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Digestive issues

Posted by bumble81 @bumble81, Apr 14, 2020

I started having digestive issues last fall. By December I was told I had bilary dyskenisa and had my gallbladder removed.
That did not fix my problems.
I sometimes have traditional heartburn but mostly I have sour stomach and stomach pain mostly middle immediately below sternum and to the left. Increases after eating. I often feel like food did not make it into my stomach. Like it's stuck down there.

I will get this weird fast quiver like spasm deep inside. I can feel it with my hand I push down and so can my husband and it goes on for hours at a time. Anyone have that before? It's very strange but something inside is not working properly. I also have postprandial hypotension and intermittent difficulty swallowing.

My blood tests show slightly elevated liver enzymes but doc said they are not dangerously high. My stool is frequently bright yellow and liquid:(

Also I cannot seem to get a straight answer but do those of you with experience with ulcers did it cause excessive burping?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

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ch47 | @ch47 | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @hopethereisnothing "So I (39 yr old female) have been struggling with unresolved digestive issues for months, did..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopethereisnothing @hopethereisnothing

So I (39 yr old female) have been struggling with unresolved digestive issues for months, did lots of tests, all negative, and tried almost every OTC and prescription medication with no improvement of symptoms. My most bothersome symptoms are: abdominal pain and cramps, excessive gas, belching and irregular bowel habit (sometimes diarrhea, sometimes constipation, rarely normal BM ).
Out of despair and lack of other options, I am thinking of trying low FODMAP diet.
I need your opinion and real life experience: does it really help with digestive symptoms ? And if so, how long does it take to start feeling better?
Are there any tips to make this diet work ?
Thanks in advance .

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Ps, Make sure your pics have the ingredients/pre/pro label info on it

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ch47 | @ch47 | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @trish807 "Hi I’ve done the low Fodmap Diet it is good for a short term figuring out..." + (show)
Profile picture for trish807 @trish807

Hi I’ve done the low Fodmap Diet it is good for a short term figuring out what you should and shouldn’t eat. Talking with a nutrition expert really helped to. It takes a while to start working.
I found garlic and onion and beans were triggers, I also gave up gluten and dairy. I am slowly starting to add a few things back in my diet. Hope this helps!! Good luck on your journey🤗

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All my favorite things…garlic, onions, beans, dairy, gluten; start at the top of the no no list, the ‘a’s and it’s artichokes, avocados, asparagus, apples, etc…
However, I also found that sticking to the diet for a considerable time worked. I was afraid to cheat or add too many fodmap things too soon, because my symptoms were so horrible. I’m still careful with some of the worst foods, but enjoy everything now.
Glad you are doing well!!!

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trish807 | @trish807 | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @ch47 "All my favorite things…garlic, onions, beans, dairy, gluten; start at the top of the no no..." + (show)
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All my favorite things…garlic, onions, beans, dairy, gluten; start at the top of the no no list, the ‘a’s and it’s artichokes, avocados, asparagus, apples, etc…
However, I also found that sticking to the diet for a considerable time worked. I was afraid to cheat or add too many fodmap things too soon, because my symptoms were so horrible. I’m still careful with some of the worst foods, but enjoy everything now.
Glad you are doing well!!!

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Sounds like you are doing well now. Take care

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ouchy | @ouchy | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @hopethereisnothing "I also thought of SIBO but I can't get the test as it is not available..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopethereisnothing @hopethereisnothing

I also thought of SIBO but I can't get the test as it is not available where I live ( developing country). I have read that low FODMAP diet could be helpful for SIBO as well, I don't know whether this is true or not.

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hopethereisnothing - It would not hurt to try as long as your MD concurs. (You do not want to fool around with FODMAP if your problems are not IBS/SIBO-related.) Unlike what you may believe, the FODMAP diet is NOT difficult. It just requires dedication and follow-through for about 6-8 weeks. It is not forever! Only when problematic foods are discovered, they are eliminated, possibly forever.

It is best to receive the guidance of a Registered Dietician who has experience and/or certification with FODMAP. However, if that is not available where you are, I suggest going to the Monash University website. They are the ones who developed the FODMAP diet in the first place and continue to research IBS.

The site has extensive information and recipes (in English). They also have a very helpful application (in English) that you can buy fairly inexpensively for a smart phone. There is lots of information about the diet and specific amounts of the foods allowed. The only glitch for me was that some fruits and veggys are called by their Australian names which left me confused until I figured them out. Best of luck! https://www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/

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cpd54 | @cpd54 | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @marlenec "I am about a month into the diet and still experiencing major bloating and gas, belching,..." + (show)
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I am about a month into the diet and still experiencing major bloating and gas, belching, and pain but the diarrhea has pretty much resolved. GI gave me Hyoscyamine but I’ve only taken it a few times. Tried Metamucil which he also recommended but that seems to bloat me more although I know there’s a period of adjustment needed. I just don’t feel as if anything really helps with the gas and bloat - and pain from the gas. Someone on a previous post said they feel like if they could “just poke a hole into their ‘stomach’ and release the gas like deflating a balloon they’d get relief” and that’s exactly how I feel - as well as the “8 mos. pregnant in 90 minutes” even after a BM when one would thing the bloat would be relieved. I’ve tried Gas-x with some minor relief. I had been feeling okay after two weeks on Low FodMap so tried to reintroduce wheat and lactose, following the Monash app protocol and I didn’t feel much different either way except having terrible pain the first day of lactose - then the next two trials of a bit more of the food went fine, which was very puzzling. Maybe I rushed that phase? So I am back to restrictions. My SIBO test came back as “SIBO is suspected” but my GI hasn’t reviewed with me. I’ve scheduled a session with a dietitian familiar with IBS for a consult because I feel as if I’m not getting anywhere.
Questions: Am I supposed to be symptom free before trying reintroduction?
Other tactics to address gas and bloating?

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Have you had a food sensitivity test? I know some day it is scientifically sound but until I had one and cut out the suspect foods, Low FODMAP did not work for me. There’s a book out there that takes FODMAP a step further but I’m still trying to find it again…memory loss is a symptom of Sjogerns 😂

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ch47 | @ch47 | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @trish807 "Sounds like you are doing well now. Take care" + (show)
Profile picture for trish807 @trish807

Sounds like you are doing well now. Take care

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Thank you!!!

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gigi4 | @gigi4 | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @seabright2001 "There are so many probiotics on the market right now. How do you know what to..." + (show)
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There are so many probiotics on the market right now. How do you know what to try?

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I’ve been taking RestorFlora from Microbiome Labs recommended by my doctor.

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seabright2001 | @seabright2001 | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @gigi4 "I’ve been taking RestorFlora from Microbiome Labs recommended by my doctor." + (show)
Profile picture for gigi4 @gigi4

I’ve been taking RestorFlora from Microbiome Labs recommended by my doctor.

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Thank you.

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ch47 | @ch47 | Jul 13, 2023
In reply to @trish807 "Sounds like you are doing well now. Take care" + (show)
Profile picture for trish807 @trish807

Sounds like you are doing well now. Take care

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Much better!!! I just really focused on the diet…and careful since with trigger foods.
Once diagnosed I did so much research that by the time I was able to see a dietitian, she had no additional information to add… just told me I was on the right track; she was not Monash certified, didn’t know there were ones that were. She was only one that was any where near.

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trish807 | @trish807 | Jul 13, 2023
In reply to @ch47 "Much better!!! I just really focused on the diet…and careful since with trigger foods. Once diagnosed..." + (show)
Profile picture for ch47 @ch47

Much better!!! I just really focused on the diet…and careful since with trigger foods.
Once diagnosed I did so much research that by the time I was able to see a dietitian, she had no additional information to add… just told me I was on the right track; she was not Monash certified, didn’t know there were ones that were. She was only one that was any where near.

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I was lucky the dietitian I talked to was knowledgeable with the Low Fodmap diet she really helped me and like you she said on right track! So far I have been good with introducing some new foods into my diet! 🤞🏻🤞🏻for no problems.

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