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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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kayabbott | @kayabbott | Oct 24, 2023

I imagine she has been tested for celiac and other GI inflammation (microscopic colitis and other). Most of my family died in their 60's of cancers, so I know how that feels (I'm 69). There are early-stage dementia meds that can slow the progression (helps for a friend of mine). Does your church/community have visiting programs? I hope you are taking care of yourself as well; caretaking is hard. I don't know if she would accept homework assignments, like short walks or other exercize, doing puzzles (helps with dementia), or other.

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smdawson540 | @smdawson540 | Oct 24, 2023
In reply to @duck43 "she is also exhausted most of the day." + (show)
@duck43

she is also exhausted most of the day.

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Are you being seen by a Long COVID clinic? If not, I strongly suggest you try to get into one. I have had Long COVID for 3 years. It took a long time to be diagnosed and it is very disheartening to have repeated tests that show nothing wrong. I have pain, brain fog, issues sleeping, insane anxiety, dizziness, blacking out, GI issues, and on and on. Since being seen by the Long COVID clinic, I have Doctors and therapists who know what I have which is very comforting after years of being tested for everything and feeling like I was losing my mind. With Long COVID, you do not want to push too much in the way of exercising. My physical therapist started with breathing exercises to help me calm down. The first step being to calm down and remain calm which will give you more energy. I have had to try to cut as many stressors in my life as I can. The higher my anxiety, the worse my symptoms. I am 52 and can not do more than 20 minutes of minimal physical activity at a time. I have ended up in the ER due to overdoing it. I am on gabapentin for neuropathy that was not diagnosed until I was with the Long COVID clinic, it did require a skin biopsy. The gabapentin does help with pain. In addition, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and take Cymbalta. Cymbalta can help with mood, GI issues and nerve pain. I take Low Dose Naltrexone to help me sleep. Even if I only sleep for 3 or 4 hours at a time but get deep sleep during that time, it helps. The low dose Naltrexone has helped me with this. I have POTS - so I wear an abdominal binder so I can sit and stand. Is your wife experiencing dizziness? I have horrible GERD/Acid Reflux for which I take Dexilant. Prior to long COVID I ate well and exercised and only took zyrtec for allergies. I have a life sentence as all of my diagnosis are not curable, but I now have a better attitude and hope for reduced symptoms which helps a lot. I wish you good luck and will continue to pray for everyone with this awful condition.

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makusan | @makusan | Jan 18 2:40pm
In reply to @kitty2 "Hi..before I was admitted to the hospital I had a consult on the phone with a..." + (show)
@kitty2

Hi..before I was admitted to the hospital I had a consult on the phone with a GI physician that practices in Orlando Florida that was set up by my health insurance nurse. He was the one that thought that SIBO bacterial overgrowth was part of my problem along with Ulcerative Colitis. Hes suggested having my doctor here in my state test me for the problem. He said they do a breath test and run a stool fecalcalprotectin lab, which indeed was positive. He said that the treatment they use is Xifaxan an antibiotic and flagyl, also Uceris ( Budesonide) oral, hydrocortisone enemas and have found that a probiotic called VSL # 3 is good , that can be ordered on Amazon. When I was admitted to the hospital, they had me NPO..nothing by mouth and Intervenous running my entire stay. They did not treat me with the above drugs. They then introduced food back and had me on a low fiber/ low residue diet. They also told told me to take Imodium up to 4 times a day and canasta suppositories once a day a bedtime which is an RX. I also had another CT of my abdomen when I was admitted. This has been a real journey , but the Imodium is somewhat helping slow down things a bit. There is a lot of information on SIBO online. The doctors at the hospital were pretty convinced the long haul covid brought this on.Let me know if I can do anything else to help you.

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Be AWARE! Stay away from VSL#3!
https://www.visbiome.com/blogs/visbiome-vs-vsl-3/exegi-wins-court-ruling-against-vsl-3-permanent-injunction-blocks-false-advertising-to-doctors-consumers.

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kitty2 | @kitty2 | Jan 18 3:31pm
In reply to @kitty2 "Hi..before I was admitted to the hospital I had a consult on the phone with a..." + (show)
@kitty2

Hi..before I was admitted to the hospital I had a consult on the phone with a GI physician that practices in Orlando Florida that was set up by my health insurance nurse. He was the one that thought that SIBO bacterial overgrowth was part of my problem along with Ulcerative Colitis. Hes suggested having my doctor here in my state test me for the problem. He said they do a breath test and run a stool fecalcalprotectin lab, which indeed was positive. He said that the treatment they use is Xifaxan an antibiotic and flagyl, also Uceris ( Budesonide) oral, hydrocortisone enemas and have found that a probiotic called VSL # 3 is good , that can be ordered on Amazon. When I was admitted to the hospital, they had me NPO..nothing by mouth and Intervenous running my entire stay. They did not treat me with the above drugs. They then introduced food back and had me on a low fiber/ low residue diet. They also told told me to take Imodium up to 4 times a day and canasta suppositories once a day a bedtime which is an RX. I also had another CT of my abdomen when I was admitted. This has been a real journey , but the Imodium is somewhat helping slow down things a bit. There is a lot of information on SIBO online. The doctors at the hospital were pretty convinced the long haul covid brought this on.Let me know if I can do anything else to help you.

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Hi..I am curious ..was the consult with 2nd md..and do you remember the doctors name..sounds like who I had a phone consult with, and I know the doctor was in florida and he was big on the sibo and the vsl #3. My doctors would not listen to his consult ideas and I never did the VSL#3..my doctors would not test me for Sibo either. My fecalprotectin was the highest they had ever seen..5055..the treatment was the same as what you say he told you about..I have the the covid brain fog so I cant remember his name, but what you are saying sounds the same . The Uceris was terrible for me . Lots of side effects, caused a lot of diarrhea and severe bleeding. I have been off of it almost a year, off in March of 2023. I did a fast taper. Are you taking the Budesonide now? The immodium also caused problems also. Let me know if you can .I am curious. Thanks..I hope you are feeling better..please keep in touch. Kitty2

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