Now, the kind with diarrhea, I would lean toward SIBO, or clostrida infection.
But the kind with chronic constipation? Do you automatically think yeast/ parasites?
I have my first gastro appt. ever this week. I am going to ask for a CT scan on my abdomen area.
I am 100% GF, treat yeast, use VSL probiotics, have done rounds of parasite treatments.
Deal with constipation- manage with various types of magnesium - eat well.
But, I get stomach attacks- gripping, vise like, I'm on the floor and can't move. Last for 30-40 minutes max. I am underweight. Excruciating when it happens.
Can't tie it to any food.
First LLMD said 'it's Lyme'. 2nd LLMD made me get my gallbladder checked: totally healthy.
I read about IBS, and it sounds like a rabbit hole I am absolutely dreading.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i don't know but i've had every test under the sun at least three or four times and they want to take part of my colon out!!
i've suffered with this since i was a child.
lyme? parasites?
i get so frustrated i could scream...
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Could be PORPHYRIA. That would be my first consideration. Sounds like porphyria attacks.
Still, could be lyme, other chronic stealth infections &/or PARASITES. Parasites are now being seen as a major lyme co-infection.
Reaction to treatment, herx and otherwise, too.
Liver dysfunction as well.
H. PYLORI
Carbonated beverages, etc. can do this, too. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
H. PYLORI - Herbal Treatment & other related LINKS
Still, best to be tested and consider the Rx treatment as well as support methods. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I hope this will be clear from my posts but, in answer to your question:
"Do you believe in IBS"?
No. I do not. I know the symptoms are real and can be quite serious, indeed. However, it is not a disease, even a condition, unto itself. IBS, like all syndrome labels is an umbrella diagnosis at best when it covers a wide range of symptoms that can be caused by many different things.
However, most "syndrome" labels have become trash cans, patients are just thrown away when doctors are either too lazy, under-educated or ignorant of the range of causes.
So, no, I do not believe in the diagnosis of IBS or any syndrome.
But we also can't put it all on doctors to find the cause. I think it's vital to consider all the things that we might be doing that could cause symtpoms. That starts with food and beverages consumed. So many are killing us.
So, if you have eliminated gluten (even from lip balm, etc.), dairy, all GMO foods, etc. and still have severe trouble, of course it can be any of the things suggested above, or none of those and something else.
It could be other things in combination with certain food products consumed, too.
I wish you luck in sorting it out. I suggest starting with dropping dairy (see the NYT articles in the excitotoxin links) . . .
and also see the documentary "GMO ROULETTE" it's an an eye opener that has convinced me to never eat any GMO food again. You can see in the film what happens the inside of the GI tract. It's astounding. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- VISCERAL MANIUPULATION might help.
Web search: UPLEDGER INSTITUTE
to find a pracitional trained in this technique near you. May be covered by insurance.
In the meantime, there may be certain yoga poses that could help (nothing strenuous at all, though). Be gentle. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Not really. I was labeled with that 30 yrs ago. My gut issues are WAY WAY better since going gluten, dairy and sugar free .. and got even better when I went organic and avoided GMO foods.
It could be the GMO's affecting you. Some of us are very sensitive to just about anything.
Also look into the Body Ecology Diet or GAPS to heal your gut. The fermented vegetables really help you digest foods and the food combining keeps things from fermenting in your gut.
(I know that sounds contradictory, but it isn't!)
Maybe you are sensitive to dairy. I would really suspect that too. I actually found out I was sensitive to dairy when I was taking VSL and having horrible cramping.
Eliminated dairy and all was good!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Be sure to keep your gastro appointment this week. Ask about PORPHHYRIA. A good GI doctor should know about this.
Imaging can also be helpful so I hope they do take some kind of pictures. Hope you feel better soon. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
LL Naturopathic links here, too. --
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Thank you very much. Means a lot. I feel anxiety around this issue right now, as I've had 2 attacks in the past 3 weeks,
the one yesterday I was 1/2 to the hospital before asking husband to turn around back home.
Hate to sound like a whiner, but giving up gluten, sugar, spending money on organic clean food,
drinking 1/2 my body weight in pure water, digestive enzymes, has been an effort- I don't want to give up dairy, too-- I did test for KPU last year, negative.
I am underweight, and I am starting to worry. I went off Lyme treatment about 4 months ago, and didn't want more health investigation work,
which looks like will entail IgG food allergy panel testing, stool testing, on and on to get to what's possibly happening.
Oh well. Could be worse, right? But more money out of my very slim pocket book. We will see what the Gastro. Dr. says, but I have a feeling if
the CT scan appears normal, it will be up to me again to figure this out.
xxoo
Posted by Hambone (Member # 29535) on :
Have you had a HIDA scan? For YEARS docs kept telling me my gallbladder was fine. Two ultrasounds, CT scan, two endoscopies, all came out normal.
Finally had a HIDA scan and my gallbladder was only functioning at %5. When I got it out, it was severely covered in scar tissue...and all those other tests missed it.
Posted by lax mom (Member # 38743) on :
I believe in it. I've had it for 16 yrs. Fiber helps move things along.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Don't forget .. most dairy is GMO. Double whammy. It binds the gut just like gluten and soy do.
Posted by jjourneys (Member # 39813) on :
I've had IBS since I was 10 yrs old - 45 yrs now. Are there issues that cause this beside "IBS" probably, it's a syndrom - which means no proven cause or cure.
Going Gluten free 5 years ago helped but didn't eliminate it. Taking ABX for Lyme has been the best source of relief, but it is not completely gone.
I do understand the pain associated with this. Hot baths can help relieve some of the pain. IBS will not show up on any tests, mri's or xrays - as keebler stated, it is a syndrom - probably a catch all for nothing else the dr could find wrong with you.
Do I "believe in IBS"? Certainly! What causes it - no one knows. But it real! Yes, it can send you to the ER in severe pain. Explanations for it? No one seems to have the answer. It has been my life, and affects my lifestyle in ways I'm not sure I want to discuss on an open forum, but I can tell you that I know where every tree, portapotty and bathroom is available between my home and anywhere I may need to travel to.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
IMHO, IBS (doctor shorthand for "I Be Stumped") is a diagnosis given when the doctor is too lazy, uneducated or otherwise uninterested in figuring out what's really going on.
A syndrome is not a disease. It is a collection of symptoms.
What can cause the symptoms of "IBS"? Many, many things...
Allergies/sensitivities (food/environmental) Infections: Lyme & coinfections, Candida, Parasites, Viruses, etc. Neurotoxins from a wide variety of sources (infections, mold, synthetic foods, GMO's, pesticides, chemicals, etc.) Poor diet Insufficient or imbalanced digestive enzymes and/or HCl (pancreatic enzymes, gut wall enzymes, bile, etc.) Bacterial dysbiosis (in the small and/or large intestine) Gallbladder or liver issues Tumors Hormone imbalances Poor nutrition Medication side-effects etc.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :