Covid Recovery: How can I manage GI issues?

I've had severe GI issues from long Covid for a year now. It's much better now, but only got better recently. I hate to tell you this, but meds did very little to help! Helped just enough to keep me out of the ER. This is a horrible disease! BUT it did finally get a lot better. I'm not 100% back to normal but getting there. Yeah, it took a whole year. So hang in there!!

How long were your symptoms until you felt better?

I had the delta variant in October 2021, and a year later I sill have GI issues. I have had every possible test and scope of my GI tract since my GI issues started suddenly three months to the day after COVID recovery. And all results are normal (according to my GI doctor who agrees he doesn't know how to help me and agrees we collectively know little about post COVID GI issues). At the same time I had about three weeks of hair loss (both started up Jan 2022). My GI issues have persisted (bloating, forceful and frequent bowel movements, spits and spurts, mostly mushy, a form of diarrhea I am told), and bowel incontinence. I could bend over and my bowel contents oozes out. I am now into my 11th month of having this condition. For about 4-5 months the incontinence seemed to get better, but all of the rest of the symptoms persisted, and now the incontinence has returned. It is not everyday, but several times or more a week and never when you think it is going to happen. Needless to say, I am tired of this and worried about the damage to my GI tract. I never had an ounce of trouble with my GI tract in my 74 years; a year later, I am now 75. I am very active, not overweight, walk for exercise, and can do more than most 75 year olds can do physically and mentally. I still work (insurance agent) and the only medical issues I have and had before COVID: under active thyroid (treated with armor thyroid) and high cholesterol (familial kind). My parents both lived into their late 80s and 90s. I take few medications. I am at a loss as to how to manage this, or get rid of any lingering virus hanging around in my GI track, which I am assuming from what I have read is or might be the case. I am thinking this has gone on now for over 11 months, and is it ever going to end! Any help or suggestions are appreciated. I have thought of fasting, and/or doing elimination diet to try to isolate any foods that are aggravating my condition. But, truly, I am mad because I could eat anything before this and nothing bothered my stomach or intestinal track. HELP if you can. Thanks. PS: also wondering if anyone else has had their GI issues post COVID as long as I have, and is there any hope this will eventually get better on its own?

I am sorry you have had such terrible experiences. For the hair loss - have you been tested for anemia? Given your GI Tract issues, I have heard a link to anemia as a result (for some not all).

A common remedy (and I am not a doctor) that has helped me in the past with GI issues is a powdered herb called "Slippery elm" - I think at some pharmacies / grocery stores you can buy slippery elm lozenges. You can also make your own - buy powdered slippery elm from a reputable company (Frontier Coop or Mountain Rose Herbs) and mix with Honey - into a pastry texture and roll into balls. You can then suck on one slowly as long as possible - maybe twenty minutes. My experience is that is soothes the GI track.

If your GI Doctor is not able to assist, then you might want to consider very simple remedies on your own related to meditation, acupuncture or reiki/qi gong type practice. what can happen is slow activities increase body awareness and your mind/body works more in coordination.

There is a great book called "The Body Keeps Score" -- basically everything you tell yourself, your body believes. It is not "magical thinking" it is saying once a problem is identified, you are in a position to be compassionate and choose ways to address symptoms better and/or find high tech solutions. Think of all the ways the GI is still operating and doing so much for you - I'm sorry if this sounds overly woo-woo. It sounds like you can have a very positive mindset given your parents living long, you are working and active walker. Best of luck to you and I'm sorry for the situation you are in currently.

I am sorry you have had such terrible experiences. For the hair loss - have you been tested for anemia? Given your GI Tract issues, I have heard a link to anemia as a result (for some not all).

A common remedy (and I am not a doctor) that has helped me in the past with GI issues is a powdered herb called "Slippery elm" - I think at some pharmacies / grocery stores you can buy slippery elm lozenges. You can also make your own - buy powdered slippery elm from a reputable company (Frontier Coop or Mountain Rose Herbs) and mix with Honey - into a pastry texture and roll into balls. You can then suck on one slowly as long as possible - maybe twenty minutes. My experience is that is soothes the GI track.

If your GI Doctor is not able to assist, then you might want to consider very simple remedies on your own related to meditation, acupuncture or reiki/qi gong type practice. what can happen is slow activities increase body awareness and your mind/body works more in coordination.

There is a great book called "The Body Keeps Score" -- basically everything you tell yourself, your body believes. It is not "magical thinking" it is saying once a problem is identified, you are in a position to be compassionate and choose ways to address symptoms better and/or find high tech solutions. Think of all the ways the GI is still operating and doing so much for you - I'm sorry if this sounds overly woo-woo. It sounds like you can have a very positive mindset given your parents living long, you are working and active walker. Best of luck to you and I'm sorry for the situation you are in currently.

I had the delta variant in October 2021, and a year later I sill have GI issues. I have had every possible test and scope of my GI tract since my GI issues started suddenly three months to the day after COVID recovery. And all results are normal (according to my GI doctor who agrees he doesn't know how to help me and agrees we collectively know little about post COVID GI issues). At the same time I had about three weeks of hair loss (both started up Jan 2022). My GI issues have persisted (bloating, forceful and frequent bowel movements, spits and spurts, mostly mushy, a form of diarrhea I am told), and bowel incontinence. I could bend over and my bowel contents oozes out. I am now into my 11th month of having this condition. For about 4-5 months the incontinence seemed to get better, but all of the rest of the symptoms persisted, and now the incontinence has returned. It is not everyday, but several times or more a week and never when you think it is going to happen. Needless to say, I am tired of this and worried about the damage to my GI tract. I never had an ounce of trouble with my GI tract in my 74 years; a year later, I am now 75. I am very active, not overweight, walk for exercise, and can do more than most 75 year olds can do physically and mentally. I still work (insurance agent) and the only medical issues I have and had before COVID: under active thyroid (treated with armor thyroid) and high cholesterol (familial kind). My parents both lived into their late 80s and 90s. I take few medications. I am at a loss as to how to manage this, or get rid of any lingering virus hanging around in my GI track, which I am assuming from what I have read is or might be the case. I am thinking this has gone on now for over 11 months, and is it ever going to end! Any help or suggestions are appreciated. I have thought of fasting, and/or doing elimination diet to try to isolate any foods that are aggravating my condition. But, truly, I am mad because I could eat anything before this and nothing bothered my stomach or intestinal track. HELP if you can. Thanks. PS: also wondering if anyone else has had their GI issues post COVID as long as I have, and is there any hope this will eventually get better on its own?

I've been dealing with similar GI issues since early October. Had a third bout of Covid in June 22 and have had long covid symptoms since that keep changing from shortness of breath to palpitations to now the very uncomfortable GI issues. My doctor prescribed immodium but that worried me I might get too constipated. So it continues although I have put myself on an IBS diet. The one thing I did notice was that if I have an empty stomach for too long the cramping increases. Some days I have a bit of a reprieve but I have no idea why. And this came on very suddenly with absolutely no prior stomach/GI issues ever.