I gave up gluten about 8 months ago and had a lot of improvements. MUCH less fatigue - no more afternoon naps! I have also wanted to go dairy free too but put it off for about three years...
So the last 6 months I have had intermittent stomach bloating/pain/gas...so bad that it looks like I'm 5 months pregnant at times...it only lasts a week or so here and there, but this last time it was for about a month. I decided to try to go dairy-free and I planned accordingly, went shopping so I would know what I would be eating, and started.
I started no-dairy 11 days ago. I went through major withdrawal the first 3-4 days. Headache, shakes, irritability...it was bad. BUT the GOOD part was - after day 2, the stomach issues were GONE! I couldn't believe it, it actually worked!!!
Then a few days later with the start of my cycle, I got major cramps (as I do every month), and then came major bloating AGAIN. Now, I am back to having the 24-hour a day stomach bloating, belching, and some nausea. I was SO excited about the no-dairy idea - and I was CONVINCED that it was working! Why is it back??? Was I wrong about the wonderful results of quitting dairy???
I suppose I have candida - I get yeast infections about once a month, been on abx for years for sinus infections prior to my lyme diagnosis- and then of course, more abx.
I just want to treat the CAUSE of the bloating and not just the symptoms. I have ways to help it (peppermint tea, activated charcoal, etc) but I want to get to the root of the problem!
Oh and also - my mood is BAD! SO irritable, so depressed-like, so BLAH...it is the WORST feeling in the world.
I look forward to your insight....sigh....cb
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
Hi - I'm sorry I don't have any answers on the stomach front, but I too had persistent sinus infections one after another in the three years before I got really sick and was diagnosed with Lyme.
I was wondering if you think your sinus problems were part of your Lyme disease? Do you think you got infected with Lyme before they started?
Posted by canaanbites (Member # 32852) on :
Yes, I have no question that my sinus infections were part of lyme disease. I was infected with lyme when I was 12, and didn't get diagnosed until I was 37. Had sinus infections for years. They were just one of the many symptoms of lyme for me.
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
There could be something else in your diet that is bothering your stomach. I just read "Hidden Food Allergies" and am doing 4-day elimination diets with foods that could be suspect. I've now gone 4 days without eggs. Weird, but my face feels less puffy. I really want eggs today but I had just a little sugar (bbq sauce) last night and I don't know if I could sort out the difference in allergy symptoms between eggs and sugar.
While I don't know if sugar is an allergen, I do know that it feeds yeast and with constant and high dose of ABX I'm on, it just doesn't make sense for me right now.
The most common food allergens are wheat, dairy, soy, eggs and corn. Any of these can cause GI distress. Look at these. I have eliminated soy as it is just bad for you (IMHO)
Some people feel better eliminating nightshades.
Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Garden (Member # 31671) on :
My guess is that you may have gut flora problems after all those abx.
Probiotics (high strength) in the morning, Saccharomyces boulardii at bedtime. And you'll need to cut out the refined carbs.
Good luck!
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Sounds like the dairy was feeding the yeastie beasties. Starving off yeast will make you cranky, fwiw. Bloating = yeast. Also fwiw - when you get your period, your body gets acidic - which makes your body more 'friendly' to yeast (and bacteria).
If you can tackle the yeast, your sinus issues will no doubt disappear.
Perhaps in addition to diet, you should be taking either prescription or herbal antifungals (oil of oregano, capryllic acid, grapefruit seed extract, Diflucan, etc.)
My 'chronic sinusitis' disappeared with 2 mos of Diflucan that my LLMD had me do. Both my ENT and Allergist both released me from care shortly thereafter.
Yeast is an ongoing battle, even when you go off abx. I've been off 7 years now, and it took me 6 years to really keep it in check.
Posted by canaanbites (Member # 32852) on :
I do have a prescription for Diflucan which I started yesterday. Honestly, I hate the herx from it, so I put it off. But I am tired of feeling horrible.
Can yeast make you really feel sick? I mean, stomach bloating but also general malaise?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by canaanbites: [QB]
Can yeast make you really feel sick? I mean, stomach bloating but also general malaise?
- Oh YES YES YES !!!!
You will feel great on the other side of this yeast killing experience!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quoting a site on yeast:
The Second Stage of Candida Symptoms may involve more generalized reactions such as PAIN, HEADACHES (including Migraine), EXTREME FATIGUE, PSORIASIS, INFECTIONS OF THE NAILS, MUSCLE ACHES, JOINT PAINS, AND ARTHRITIS.
Naturally, drug after drug is usually taken in hopes of alleviating these miserable conditions. In most cases, the Candida SYMPTOMS alone are being treated--while the CAUSE (Candida overgrowth) may be literally being PROMOTED at the same time!
The Third Stage of Candida Symptoms may involve MENTAL and BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES: Inability to concentrate, not being able to read or follow a television program or carry on a hobby, serious forgetfulness, memory loss, mental confusion, not being able to think of the words to say something, switching around of words and letters when trying to speak and/or write something, loss of previous skills (such as how-to-type or how-to-play-the-piano, etc.)
These frightening problems may often lead to "HOPELESS CRYING" SPELLS, SEVERE DEPRESSION, SLEEP DISORDERS (may include insomnia, confusion dreams, nightmares, apnea, and not feeling rested or restored after sleep), IRRATIONAL THOUGHTS, UNUSUAL FEARS, PHOBIAS, PANIC/ANXIETY ATTACKS, MUSCLE TWITCHING, IRRITABILITY, VIOLENCE, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, and even EPILEPTIC SEIZURES and THOUGHTS OF DEATH OR SUICIDE.
Living with these Candida Symptoms is not a great way to live life. Sometimes people with these symptoms are labeled "Mentally ill", thought to be suffering from manic-depressive Psychosis or Schizophrenia.
These desperately sick patients are sometimes turned over to the care of a psychiatrist or hospitalized in a mental institution. They may be given antidepressants, tranquilizers, lithium, etc. to lighten the mental symptoms.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Look at Fyrecrackers post. She has had bloating and so have I. There is a virus going around with vomiting and diarrhea. In my case, the bloating, gas, indigestion etc lingers for weeks. I also thought I was having a reaction to dairy.