Chronic Digestive Disorders

Rozi, I’m not ABSOLUTELY sure, but maybe 80% sure…that Pepto isn’t really good for your gut

My gastroenterologist recommended it for me.

Hello @lucytodd,

I see that this is your first post on Mayo Clinic Connect. Welcome!

It would be good to get to know you better. Could you share what type of digestive problem brought you to Connect?

I have acid reflux issues and have had a severe case, where I ended up in the hospital last Jan. Make the long story short, they found I had Thrush at the back of my throat as well at that time. Now a year and a half later, I am still battling with pain in my mouth and throat and no one seems to know why. I get tossed around between GI and ENT and so was wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this and if there is any solution short of being on pain medication all the time in order to be able to eat.

Bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea-followed by constipation. Gastroenterologist ordered ct scan followed by total clean out. She said to take Benefiber and every other day miralax. xSymptoms continued. She said cut out milk products and take Pepto bismal as needed. No change. I found out about FODMAP diet and am trying to follow it. This is proving very effective though confusing at times. I’m in the mountains till Oct so have no doctor or nutritionist available. When I get back to Texas I’ll find a nutritionist.

Finding a certified dietician at your local hospital is a great idea, @lucytodd. I did the same thing when I began the FODMAP eating plan and it was very helpful. I do agree that it can be confusing at times but it seems to be worthwhile for anyone who has a problem with IBS.

If you are interested in reading more about the FODMAP eating plan, we have a discussion here on Connect that you might find interesting. Here is the link to that discussion,https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fodmap-eating-plan/.

Here is a video by a Mayo dietician who talks about the benefits of the FODMAP diet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGHVVyX6kQw&t=9s

Hello @fari9 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so sorry to hear of your reflux issues as well as thrush. This sounds like a very difficult combination of problems. I would think that eating and talking would be painful. Have you lost weight?

I went to Mayo Clinic's website to find some information about thrush. Here is a link to some information, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-20353533. If you read the article, you will see that thrush can have many causes, including weakened immunity, diabetes, dental problems, and some medications (including steroids, especially inhaled steroids) Do any of these disorders seem to be true for you?

As a year and a half seems like a long time to not have any relief from the symptoms, have you considered getting a second opinion?

@fari9 - I also ended up in ER some years ago with Candida esophagitis. Thrush all way down. Also have GERD. At the time I was taking antibiotics frequently as well as prednisone now and then.
I thought I had a heart problem because of the severe pain.
At the time I was treated with antifungal medication.
Have you had another endoscopy to see why the pain is there? Reflux can cause a lot of pain.

Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. Have similar problems and finally last week was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. Other doc didn’t find it in all his test, but went to a great place, Loma Linda, Ca and he found it with first test. Not glad I have it, but at least I know what to treat. I’m a little different, have had a distal pancrectomy, which lead to type 2 diabetes, then pancreatitis, but that was years ago, but does seem to be an underlying pre-condition. Since then have been suffering with symptoms very similar to yours!

I didn't really have any issues till last Jan 2020 came down with severe sore throat like there were broken glass in my throat. After putting up with it a few days cause they said it was a virus, I started having hives and then they put me on antibiotics and prednisone, the hives went away, but I started throwing up really bad where I couldn't keep anything down, even my own saliva. So I ended up in ER and then got admitted cause I threw up blood ( coffeegrind looking). They did all sorts of tests while in the hospital and couldn't figure out what was going on except the Thrush. Unfortunately they didn't give me the right medication for the Thrush and by the time I figured out what I should be taking, I had lost 25 pounds in 2-3 weeks. I then went to different GI and ENT doctors and they gave me gabapentin for the pain so I could eat some soft food. They still don't know why the pain in my mouth has lasted so long. I have seen several ENT's and GI, dentists, had CT scan done, but they say its normal. The gabapentin has helped and over time with eating soft food, I am no longer loosing weight, but I am still in pain and can't eat anything sweet cause I feel like it aggravates that area, almost swelling in the throat. Anything hitting my mouth makes me caugh and sneeze, so it's hard to keep the food in. I have dry mouth now as well. I tried to give a shortened version, since as you would imagine I have tried many things.... I am on Omeprazole twice a day now. I didn't know if anyone has experienced this and I just don't want it to end up being cancer later on since I have had lung cancer too and am on remission.