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A Gut Feeling: Long COVID and GI symptoms
Over the past two years, it has become clear that post COVID syndrome (PCS) is more than just fatigue and shortness of breath. Symptoms such as headaches, brain fog, ringing in the ears, and even eye changes have been reported as part of PCS, and it seems that every day we are learning more about possibly related symptoms.
One group of symptoms we are hearing more about lately involves the gastrointestinal (GI) system. In our COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program (CARP), patients have reported a wide variety of GI issues, ranging from mild nausea and decreased appetite to severe and new constipation and food intolerance.
And what we have seen firsthand has also been documented in medical literature. A study published in March 2022 found that in 147 patients with no prior GI problems, 16% reported having new GI symptoms roughly 100 days after their SARS-COV2 infection.1 The most common symptoms included:
- Abdominal pain 7.5%
- Constipation 6.8%
- Diarrhea 4.1%
- Vomiting 4.1%
Similarly, in a study published in April 2022, researchers found that patients with PCS were experiencing Disorders of Gut Brain Interaction (DGBI).2 Symptoms with this condition included:
- Heartburn
- Troubles swallowing
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Incontinence
While we are not sure yet, there are several possible ways the COVID-19 infection could cause GI problems. For example, the lining of the gut has a large amount of the receptors that the SARS-COV2 virus uses to invade cells. The general inflammation caused by the infection can also disrupt the normal bacteria that live in the gut and stimulate some of the GI system nerves.
What should you do if you are experiencing GI symptoms as part of PCS?
First, make sure to adequately hydrate and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Fad and extreme diets have not been found to be helpful in PCS. Instead, we recommend a standard Mediterranean diet with a reduction in processed foods. Second, avoid using lots of over-the-counter products to treat your symptoms. Sometimes, this can make the problem worse. Instead, speak to your medical professional first to develop a treatment plan.
Hopefully, with more research, we will be able to offer more treatments that get patients feeling better faster.
- JW B, J L, D J, DE F. Prevalence and risk factors for gastrointestinal symptoms after recovery from COVID-19. Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society. 2022;34(3).
- R EN, A S, I S, et al. Gastrointestinal symptoms and the severity of COVID-19: Disorders of gut-brain interaction are an outcome. Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society. 2022.
Read more about PCS through the eyes of a MN legislator. Connect with other people like you and share your recovery tips and successes in the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 support group.
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Hi Lindy1965
I just responded to Joannemm30809 post and now I just saw yours. you have both described my life too. I know all about the depression too, no interest in that. When I have clinic visits , I say dont bother with that depression screening , cause I am not doing it. I ask them wouldnt you be depressed if you were dealing with this .I passed out at work too, twice. I hope you did not get hurt when you fell. I feel abandoned by people also, no one understands, and the phone does not ring much anymore. We all need to stick together and maybe by sharing and communicating we can have these friendships on line through this site. There are so many of us out there, we can not give up hope. One thing I remember Joyce Meyer saying was never give up. We are tough and strong and we can beat this, my mom use to say Time heals. Sincerely, Kitty2
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1 ReactionHi Kitty,
Thanks so much for your response.
Yes, it has become a very lonely existence. I’m tired of people saying things like “you look fine” or “ yeah, we’re all tired”…. They don’t realize that just washing our hair and getting dressed is sometimes all We can do in a day.
Sometimes I don’t even get that far. I think all we can do is pray that time does heal. I’m getting so frustrated and impatient. I’m trying to learn how to better pace myself. I can’t even visit with my family for a couple of hours without having PEM for days or longer. I’m 58 and single. I don’t want to be this way forever.
Lindy
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2 ReactionsHi Lindy,
Thanks for your note. I can so relate to what you are saying..it is such a lonely existence. Nobody gets it..I work monday -friday and by friday night I am so exhausted, I sleep a lot on the weekend. Thank heavens for my cat..we take a lot of naps. I am 70 and single. I work for Fedex so my job is pretty physical and I do not know how I do it. They took all my PTO the last two years, cuz I was off so much after I got the initial infection and then it all broke loose when it destroyed my immune system , gut and colon among other stuff. I got home last friday afternoon and the only time I opened the door all weekend was to grab my newspaper off the stairs. It sis so frustrating, I refer to this is B.C. and A.C...before covid and after covid. How this darn disease has changed our lives. Anytime you want to chat..let me know..Thanks for being there..we will get through this..Sincerely, Kitty2
Everyday I wake up I wish it would stop,the abdominal pain the gas the fatigue the anxiety is so overwhelming my friends ask me what's wrong, tomorrow I get a hida test to check my liver pancreas gallbladder intestines,covid has really messed me up ill find out tomorrow if I have any cancer or any other digestive disease, hopefully it's my gallbladder take it out and prey you get better I feal for anyone suffering from this bullshit,I feal this long covid disease is also attacking my immune system,has anyone had that nasty sticky mucus in the back of your throat.there are researching articles all over the internet about this long covid but you can't get a doctor to admit to it there are good articles under long covid with gi symptoms. Before I had covid, I had covid twice by the way,I am diabetic, had cardiovascular desease,have gerd,I'm getting hit hard someone asked me the other day if I was suicidal I just looked at them and couldn't really answer.
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4 ReactionsWhat a great article this has described me to a tee.You say discuss this with my doctor I will try I think he needs to be educated by this article.
Yes. Like the muscles in my back are on fire. The low back pain does not respond to yogic stretching.
It is exacerbated by the post covid fatigue inability to walk very far. So it goes in a vicious cycle. Walking has always been the best thing for my back. I really loosen up at a brisk pace in the fresh air. Now I can't do that.
I had asthma before I got covid in May 21, 6 weeks after my 2nd dose. The worst lasting symptoms are gastrointestinal (1st symptom was flaming hot diarrhea shooting up my back and flaming down my legs into my shoes. I had been feeling 100% great. This was about 2:00 p.m. Got home, cleaned up, felt fine but very confused as every bit of media I had seen was lung related so penny did not drop. Made dinner, bed by 11 p.m. did not wake up for 5 days. When I did I could not move one digit nor my eye lids. So couldn't call EMT's. By the time I was able to get out of bed I was well enough to not go to the hospital and die from Shit-Food poisoning.)
Sorry for long winded post, but the gastrointestinal issues are equally as bad as brain damage.
Dear Maum29,
I am devastated by your horrible gastrointestinal experience. As far as musculoskeletal problems are concerned, I too, am not able to walk a reasonable substantial distance. Upon waking, I’m unable to smooth out and walk to the bathroom hunched over. I recently purchased a back brace that helps somewhat, but really must rely on anti inflammatory drugs to ease the pain in my lower back. I am considering surgery, because I can’t go on with this constant debilitating pain any longer; it’s affecting me emotionally as well. I’m irritable and become nasty toward everyone. Before I go ahead with surgery, I intend to visit The Spine Institute first according to my cardiologist’s suggestion, but this will be my last effort to ease the pain before I elect for a surgical procedure.
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my pleas, and please let me know how you are faring over time. I wish you the best of luck.
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1 ReactionSame and I’ve tried everything. I had COVID 12-11-20 all symptoms were in my head and gut. I got it again when vaccinated 12-12-21 and that was all in my sinuses and chest. My long COVID is from 2020 and my symptoms were way less in 2021. I’m sure from being vaccinated. My gut hasn’t been the same since 2020 I’ve had a colonoscopy everything looks fine- I was put on IBS medication doesn’t work. I’ll try something new and think it’s working only to fail 2 weeks after starting. This has been debilitating and causes me to want to sleep, wake up, eat ,and sleep. Until I take laxatives there’s no going or getting any type of energy. It’s also messing with my mental health as well.
I've been dealing with constipation after contracting Covid, end of Dec'22. I follow a plant based nutrition (Dr. McDougall), since 2009. My G.I. tract movement went from 2-3x daily, to no movement 3-5 days, after contracting Covid. I'm still recovering and my GI movement has improved to 1x daily. I found Magnesium Oxide (400mg) to be useful. There are 8 different variations of Magnesium...do some research. I contine with my plant based food. I have also increased my fruit intake by making a very large smoothy in the A.M. As for your mental health do some research into 'micro-dosing' magic mushrooms. -namaskaram
That is me exactly. I have had a CAT scan because of the constipation. All it showed was constipation. I had an in depth blood draw/test. Everything was completely normal except low blood protein because of my rapid weight loss. They want to do an endoscopy and colonoscopy on September 8. I may just not do that. I contracted Covid June 2022. As soon as the covid ended, a benighn cyst became severly inflamed. Had to go on 10 days of tetracycline. Constipation started right after the antibiotics ended. Got back to fairly normal by December 2022. Then a different inflammed cyst. Same result except constipation much worse and still struggling with worse constipation. It must have been the combination of the tetracycline and the Covid. I am trying to stay regular with a cup of warm prune juice in the morning and a 1/4 cup of prune juice in the evening. I seem to have also developed gluten intolerance as well. Staying 100% gluten free has been some help. I have been off and on the gluten wagon because the doubt, but I am no about 100% certain that am am now gluten intolerant and treating myself as such. I want to add that I have been getting Acupuncture for the past 4 weeks from a great woman from China it is TCM. Ity is no doubt helping my brain talk to my gut. I highly recommend giving TCM level Acupuncture from someone who is highly trained in that area. My Doc is from Shanghai and taught there for 10 years. She knows what she is doing.
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