The feeling of bloating, abdominal pain, fullness and gas after eating (and weight loss) may be due to problems with sluggish stomach or intestinal movements. This can be due to Lyme neuropathy. The best tests for this would be either a helical CT scan with IV contrast, or a nuclear medicine study to test for "gastric emptying". You could also have bacterial overgrowth in the intestine from sluggish intestinal movements. If that is the case, than a short course of antibiotics like cipro, falgyl or doxycycline may help. Reglan is another medicine that helps move the stomach and intestine. Pancreatic insufficiency may be another reason.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Hi cecekoo. Did you intend this to be a response to someone's post?
Just wondering.
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
Are there any remedies for lyme neuropathy of the gut? That's what I have. The nerves in my digestive system have stopped working so my peristaltic action is gone and my absorption is minimal. I also have a lot of pain and bloating.
I've had a course of biaxin- 10 days. That's all I could tolerate because of how weak my body is.
I was on zelnorm as well, which I hear is like Reglan, and it didn't help.
Do you have any other suggestions?
Where do you get you information?
Thank you.
Posted by Capa (Member # 18930) on :
Biaxin was horrible for my stomach and I only lasted a little over a week on it. I'm taking a break from antibiotics because my stomach is so bad but will most likely end up on IV Rocephin soon.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Welcome; i'm so glad you found us!! You've come to the right place for education and support!
Dr. Burrascano's most recent "Diagnostic Hints and 2008 Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses" @
please go to my newbie links, copy the entire thing, and then print this off....FINANCIAL BURDENS compiled by melanie reber print off pages 74 - 92; outstanding info there. i believe there are a few more general comments there without links!! print that off too as it's newer info from members thru their own personal, tragic experiences.
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
Posted by Buster (Member # 19472) on :
I have gastroparesis, it is a living hell but I am about to try doperidone or something like that, Doc said it should help better than reglan, reglan is a nasty drug.
Posted by cecekoo (Member # 19572) on :
Is Domperidone available in US market? I know that it used to but how about now?
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
my doc gave me dicyclomine. causes constipation,. which i am suffering from. geez, give a person something like that to cure constipation??
i give up....
Posted by missextreme (Member # 3610) on :
Try coffee enemas. They have helped me sooo much. They are on the Gerson Diet, which Dr. C in Missouri recommended to me.
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
What does the Gerson diet entail?
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
I have the pancreatic insufficiency that ceeceekoo mentions in the first post here.
I took OTC enzymes for a decade, thinking my lousy digestion was just part of Lyme and I'd have to live with it, since I had heard so many Lymies say they were told to take enzymes with meals. Then my fat digestion got so bad that OTC enzymes no longer worked.
If you have it, you will need to take prescription strength digestive enzymes with each meal or snack, eat no more than 60 grams of fat daily, and eat four small meals daily.
Without the enzymes, proper nutrition will not be absorbed, and weight and then hair will be lost, not to mention awful fatigue. My mom died of this back when they did not have enzymes, so I know what it's like w/o treatment. She went down to only 62 lbs. at 5'7" tall.
Pancreatic insufficiency is serious, cutting life span by an average of 20%, so if you have any of the symptoms mentioned in the first post in this thread and/or clear oil floating on the water in the commode and/or BM's that streak the side of the commode, go see a GI doc ASAP. By the time you show symptoms, at least 90% of your pancreas has already been destroyed.
klutzo
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
klutzo, i'm sorry for your loss.
i have bad stomach pain which comes on about 15 or so hours after eating. cannot tolerate any fat at all.
stools are mostly light tan with oily mucousy spots in the water.
i've had every tests known to man except the ercp, and my gastro still insists i have one of the worst cases of ibs he's ever seen.
i a terrified of pancreas problems and refuse, absolutely refuse, to accept ibs.
he won't give me the enzymes so i have to take OTC.
i don't know if it's lyme or not, but, yes, it's making me absolutely miserable.
Posted by rebecky (Member # 19251) on :
Hi there,
I am just beginning this journey and am seeing a LLMD on April 6th.
I too have gastroparesis that I believe has been caused by lyme or some bacteria still to be determined.
My gastro tried me on reglan but it made me really agitated so he put me on domperidone.
I have to have this compounded and only one pharmacy in the area does it.
No, it is not approved by the FDA in this country.
It was conditionally approved by the gastro division of the FDA but didn't make the final round.
I felt it made me more hungry and I didn't really feel "better" so I stopped taking it until I talk with the LLMD.
I am overweight, which I believe is lyme related, so an increase in hunger is not the best for me right now.
I have also started twitching, in my face, arms, etc...
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
Klutzo,
That is alarming, because I just recently tested positive for pancreatic insufficiency, and I've probably had it for at least 10 years of my life (I'm only 20).
I can only tolerate about 10-15 grams of fat a day, and NO oil. Just an ounce of avocado, then the trace amounts of fat in the massive amounts of carbs that I eat.
I'd love to hear more about your experiences with pancreatic insufficiency, and what you did. Why is it that it shortens the life span, even if you begin treating it? Is it the lack of fat? Posted by cecekoo (Member # 19572) on :
Hi,
Just took amoxicillin and azithromycin and within few hours, the stomach issue is getting better and gaining weight.
Just and update.
Posted by missextreme (Member # 3610) on :
The Gerson diet is:
- high amounts of natural juices. This provides natural nutrients that are very depleted in Lyme Disease
- frequent coffee enemas that elimante toxins. These REALLY do help, as I have found in my own experience.
- high doses of Pancreatin
I follow a modified version of the Gerson diet, and I am recovering my normal health.
It works!
Posted by missextreme (Member # 3610) on :
One more thing to add:
Gastrointestinal issues have been my biggest problem with Lyme Disease. As I have gone on a stricter diet and started on enzymes, I have drastically improved. I can work, go to school full time, and am continually improving.
The use of enzymes and coffee enemas have helped my gastrointestinal issues significantly. In the past year and a half, many of my worst issues have been resolved. My pain is so much better than it used to be!
Contact me, please, if you have any questions. I would love to help you in any way.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
do you think if i asked my llmd to give me digestive enzymes, he would?
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)