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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iedhunter | @iedhunter | Jan 10, 2023
In reply to @chrisself "I’ve had similar issues for the past 17 months. I’ve had just about every test out..." + (show)
@chrisself

I’ve had similar issues for the past 17 months. I’ve had just about every test out there done to discover very little until…my GI doctor did a gastric emptying test & discovered I have gastroparesis. Simply stated…Covid caused some neuropathy in my stomach thus
making 25% of it not properly moving the food out of my stomach as it should. This has caused nausea, weight gain, dizziness, etc…I now have to eat smaller meals & easily digestible foods (no raw veggies, etc)… If nothing is found next week, ask her GI DR to consider this test…Having a diagnosis, although annoying & disappointing, still helps. Best of luck & please keep us posted

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What the recovery time with that? I am having slow motility also and trying to fix.

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iedhunter | @iedhunter | Jan 10, 2023

Yes. Burning right? Weird. Bloating and burping also for me. Probiotics and clean diet. Lots water. Eat and drink slowly. I hope you feel better soon 🙂

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lmascio603 | @lmascio603 | Jan 11, 2023
In reply to @iedhunter "Glad I stumbled across this thread. Had covid first time, last Feb. Had again last month...." + (show)
@iedhunter

Glad I stumbled across this thread. Had covid first time, last Feb. Had again last month. Gut has been "off" since the first round. Lots of belching, bloating like crazy, constipation, slow motility, pain, inflammation, my hs-crp level was elevated 2 weeks post. I never even had a fever or sore throat. Muscle aches still and all GI stuff. Anyone else have this going on? Tried PPI's, dont like the negative side effects. On H1/H2 histamine blockers now, Pepcid and Zyrtec with hopes of helping. Supposed to have upper GAI scope done end of month, but from what I have been reading everywhere- this is just COVID!!! Thoughts? I have been eating low fodmap for 4 weeks, helps some but serious malnutrition if follow long term.

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We just switched from Prilosec to Pepcid, but what does the addition of Zyrtec do? Has that combo been helpful?

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1 reply
iedhunter | @iedhunter | Jan 11, 2023
In reply to @lmascio603 "We just switched from Prilosec to Pepcid, but what does the addition of Zyrtec do? Has..." + (show)
@lmascio603

We just switched from Prilosec to Pepcid, but what does the addition of Zyrtec do? Has that combo been helpful?

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Zyrtec is an anti histamine and some people have found it helpful for histamine responses. The combo of H1 and H2 seems to help people so worth a try I figured. Only been a week so hard to tell yet. But ready for this crap to be OVER for good. You have same symptoms?

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lbyrd02 | @lbyrd02 | Jan 11, 2023

I had luck in mitigating my symptoms by (In consultation with my gastrologist) by first dumping all bacteria in my gut with an antibiotic then re-introducing new bacteria with a probiotic VSL#3 (Over the counter - slightly expensive $70 for 60 pills - not on shelf as it has to be refrigerated so ask the pharmacist.) Took one pill in afternoon and a second at night and after two weeks - great improvement. Cut down to one pill a day after that. Did not cure but improved GI symptoms dramatically.

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iedhunter | @iedhunter | Jan 11, 2023
In reply to @lbyrd02 "I had luck in mitigating my symptoms by (In consultation with my gastrologist) by first dumping..." + (show)
@lbyrd02

I had luck in mitigating my symptoms by (In consultation with my gastrologist) by first dumping all bacteria in my gut with an antibiotic then re-introducing new bacteria with a probiotic VSL#3 (Over the counter - slightly expensive $70 for 60 pills - not on shelf as it has to be refrigerated so ask the pharmacist.) Took one pill in afternoon and a second at night and after two weeks - great improvement. Cut down to one pill a day after that. Did not cure but improved GI symptoms dramatically.

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My issue is can’t get my doc to prescribe me anything. Because it’s due to Covid. He wants me to wait it out! Zero help. Zero answers.

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1 reply
lbyrd02 | @lbyrd02 | Jan 11, 2023
In reply to @iedhunter "My issue is can’t get my doc to prescribe me anything. Because it’s due to Covid...." + (show)
@iedhunter

My issue is can’t get my doc to prescribe me anything. Because it’s due to Covid. He wants me to wait it out! Zero help. Zero answers.

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You don't need a prescription for VSL#3. It's an over the counter (Without prescription) probiotic.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190945/
Ask your Pharmacist if they carry it. Won't be on the shelf with the typical probiotics as it has to be refrigerated. I've wasted $ thousands on the brand name probiotics without any positive results - two weeks on this product (two capsules a day) and it was life changing for my Covid Gut.

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1 reply
iedhunter | @iedhunter | Jan 11, 2023
In reply to @lbyrd02 "You don't need a prescription for VSL#3. It's an over the counter (Without prescription) probiotic. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190945/..." + (show)
@lbyrd02

You don't need a prescription for VSL#3. It's an over the counter (Without prescription) probiotic.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190945/
Ask your Pharmacist if they carry it. Won't be on the shelf with the typical probiotics as it has to be refrigerated. I've wasted $ thousands on the brand name probiotics without any positive results - two weeks on this product (two capsules a day) and it was life changing for my Covid Gut.

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That sounds great. I take Seed probiotics daily. They are expensive but clinically tested. Are these better than Seed brand?

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1 reply
lbyrd02 | @lbyrd02 | Jan 11, 2023
In reply to @iedhunter "That sounds great. I take Seed probiotics daily. They are expensive but clinically tested. Are these..." + (show)
@iedhunter

That sounds great. I take Seed probiotics daily. They are expensive but clinically tested. Are these better than Seed brand?

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I'm not familiar with that brand but after years of taking probiotics (since 1996 with no apparent positive results) my gastroenterologist finally suggested VSL#3 - previously he would simply say get one with at least three strains of bacteria - they are all alike. Made no specific brand recommendation As a precaution, I searched NIH (National Institute of Health) website - link on my previous post and was astounded with their write up.

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1 reply
joansmurphy | @joansmurphy | Jan 11, 2023

Question: Does anyone else have very green stool post covid?

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