Covid Recovery: How can I manage GI issues?

12 weeks post covid. Constantly burning stomach, some intestinal burn, treating it with Carafate since I can’t tolerate acid suppressors. All docs say there’s nothing they can do. Have a visit with a new doc this week and I assume he will order an endoscopy. Has anyone had one, what did it show? Am ravenously hungry but can only eat so much. Part of the burning is hunger. I also only eat a short list of foods every day because I have no idea what to eat, they just say no caffeine citrus or tomato. Afraid to try much because it might cause pain- although what difference does it make, probably.
Completely debilitating, it’s a cycle of eating, meds, resting, trying to keep up with food prep and light housework. Waking up multiple times per night due to hunger/ pain/ anxiety.
Between low calories & sleep issues, no energy.
Has anyone had any success with stomach burn?

Not sure if this is helpful but my husband is dealing with gi issues which seem to have appeared after his covid booster ( he had extreme covid and 2 vaccine boosters). His ability to tolerate and digest various foods has been affected. Great appetite but unable to digest many foods which creates severe bloating, gas and diarrhea so therefore he has had a great weight loss. He is now on pancreatic enzymes since all tests (pet, mri, labs, any scope possible, etc) were unremarkable. The enzymes have helped immensely (Zenpep). For now avoiding caffeine/coffee ( morning tea is ok), oils, fats, fried foods, sugar and red meats has improved his quality of life. He still has triggers that we are trying to identify. Since he is a survivor of skin cancer, head and neck cancer and prostate cancer it is difficult to sort through cause and effect and how much if this is actually a result of covid - though no expert in oncology can attribute it to cancer related issues. It is a journey…. Definitely push for gi testing and from experience have the doctors reevaluate the acid suppressor you are on - changing it or possibly eliminating it. Any additional diagnostic testing like CT or MRI may help tell more of your story. I don’t know how you feel about medical marijuana but there is great data supporting how it alleviates anxiety and may be something to think and discuss with a medical doctor that that field.. Many wishes for a better day today and in the days ahead.

I just started long covid 2 weeks ago and my worst symptom is that I constantly feel nauseous & feel like vomiting. Anyone hear of a relief for this?

I caught COVID for the first time in March of 2020. Ever since, I have been experiencing debilitating GI issues that have greatly impacted my diet and the quality of my life. I have seen multiple gastroenterologists and have done all kinds of tests and nothing appears to be physiologically wrong with me. So far, no one has been able to offer a solution that works. There is a great variety of foods I can’t tolerate and I am constantly constipated, bloated, gassy, and generally uncomfortable. My issues also make me irritable, cause fatigue, and give me a general feeling of malaise. I would like to find treatments that will allow me to eat a more diverse diet because I am concerned about the possibility of developing other health issues as a result. Prior to catching COVID I never had GI issues. It is almost as if someone had flipped a switch inside of me. Sometimes I feel I am the only person in the world dealing with this, but I know that can’t be possible.

Hello @ahernandezvaldez and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It can be so easy to start to feel like you are alone in how you are feeling and what is happening with your body, which is why I am glad you've joined Connect!

You will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion on the topic of Covid recovery and GI pain so that you can more easily connect with members such as @jackieperry @bdoodle and @tryingmybest who have all recently shared personal experiences or experiences of loved ones.

I am not sure if you know this or not, however, there is a COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program (CARP) at Mayo Clinic that you may wish to learn more about: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/newsfeed-post/covid-activity-rehabilitation-program-carp-at-mayo-clinic/

Is there any chance you've looked into ways to improve gut health as a baseline just to see if measures like taking probiotics and a high-quality liquid collagen could help you recover somewhat as you continue to investigate any additional diagnosis?

Hey just saw your text
Me also
Feb March 2020
I would go to a good gastro doctor
Ask them to put you in xphaxen
It’s a antibiotic for your intestinal system
It helps
Also keep on a good priobotic
I’m not sayin it’s going to take it away but this helps
Until they figure out why it moves around in our body but generally it effects our intestinal system this is my only advice
Get on an inflammation pill such as fish oil
And liposomal glutathione

Try Pepcid ac

I had COVID 6-11-2022 and now have recovered with no sign via a Antigen Rapid Test on 7-4-2022,
I am experiencing a lingering gastrointestinal issue with morning symptoms, mainly diarrhea and mild stomach discomfort.
I am not sure if I am totally over COVID, or, still experiencing initial virus effects.
I am unsure if what I am experiencing are long COVID issues.

I'm doing florastor select gut health probiotic and Prebiotic it's helped me a lot

Thanks for the info, going to the pharmacy for Florastor today.