Anyone else have these kind of digestion issues?

Posted by jac59 @jac59, Jan 28 3:43pm

I'm having upper and lower digestive issues. B.M. changes - 90% of time it floats. Always feels like it never fully empties. Full and gassy feeling. Upper part of stomach near breast bone - mid chest - and lower part of stomach - belly button - pain. B.m.'s 5-7 times a day. All shapes and sizes. Can't eat much at a time without feeling full.
I have an appointment for a colonoscopy, but can't get in until mid march. Wondering if it's diverticulosis. Any other suggestions - what to eat or not eat? Doctor just says take Miralax.

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@celia16

I have some issues as well. My colonoscopy isn’t until April and I’m rather anxious about it. I hope they (Duke) will move it up after my office visit this week. I expect a local exam and ……idk what else they can do. Scans? Blood tests? I’m very nervous about it.

Have you had a colonoscopy before?

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I’ve had 3 and need to have another soon w/ another endoscopy too ( same time ).
The colonoscopy prep is the worst part of the whole thing .
The procedure is easy , you aren’t awake . Don’t worry about that part . I have 10 years chronic digestive disorders daily . On my 6 th Gastro Dr. in 2 states .
Tried it ALL .. I mean everything.
Still the 7 diagnoses no one can help me with ;( .
It’s life changing . Just doing my best . Def get the testing done though . Best wishes

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Dr’s don’t know shit 💩. Unfortunately…..
If Miralax was the answer to all GI issues, we all would run out and buy a case at a time .
I’m so sorry 😢 you too are experiencing all this . I have all your symptoms plus many many more 10 years now ( daily ).
6 Gastro Dr’s in and 7 diagnoses and still nothing & no Dr. can help . Tried it all .
I pray 🙏 you find the RIGHT Dr. that listens to you .

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@pkh3381

danny5, yes, I realize that, but just couldn't get the Dr to check out anything else. I was diagnosed and treated for years for ulcerative colitis, but he completely dismissed that Dx. This was the Dr who, when I went back for more help, told me, "you just have to learn to manage your expectations"! I was stunned! I never went back, but I haven't found anywhere that wants to help me.......even Mayo GI team! 😂🤣😆You got to keep laughing while they kill you!
P

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not being to nosey. but do you have insurance that would let you see any doctor without a referral. if you do, then try different doctors that may be further from where you live. in your state at least. this might be the best option to get help. good luck. d

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I'm sorry that you have these issues. I had some of these symptoms for more than 15 months, gas, diarrhea, pain everywhere and other symptoms. I made extensive search on my symptoms and learned that they could be caused by pancreatic problems, not only colon problems, so I think it may help to mention this to your doctor and have it checked. Now I believe my issues are caused by SIBO and am going to proceed that way.

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I have no idea if this will address your issues but when I got gassy and felt abdominal pain my PCP recommended doing the Low Fodmap diet. Took about three weeks. It worked for me. To this day, if I eat broccoli daily the gas/pain returns. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/fodmap-diet-what-you-need-to-know

Also a whole food diet may help. A functional medicine doctor recommended Weston Price's diet to me: https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/dietary-guidelines/#gsc.tab=0 . Since I have GERD I use the low-acid, low-fat whole food diet recommended by ENT Jonathan Aviv. It has worked for me. Plus filtered water. Anyone who is outside the traditional medical office will tell you to use filtered water. I also use pH balancer drops because filtered water can have a very high acidity.

You may have more complex issues than I but if you can't get in to see a doctor immediately the diet is the one thing you can control yourself. Good luck whatever you try.

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This very much sounds like what I've been through. Pale colored floating greasy stools. Mine kept getting thinner and thinner. Negative tests for several things. I finally got a team that did an x-ray, and despite my complaints of too frequent (but pencil thin) stools, she did an x-ray and I was actually full of stool. The frequent stools were like overflow in a semi-clogged pipe. They had me do a full flush clean out with an entire bottle of miralax and then take it twice a day which gave me diarhea so we added metamucil and things are better. In the meantime, they did a test for SIBO and was diagnosed with a severe SIBO infection. I'm on the second round of Xifaxin for that. While I am on it, the bloating, pain and gas are much better, but as soon as I go off, everything returns. I am waiting for an appointment with a SIBO specialist. Find a doctor who tests for that. Up to 80% of people with IBS actually have a SIBO infection (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth - pronounced SEE BO not SIH BO as one would expect from an acronym of the word intestinal.) Unfortunately it is very hard to get under control and doesn't just go away with antibiotics. It can come back again and again.

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@debhammel

Have you had any bloodwork or stool testing? Bloodwork can reveal inflammation and stool tests can provide a lot of information on how your digestive system is working. They can test for calprotectin, which can indicate inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatic elastase which shows whether your pancreas is making sufficient digestive enzymes. Your floating stools and feeling of fullness/not being able to eat much are symptoms of low pancreatic enzymes (and overlaps with other disorders as well). It would be worth doing these tests while you wait for the colonoscopy.

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Regarding Peryze and Creon prescription digestive enzymes, have any of you who have been on it for 4 or more years, developed suffered severe constipation and severe Hypoglycemia reactions 1.5 hours after eating a meal?

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Have your doctor do a stool test to check you for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI. You have some of the symptoms. That may not be it, but the test will rule that out for you.
High/low glucose can be one of the side effects of CREON. I am battling pre-diabetes and don't know if is from the drug or the compromised pancreas. Regardless, I will continue taking it so I don't starve to death from lack of nutrition.
Good luck on your quest, it took me almost a year to diagnosis my EPI. My gastro's NP figured it out, but not before I went to four doctors trying to eliminate problems with every organ in that area. Since that is where all your organs are it be located can be daunting. Don't give up.

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BTW all the posts I read here relate symptoms I had with EPI, I encourage all of you to have a stool test for EPI and if that isn't the problem, then you can cross one more thing off your list. Your Gasto will have this test done for you. EPI is not common and I had to keep insisting something was wrong. Fortunately, the doctor I use is excellent and his office staff work wonderfully with patients.

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I'm going through the same..it started in November. Your doctor will most likely want to do more tests. I'm still having tests!! This can be a variety of diagnoses!! Right now I started eating gluten free, hang in there..

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