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GI issues - weight loss/unable to digest most foods
My daughter (23 yrs) who had her first bout of covid in Nov 2020 has had GI issues since. She lost 15 lbs from Jan 21 to Dec 21. Did 2 colonoscopies, biopsies, and a pill cam. They noticed some ulcers in the ileum, but by the time of the second colonoscopy/biopsy, the ulcer was gone. She has since regained 80% of her lost weight, with the caveat that she has to wake up early, before 7 am to go to the bathroom. It used to be 5.30 am for many months. Before covid, she could easily sleep till 11 am. She has to go at least 2 times a day, and when she has vegetarian food alone, she goes up to 5 or 6 times. Beans, corn or nuts don't sit well with her. Sometimes she feels nauseous in the am. None of this was an issue before covid. She now eats meat more often than not. My daughter tried Lactoferrin, and Papaya enzymes but these haven’t helped with her not being able to retain vegetarian food or gain weight.
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I am finding relief with a low histamine diet. I keep a log of foods that help and hurt. Broccoli, rice and gold potatoes were my go to foods in the beginning. Thete is an app called food intolerances that is helpful after selecting the histamine diet. Left overs accumulate histamine in the fridge so I avoid those. Fresh meat. Check dates on packages.
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2 ReactionsI found the recent research on long covid as damage to the gut and possibly stomach from lingering spike protein helpful. It also holds hope that healing the gut and stomach over time will rid us of the lingering effects. (Article on Oct 13 can be searched out in New York Times if this link does not take you there.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/health/long-covid-serotonin.html-
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2 ReactionsIt is useful to keep a food log and weigh daily to see any correlation between bloat/other GI problems and food intolerances. My doctor recommended the FODMAP diet because of my celiac and constipation (worse after March covid). Going multiple times a day is common with celiac/gluten intolerance. My diet already excludes gluten, legumes, NSAIDs, most dairy, and processed foods. Dr doesn't believe the constipation is because my metabolism is too slow so won't increase my synthroid. I'd like to kick start my GI tract, but would be afraid it would involve a kick.
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2 Reactionsi have found Amla (indian gooseberry) has been very helpful for my gut issues.
it was suggested by my functional dr.
it is worth a try.
i got it from Amazon. no prescription required.
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1 ReactionI take a digestive enzyme daily as well as a prebiotic and probiotic This has helped me with my gut issues. Some foods can still be an issue but for the most part I try to eat clean and healthy...overall this has helped me a lot
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1 ReactionI would suggest going to a functional doctor and doing a stool test that looks at bacteria, parasites, worms, etc in the GI tract. I have been dealing with all the same stuff with my 17 year old son. We started with a functional doctor about 6 weeks ago after not getting answers from traditional doctors. We did a test called GI-MAP and it shows he has H. pylori as well as overgrowth of several "bad bacteria." We go next week to discuss the results and make a plan. I am almost positive that the majority of symptoms can be cleared up by treating the gut. Just have to find a functional doctor who is willing to look for the root cause and not treat symptoms.
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1 Reaction@sagnr11, you must be very worried about your daughter. If you would like to seek a second opinion from Mayo Clinic, you can submit a request for appointment here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
This must be disruptive to her life. Has she had to miss work/school?