosuppressants actually triggered the lactose intolerance, but my transplant team will not confirm that.
JK
Thank you for your reply. I hope you will be ok. Do keep in touch. I don’t take many meds just blood pressure med and Vit D3. That’s about it. Have been trying just for a week now but stomach hurts after eating and burping no matter what. I too love cheese and organic half and hand in my coffee Certain cheese is ok same with cream it very small amounts. I don’t do yogurt and my dietician said a small amount of cream is ok but I’m not sure if it is
I only use it in am so I don’t understand why dinner bothers me. I only eat sourdough now as I love bread Still learning. Have cancelled so many trips being so afraid of being stranded without a restroom close by Not taking any meds for stomach. Just Gas X after meals Doesn’t always work. I bought some Rice milk and I hv some almond milk. I may be forced to try in my coffee
May hv to stop the cream in my coffee and see what happens. I even get gas discomfort that travels up deep thru my back. I guess gas can travel everywhere
Keep me posted on how u feel and are doing
Donna
Thank you for your reply. I hope you will be ok. Do keep in touch. I don’t take many meds just blood pressure med and Vit D3. That’s about it. Have been trying just for a week now but stomach hurts after eating and burping no matter what. I too love cheese and organic half and hand in my coffee Certain cheese is ok same with cream it very small amounts. I don’t do yogurt and my dietician said a small amount of cream is ok but I’m not sure if it is
I only use it in am so I don’t understand why dinner bothers me. I only eat sourdough now as I love bread Still learning. Have cancelled so many trips being so afraid of being stranded without a restroom close by Not taking any meds for stomach. Just Gas X after meals Doesn’t always work. I bought some Rice milk and I hv some almond milk. I may be forced to try in my coffee
May hv to stop the cream in my coffee and see what happens. I even get gas discomfort that travels up deep thru my back. I guess gas can travel everywhere
Keep me posted on how u feel and are doing
Donna
@jeoangel32 If you are thinking that lactose may be a problem there are some good lactose-free products. Whole Foods has lactose free, real dairy half and half, yogurt, and cream cheese. I have also found some of the non-dairy creamers to be tolerable and now that I am used to them they are fine. The one I like best is by Blue Diamond but Califia is OK too. Butter has only a trace of lactose but even so I use a vegan substitute made by "I can't believe it's not butter", or a new one, plant butter by Country Crock. They are both OK and the first has fewer calories.
I am including a picture of these products. I did not include the yogurt because you said you don't eat it, but it is also by Green Valley. It is not a Greek Yogurt, and it's low-fat, not fat-free.
I find Lactaid to be very little help. I plan to try Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense Formula, I have heard that works a little bit better than Lactaid.
As I read in an article about lactose-free dairy products, like aged cheese, that if there is a trace amount in the amount they are testing but you eat a large quantity, that trace amount, of course, adds up to a larger amount -- that's a real OF COURSE! I have found that to be true of some cheeses.
I was visiting our daughter recently and she and her husband made pizza. I was afraid of the mozzarella so she put provolone on a part of the pizza for me. WOW, it was so much better than mozzarella! What a bonus that was.
Now that summer is here I realize I can no longer eat an occasional ice cream cone. 🙁 Sorbet is OK, but it's not the same as ice cream.
With the adjustments I have made I very rarely have a problem.
JK
@jeoangel32 If you are thinking that lactose may be a problem there are some good lactose-free products. Whole Foods has lactose free, real dairy half and half, yogurt, and cream cheese. I have also found some of the non-dairy creamers to be tolerable and now that I am used to them they are fine. The one I like best is by Blue Diamond but Califia is OK too. Butter has only a trace of lactose but even so I use a vegan substitute made by "I can't believe it's not butter", or a new one, plant butter by Country Crock. They are both OK and the first has fewer calories.
I am including a picture of these products. I did not include the yogurt because you said you don't eat it, but it is also by Green Valley. It is not a Greek Yogurt, and it's low-fat, not fat-free.
I find Lactaid to be very little help. I plan to try Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense Formula, I have heard that works a little bit better than Lactaid.
As I read in an article about lactose-free dairy products, like aged cheese, that if there is a trace amount in the amount they are testing but you eat a large quantity, that trace amount, of course, adds up to a larger amount -- that's a real OF COURSE! I have found that to be true of some cheeses.
I was visiting our daughter recently and she and her husband made pizza. I was afraid of the mozzarella so she put provolone on a part of the pizza for me. WOW, it was so much better than mozzarella! What a bonus that was.
Now that summer is here I realize I can no longer eat an occasional ice cream cone. 🙁 Sorbet is OK, but it's not the same as ice cream.
With the adjustments I have made I very rarely have a problem.
JK
Thank you I will try these. Getting so reflux now but CT of abdomen didn’t show but I think problem would be esophagus. Finding out if I can take Zantac. This fructose Restricted diet is confusing. Scan tho I’m buying GF Products hv to be careful
Of hidden ingredients not good for this diet I will buy the lactofree cream. Thanks again
Thank you I will try these. Getting so reflux now but CT of abdomen didn’t show but I think problem would be esophagus. Finding out if I can take Zantac. This fructose Restricted diet is confusing. Scan tho I’m buying GF Products hv to be careful
Of hidden ingredients not good for this diet I will buy the lactofree cream. Thanks again
@jeoangel32 Do you feel the problem is related to food? If so you should really try an elimination diet. Eliminate any possibilities and them if you feel better add each different class of food alone. Then you can determine if that was the problem. If after adding a food back in for a few days to a week the problem still seems better try adding something else back in, and so on. You can do this with a doctor’s guidance which would probably be the best way.
If you eliminate all possibilities and still have a problem then it must be something physiological, not something you are eating. That’s where a doctor’s guidance would be essential. I’m sorry your doctors have not been more helpful. If you have lost confidence in them you should seek out a different doctor, or ask why they are not considering food triggers.
Connect
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Helpful
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Hello @garyevans417,
I just came across your post, and I sincerely apologize for the tardy response. Did you mean to post something more, or perhaps reply to a member's post?
If you would like more information on how to use Connect, you can find it here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/
Do let me know how I can help.
I’m new to the Mayo connect. First day. I hv my info but not sure what to do from here. I’ve been working with a gastroenterologist. In fact 4 th one in 8 years to get to the bottom of digestive issue. Just wanted to share
Thanks for messaging
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHello @jeoangel32 and welcome to Mayo Connect,
Please feel free to share, as you are comfortable doing so, more about the digestive issue that is troubling you. Here at Connect, we share our own personal experiences and try to offer support and encouragement as we are able.
I look forward to getting to know you better.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jeoangel32 Hi, and welcome to Connect. It sounds as if you have been having digestive issues for a long time. Have you been able to get a good diagnosis and being treated? As @hopeful33250 said, we are all patients and trying to help others through our own experiences. I have a couple of digestive issues myself -- Barrett's Esophagus, and now lactose intolerance.
I look forward to hearing more from you.
JK
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you for your nice response. After all the tests including CT pancreatic elastase 3 SIBO’s in eight years
Blood work. U name it I’ve had it. Not due for another colonscopy til 2020. All negative. A little inflammation. A little diverticulitis no Crohns no Celiac no celiac and do on. Most doctors put me on enzymes probiotics. Crepn for digestion even tho I have no pancreatic issue. More pills and more pills. Easy for doctors to say Oh you gave IBS-D. Without searching for the problem. No matter what I’m I. The bathroom 1/3 times a day nothing changed except it became wires over the years So finally found a doctor that wanted to get to the root of the problem and was the first gastro doctor to do a Fructose malabsorption test. 3 hours. I tested so high she says she had never had a patient test that high on the chart. So I’m working with nutritionist and trying the restricted fructose. What’s funny is I’m not a big fruit eater nor sodas never fructose corn syrup but fructose is hidden n so many foods that aggravate the intestinal tract. Onions garlic wheat products asparagus zucchini peas all loaded with fructans. etc. I was in the food industry for 35 years so I’m a label reader by trade. Plus being Italian makes it hard so now I’m journaling foods reactions etc. only been a week but still reacting stomach wise. Visit the nutritionist every 4 weeks. We will see if any improvement in July. Almost afraid to eat. She’s stomach gets nauseous she cramps but could be just changing. Sorry this is so long. I apologize. I have been crazy trying
to figure this out and hope I’m headed right. If one more test came back alls good I’m not sure what I could do. Next was serotonin tests. More serotonin in the gut than in the brain which can cause digestive e issues
Still not feeling g good cheating very simple and plain but can add foods down the road to see if I get a reaction. Low FODMAP foods vs high and fructose restricted diet hopefully turns things around
Thanks for reading Ask any questions if you like
Donna
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@jeoangel32 Oh my goodness, what a long time to go not knowing what was causing your problems! I’m so glad you know now and are able to modify your diet to avoid the problems. It really does demonstrate that sometimes you have to be very persistent.
I had a somewhat similar problem, very frequent diarrhea and gas. I thought the problem was from my immunosuppressants since it started right after I started taking them. After much detective work of my own I finally realized that when I stayed away from dairy, specifically lactose, I didn’t have diarrhea. It took a long time because I ate cheese frequently, and always have half and half in my coffee, so it just seemed as if the problem was always there.
I now figure that the immunosuppressants actually triggered the lactose intolerance, but my transplant team will not confirm that.
JK
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you for your reply. I hope you will be ok. Do keep in touch. I don’t take many meds just blood pressure med and Vit D3. That’s about it. Have been trying just for a week now but stomach hurts after eating and burping no matter what. I too love cheese and organic half and hand in my coffee Certain cheese is ok same with cream it very small amounts. I don’t do yogurt and my dietician said a small amount of cream is ok but I’m not sure if it is
I only use it in am so I don’t understand why dinner bothers me. I only eat sourdough now as I love bread Still learning. Have cancelled so many trips being so afraid of being stranded without a restroom close by Not taking any meds for stomach. Just Gas X after meals Doesn’t always work. I bought some Rice milk and I hv some almond milk. I may be forced to try in my coffee
May hv to stop the cream in my coffee and see what happens. I even get gas discomfort that travels up deep thru my back. I guess gas can travel everywhere
Keep me posted on how u feel and are doing
Donna
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jeoangel32 If you are thinking that lactose may be a problem there are some good lactose-free products. Whole Foods has lactose free, real dairy half and half, yogurt, and cream cheese. I have also found some of the non-dairy creamers to be tolerable and now that I am used to them they are fine. The one I like best is by Blue Diamond but Califia is OK too. Butter has only a trace of lactose but even so I use a vegan substitute made by "I can't believe it's not butter", or a new one, plant butter by Country Crock. They are both OK and the first has fewer calories.
I am including a picture of these products. I did not include the yogurt because you said you don't eat it, but it is also by Green Valley. It is not a Greek Yogurt, and it's low-fat, not fat-free.
I find Lactaid to be very little help. I plan to try Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense Formula, I have heard that works a little bit better than Lactaid.
As I read in an article about lactose-free dairy products, like aged cheese, that if there is a trace amount in the amount they are testing but you eat a large quantity, that trace amount, of course, adds up to a larger amount -- that's a real OF COURSE! I have found that to be true of some cheeses.
I was visiting our daughter recently and she and her husband made pizza. I was afraid of the mozzarella so she put provolone on a part of the pizza for me. WOW, it was so much better than mozzarella! What a bonus that was.
Now that summer is here I realize I can no longer eat an occasional ice cream cone. 🙁 Sorbet is OK, but it's not the same as ice cream.
With the adjustments I have made I very rarely have a problem.
JK
Thank you I will try these. Getting so reflux now but CT of abdomen didn’t show but I think problem would be esophagus. Finding out if I can take Zantac. This fructose Restricted diet is confusing. Scan tho I’m buying GF Products hv to be careful
Of hidden ingredients not good for this diet I will buy the lactofree cream. Thanks again
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jeoangel32 Do you feel the problem is related to food? If so you should really try an elimination diet. Eliminate any possibilities and them if you feel better add each different class of food alone. Then you can determine if that was the problem. If after adding a food back in for a few days to a week the problem still seems better try adding something else back in, and so on. You can do this with a doctor’s guidance which would probably be the best way.
If you eliminate all possibilities and still have a problem then it must be something physiological, not something you are eating. That’s where a doctor’s guidance would be essential. I’m sorry your doctors have not been more helpful. If you have lost confidence in them you should seek out a different doctor, or ask why they are not considering food triggers.
Please let us know how you are doing.
JK