Needs advice about gut disorder (for long time)

Digestive health
1

Hello,

First thing, I am new on this forum, and of course I don't expect a diagnosis or anything, but just some good advice that could help.

To explain my situation, I didn't have any health problems whatsoever until 2 years ago. I suddenly got some food poisoning or gastroenteritis, and after being really sick for a night, i was better.

But a few days later, it got some really bad stomach bloating and general weakness. A blood test showed transaminases being too high (twice the normal level). After two months it was all ok.

But a few months later, it went back, and now I have been ill for 2 years. My symptoms have been the following ones:

- Bloating, especially in the morning and after meals.

- nausea

- eczema which extended dramatically at some point.

- I feel always tired and weak

- hair loss

- acid reflux sometimes

- sleeping troubles

- At some point, I got some food sensitivity (dairy, gluten).

I have seen two specialists and of course my GP and had a lot of tests, showing nothing wrong. I took a lot of medications, and anti-acids made me even more sick, in the end only the amitriptyline helped a little.

I tried probiotics, and again not really better. After reading a lot about candida, I tried natural anti-fungals and also fluconazole, and again it didn't help at all.

My problem is now that doctors just say it is IBS and tell me that there is nothing they can do.

It is really affecting hugely my life and it seems that they don't really understand that. I am not particularly stressed and there is nothing obviously wrong about my way of life (I have a really healthy diet since I have those problems of course).

My first question is, can it be IBS considering my problems are mainly about stomach rather than bowel? (I have no diarrhoea or constipation).

Then, does someone have a similar experience to share or any advice to give? (seeing a naturopath, and any doctor?)

Thank you very much

Loic

2

Hi, Loic, i have my own health issues and sorry to hear about yours. There is a new movie online called 'Super Juice me' you might want to watch. Maybe a period of intensive juice therapy can help ? And with probiotics make sure you are taking a good brand. At this stage you probably should look into finding an alternative practitioner, who has access to hundreds of private tests not available on the NHS. I know this is the route i am going down with regards to my debilitating chronic fatigue.

3

Hi Sorry to hear you are having a hard time.  You may well have IBS, however I am sure I have read on the internet that there are other functional disorders similar to IBS where the main problem is pain and bloating.  You could try googling it.  Not sure what else to say.  You have seen specialists and they have ruled out other conditions.  It is true that it is common for IBS to start followng a

stomach bug.  You say you are not stressed that is good as stress and anxiety play

havoc with the bowels.  Have you had any allergy tests? and have you tried any

anti spasmodics for the pain.  You really seem to have tried to help yourself so I am sorry you are still suffering.  Reflux does go with IBS sometimes.  Have you tried taking probiotics for the bloating.  I do find it helps.  Good luck hope you find some relief.

4

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

Apparently they call it post infectious IBS, and it is likely to go away, but some gastroenterologists just told it is possible I will be always sick like that, which is quite depressing.

I had allergy tests, all negative, but I still had bloating during the test for dairy for example. I tried probiotics as well, especially some expensive ones called VSL3, but I didn't see an obvious difference with it.

The only help is amitryptiline, but I really don't want to take this kind of medication for years...

Thank you

Loic

5

Hi David,

Sorry to hear you have problems as well.

For probiotics I tried several ones, including the expensive VSL3 recommended by my doctor, but no difference.

I am not convinced by this juice therapy, especially because I don't digest fruits really well sometimes.

What kind of alternative practitioner are you thinking about?

Thank you

Loic

6

Hi Loic88

I had all of your symptons and my naturopath said I had candida there is also a blood test for this but you also have to go on the candida diet. No sugar, no wheat, no yeast no mushrooms there is a huge list of foods to avoid and it takes months to get rid of this. Eczma was a problem. All of those symptoms have gone now. I also ate sauerkraut which has great probiotics, organic yogurt no caffiene. The diet at first for me was like eating dust but when I started to see results was thrilled. I had anti fungal pills and tons of probiotics not in pill form as you need wholefoods. I had reflux so bad that even water gave me heart burn. I felt so sorry for myself and once I was diagnosed and did all the things I was supposed to do I am a new woman. Even lost weight LOL I still have no sugar as i got used to not having it and at first you feel like you are going to die as your body craves sugar. I couldnt even eat sweet corn or beetroot as these vegies are high in sugar. There is a candida diet support group online, they offer support send emails of udated finds and also give recipes to stop you from going mad. As at first you feel like there is nothing you can eat and really have to change so much. I love potatoes but they are full of starch and candida thrives on starches, sugar, and yeast products. So once you get the list from them and download some recipes you will start to see results. Don't give up its worth it in the end. By the way regular GP's dont believe in Candida or diet it was my naturopath that saved me. I was said to have irritable bowel syndrome which is not a decease its your bowels being irritated which we already know but I went further and wanted to know why. Hope I have helped.good luck!!! 

7

Hi    I have googled functional gut disorders and it mentions CFAP chronic functional abdominable pain.  It is similar to IBS pain bloating etc but without bowel problems or D or C.  It says it is treated with low doses of anti depressants hence you being prescribed amitryptline which is also used in IBS and also fibromyalgia.  Hope this helps and you can find

an answer. Take care 

8

Hello,

Thank you again for this answer. Not sure it applies to me, as it is not exactly pain I have but more bloating and esophagitis. However, the cure itself and the fact that there is no bowel issue makes me think it is quite similar.

I sse on wikipedia that hypnotherapy helps people with IBS, have you ever heard of anything about that?

Cheers

Loic

9

Hello In aswer to your question I have not heard of hypnotherapy for IBS but it is worth looking into.  If you google Functional gut disorders on wikepedia you will see it mentions functional heartburn and functional dyspepsia as well.  I know how hard it is to deal with both bloating and reflux. You sound as though you are young so you need to get help for your future life.  Myself I am 66 and also dealing with other health problems as well as this IBS which at the moment is quite good.  Let us know how you get on.

10

Hello,

First thank you for your answer.

I thought I had candida as well, especially because I had a mouth thrush I coudn't get read of.

But recently I stopped amitryptiline to take a course of fluconazole, which didn't make any effect, good or bad. I tried a lot of natural antifungals (garlic, oregano oil, grapefruit seed oil, etc.) associated to a low sugar diet and I didn't see any difference at all after 2 months. All of this makes me think it is not candida (though my GP believes problems related to candida, which is quite rare, but we agreed that it was probably something else).

Would you have any advice about a naturopath I could see? (in case your naturopath would be near London).

Thank you again

Loic

11

I am sorry but I live in Australia so can't help you there.

Ginger is a great antifungal. It took me 6 months to rid of my candida and all the stuff presicribed by a GP didn't work as they are all synthetic drugs. Thus the reason to see a naturopath who can administer a prick blood test for candida. Also its not a low sugar diet but a no sugar diet and many other foods to avoid. It is a long hard haul. I did you give the address online for the candida support group but our messages get edited and they took it out. I would just look up a Naturopath in the phone book or google one. Even if you they decide its not Candida I am sure they can help you anyway with what ever you have.

good luck