1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Covid Recovery: How can I manage GI issues?

Posted by sieb369 @sieb369, Jan 3, 2022

It has been 5 weeks since my COVID symptoms began. I am well past the isolation date. I had nausea and diarrhea during COVID along with the usual symptoms of cough, fatigue, rapid heartbeat and sinus issues. I have felt like I was over this, but I began having GI pain in the last week. I feel as if my intestines are sore on the inside. I guess it is inflammation. Has anyone else had this and is there anything I can do to help it? Probiotics maybe?

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ripley | @ripley | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @yaiseld13 "Hi everyone, Unfortunately, I've had COVID 4 times. My last infection was July 2022. A few..." + (show)
@yaiseld13

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, I've had COVID 4 times. My last infection was July 2022. A few months have passed and this past October I began experiencing GI issues to the point I had to be taken twice to the ER with upper right quadrant pain. It was unbearable. I was released at 2AM and went back to the ER at 3:30AM with the same pain. A scan was ordered/ bloodwork and sonogram and the doctor determined it was esophagitis. I was given antacids and sent home. I saw a GI doctor as was told it was probably something I ate. However, my symptoms haven't gone away, I get bloated, diarrhea, lethargic, I feel a burning sensation in my stomach. Im taking prebiotics and probiotics. I had an allergy test done and Ive cut anything Im allergic to. But still the stomach issues continue. I have nausea as well.

Until I was asked by a friend to look up at prolonged effects of Covid and notice that many people are suffering from the same symptoms. Any advise?

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I would ask for an endoscopy to look at the esophagus to see what's going on.

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shellygp | @shellygp | Dec 10, 2022

I found taking lysine 500-1000mg before eating to be very helpful. It is an anti-inflammatory to the gut as well as having anti-viral properties.

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glennathill | @glennathill | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@yaiseld13, wow, having Covid 4 times cannot have been fun. Sorry that you continue to have..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@yaiseld13, wow, having Covid 4 times cannot have been fun. Sorry that you continue to have GI issues. You're not alone. I moved your post to this existing discussion:

- Covid Recovery: How can I manage GI issues? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-recovery-and-gi-pain/

I did this so you can read through previous posts and connect with other members like @robintromp @ansimp231 @plisbe @sieb369 @sunny8 @darceysue710 @doglover17 @nursetracey2007 and more.

You may also be interested in these related discussions:

– Has anyone experience Covid Gut? What helps? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-gut/
- Long COVID and gluten sensitivity https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-covid-and-gluten-sensitivity/

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I use probiotics and prebiotics it certainly does help. I've had long covid so since 2020 . I also had developed bad cut bacteria which was treated successfully but still had stomach issues so I use probiotic Prebiotic everyday and then if needed I do a acid blocker

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ilean | @ilean | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @doglover17 "I have had 2 bouts of COVID, in Dec. 2020 and again in May 2022. For..." + (show)
@doglover17

I have had 2 bouts of COVID, in Dec. 2020 and again in May 2022. For about the last 8 months I have been experiencing debilitating gastrointestinal issues. I am sick to my stomach every single day, with no appetite, and have lost over 10lbs. since last June. I have had every test imaginable done, and they all come back just fine. It doesn't matter what I eat, or if I don't eat anything, I am sick to my stomach from the time I get up everyday until I go to bed at night. Does anyone have these same symptoms, and have you found anything that helps?

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Yes. I have lost 21 pounds since having Covid Jan 2022. All tests and images show nothing wrong but I have daily debilitating upper abdominal pain.

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trfb | @trfb | Dec 11, 2022

I have had GI issues since covid ( in Dec 2021). I have been taking anti acids, avoiding the ones which interfere with thyroid medication and keeping the 4 hour distance when required with calcium carbonate and thyroid meds.

These anti acids work some of the time but, wanting more relief that did not required suffering for 4 hours, I decided to think “outside the box”. Many times my indigestion was repeating food that I had eaten hours earlier. I seemed as if I was not fully digesting as usually done by stomach acid which meant that I needed more acid, not less.

A friend of mine gave me a homeopathic version of hydrochloric acid which I now take when I would ordinarily take Tums and find that it works and eliminates the indigestion better then the tums - probably 90% of the time.

I know homeopathy is not a proven science but, I’m all for looking for quality of life. Perhaps combining the best of western and alternative medication is worth a try.

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1 reply
phoopermd | @phoopermd | Dec 12, 2022
In reply to @trfb "I have had GI issues since covid ( in Dec 2021). I have been taking anti..." + (show)
@trfb

I have had GI issues since covid ( in Dec 2021). I have been taking anti acids, avoiding the ones which interfere with thyroid medication and keeping the 4 hour distance when required with calcium carbonate and thyroid meds.

These anti acids work some of the time but, wanting more relief that did not required suffering for 4 hours, I decided to think “outside the box”. Many times my indigestion was repeating food that I had eaten hours earlier. I seemed as if I was not fully digesting as usually done by stomach acid which meant that I needed more acid, not less.

A friend of mine gave me a homeopathic version of hydrochloric acid which I now take when I would ordinarily take Tums and find that it works and eliminates the indigestion better then the tums - probably 90% of the time.

I know homeopathy is not a proven science but, I’m all for looking for quality of life. Perhaps combining the best of western and alternative medication is worth a try.

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Try quercitin or oral cromolyn- the latter requires a script

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sunny8 | @sunny8 | Dec 16, 2022
In reply to @rachelr "I am nauseous just about every day. I first try drinking ginger tea, if that doesn’t..." + (show)
@rachelr

I am nauseous just about every day. I first try drinking ginger tea, if that doesn’t help then I take ondansetran. It is very frustrating! I have lost 17 pounds & in the morning I have to force myself to eat before taking my supplements that need to be taken after eating.
Rachel R.

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I eat Activia yogurt am and bedtime. Try to exercise at least 30 min a
day. Stay busy and active. Time helps.

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memcat | @memcat | Dec 17, 2022

I had CoVid May 2022. The gut issues weren't part of the first two weeks, but came later. Gut pain for sure, and watery diarrhea with no warning signs. Vomiting with no warning signs. I take Culturelle Probiotics and found eating oatmeal and yogurt everyday have helped immensely. But with CoVid, I'm finding everybody reacts differently and what works for one person doesn't work for another.

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lmascio603 | @lmascio603 | Dec 19, 2022
In reply to @longcovidmama "It’s been 1 year since my then 12 yo had an inflammatory response post covid (it..." + (show)
@longcovidmama

It’s been 1 year since my then 12 yo had an inflammatory response post covid (it was not defined as Mis-C, but did cause her to be hospitalized). Some of her symptoms has faded, but she is left with a constant stomachache, sore throat, and dizziness. 19 doctors later she is diagnosed with gastroparesis and SIBO. So far the medication (Creon and motilium) and dietary changes have not helped.

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My 17yo daughter got Covid in July 2022, which started with vomiting. 5 months later she has severe stomach and abdominal pain daily, almost constant nausea, random vomiting (sometimes lasting for hours), heartburn, acid reflux, lightheaded and dizziness at times. We're seeing a GI specialist who has her on Prilosec and Zofran (which seems to sometimes help stop or avoid the vomiting), but no idea what else to do. Ultrasounds, bloodwork, Stool Sample, CT scan all normal. We have an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled in a couple of weeks, as well as an allergy appointment.
Has anything helped your child? Mine is missing so much school and life.

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1 reply
longcovidmama | @longcovidmama | Dec 19, 2022
In reply to @lmascio603 "My 17yo daughter got Covid in July 2022, which started with vomiting. 5 months later she..." + (show)
@lmascio603

My 17yo daughter got Covid in July 2022, which started with vomiting. 5 months later she has severe stomach and abdominal pain daily, almost constant nausea, random vomiting (sometimes lasting for hours), heartburn, acid reflux, lightheaded and dizziness at times. We're seeing a GI specialist who has her on Prilosec and Zofran (which seems to sometimes help stop or avoid the vomiting), but no idea what else to do. Ultrasounds, bloodwork, Stool Sample, CT scan all normal. We have an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled in a couple of weeks, as well as an allergy appointment.
Has anything helped your child? Mine is missing so much school and life.

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Nothing has helped the sore throat and stomach pain. We’ve treated her SIBO with antibiotics and each time her dizziness has dramatically improved. But each time after a month or so it has returned. She was just diagnosed with POTs as well. It seems that many long covid kids have autonomic dysfunction. There are no easy answers. But if I were in your shoes I’d push the doc to test for gastroparesis, SIBO, and maybe POTs (through cardio). My niece had issues with daily, frequent vomiting (for over a year) and treating SIBO completely turned that around for her. Bizarrely, many mainstream GI docs don’t treat SIBO. We (and my niece) had to find a functional medicine doc to test for and treat it.
Best wishes to you and your daughter.

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