Post Covid gastrointestinal issues: How long do they last?

Posted by clmmdm @clmmdm, Mar 19, 2023

Two months out from having Covid. Gastrointestinal issues still bothering me. Gas pains throughout mid section. Dr put me on Pantoprazole last week. Somewhat better but still experiencing gas pains.

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Had Covid April of 21. Gastro issues started several months later and have been dealing with it for over a year now. Had CT scan, colonoscopy, bloodwork. Dr prescribed omeprazole which I think helped some. Stopped taking it in November because stomach started acting up and five days later still bothering me so decided to ditch the pills. Also have ringing in ears, palpitations, fatigue, weakness, sinus issues, brain zaps.
Just read where someone took sea moss gel which I had never heard of and said it cured her Covid stomach. If anyone tries it let me know please.

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You might try a food diary/symptom diary, if you are eating spicy foods, or foods that cause gas etc, and symptoms are worse you might try to restrict those if you can. I don’t have any matching teeth, and have a very limited diet, but I’ve learned to eat smaller meals, and to try to walk about an hour after I eat. If I go to bed with a swollen tummy I will not sleep. Good luck.

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@mikekwiatkowski

Wow, thank you for the reply. I've been on probiotic for about a week when I started FODMAP. I took paxlovid during covid (May 2022). I had the gut antibiotic earlier this year, so quite a long time in between, but it was to address SIBO like stuff. This is the 1st I've heard of H-Pylori and C-Diff but I think this is along the right track because of the timing of this. Which was in the middle of my worse symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea - and I took paxlovid on Thursday afternoon and woke up Friday morning with the distention - literally overnight - and it continues unchanged today. I've continued to exercise throughout and of course stay well hydrated(I've been athletic all my life). I attached a pic I took the following day(5/28/2022) as I was so shocked at it - that's not what I looked like prior.

From what I've been researching, my theory is that covid attached my whole abdomen area (stomach, intestines, etc) and hasn't resolved. I think everything is inflamed/swollen as all the tests show no ascites or anything else they look for in the endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT scan, X-ray and mri. So no doctors have been able to help me, which is what led me to the FODMAP, I'm doing it for the 4-6 weeks but I don't think this is going down the right track - although there's no downside to it.

I've looked a hundreds of articles on abdomen distention and covid stuff but nothing that is similar to my situation of happening overnight and remains unchanged day and night and no matter what I eat. I do feel full all the time I think because of the inflamation.

So, I wish it wasn't, but that's my story

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Mike, I agree with you. Covid could very well have attacked your gut. I know that I mentioned Irritable Bowel Syndrome in an earlier post. It is hard to diagnose, but, your stomach gets distended with bloating, gas and you could have constipation or diarrhea. They usually do an upper GI to diagnose it. IBS can be brought on by stress (Covid is stressful!), dietary changes and even some vitamins I found can cause mine to flare up. Certain foods can flare you up. There are medications for IBS if this is the problem. IBS is very tiring as well. When I flare up with it, I feel like if I could stick a pin in my stomach and let all the air out, I would relieve the distension. I am so sorry you are battling this. I believe you will get answers. You have to keep trying different doctors and avenues. God Bless You!

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@clmmdm

Have the Drs put you on any medication?

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I've been on every OTC and Rx meds there are, but nothing seems to lessen my nauseousness at all.

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@doglover17

I've been on every OTC and Rx meds there are, but nothing seems to lessen my nauseousness at all.

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Have you tried over the counter Emetrol for nausea? It works great. God Bless you!

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@covidstinks2023

Mike, I agree with you. Covid could very well have attacked your gut. I know that I mentioned Irritable Bowel Syndrome in an earlier post. It is hard to diagnose, but, your stomach gets distended with bloating, gas and you could have constipation or diarrhea. They usually do an upper GI to diagnose it. IBS can be brought on by stress (Covid is stressful!), dietary changes and even some vitamins I found can cause mine to flare up. Certain foods can flare you up. There are medications for IBS if this is the problem. IBS is very tiring as well. When I flare up with it, I feel like if I could stick a pin in my stomach and let all the air out, I would relieve the distension. I am so sorry you are battling this. I believe you will get answers. You have to keep trying different doctors and avenues. God Bless You!

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I have no choice but to keep trying to reach a cure, can't live the rest of my life like this. Definitely not constipation or diarrhea. I think the major clue is that this literally happened overnight. While dropping 10 lbs, I wake up one morning and can't buckle my pants. So, I think of organ swelling. Then, what would make my whole abdomen swell that much overnight while not eating - must be an infection.
Thanks for your reply.

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I had covid twice the abdominal pain, stomach bloating is so bad that it makes it so I can't breath,my blood pressure is all over the place I've been sick with these awful symptoms for about 8 weeks now it put me in the hospital for a couple of days.i have had no strength or endurance for sometime now I get no help from doctors they look at me like a deer in the headlights.

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@doglover17

I've been on every OTC and Rx meds there are, but nothing seems to lessen my nauseousness at all.

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A little Kefir before each meal and keep meals smaller has helped me.

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@makusan

Welcome to BS AMA doctors. The have absolutely NO idea what they are doing, and are all about maintaining their 'Billable' treatment hours!
I met with one of our HCP (KP) GI specialist, who actually admitted that they have absolutely NO IDEA how to treat Long COVID. I was prescribed LUBIPROSTONE 8 mcg TID, on 3/24/23. Has not done anything to improve my G.I. issue.

Per Dr. Vanichkachorn “While we are NOT sure yet, there are several POSSIBLE ways the COVID-19 infection could cause gastrointestinal problems,” Dr. Vanichkachorn says. “For example, the lining of the gut has a large amount of the receptors that the SARS-COV2 virus uses to invade cells. The general inflammation caused by the infection can also disrupt the normal bacteria that live in the gut and stimulate some of the gastrointestinal system’s nerves.”
Even Mayo Clinic does NOT KNOW!

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It's a new disease, new after-effects. I appreciate my doctors all giving their best. They are learning, too

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@doglover17

I've been on every OTC and Rx meds there are, but nothing seems to lessen my nauseousness at all.

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Try ginger tea. It helped me more than meds. Also probiotics and Kefir helped.

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