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Gut issues, would love advice


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Diagnosed with IBS but have had so much trouble this past year that I spent thousands of $$$ on specialists, every test under the sun, etc. All of that to be told IBS, stress, fatty liver but no real ideas how to treat this.

 

I've had stomach troubles for 20 years. I have severe PCOS and metformin has always been hard on me but it's more than that lately. The bloating pain alone makes me want to crawl into bed and never get out.

 

I am tired of feeling rotten. I am always tired now. Any ideas on how I can get my digestive system happier? There are no known triggers to these "attacks", by the way.

 

Any ideas?

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A book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall - this is what started and explains the whys and wherefores of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. My sister had severe crohn's disease (related to IBS) for many years and had been to many, many specialists and after several surgeries to save her life and countless medications, she went on this diet and is now free of crohns.

Edited by Susan in TN
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I have IBS. Using a flax based fiber and probiotics made a huge difference for me. I did a trial off of gluten and dairy too, but once my gut was healed that seemed not to make as much difference as just varying the foods I eat and the fiber and the probiotics.

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I do agree with trying gluten free to see if it makes a difference.

 

However, have you ever had a stool culture from Metametrix or a similar company? They found what was making my son sick when all the doctor's tests, scopes, etc. couldn't find the cause. In his case it was d. fragilis and b. hominus...two parasites not commonly tested for but not at all uncommon. I've since had adults contact me for treatment advice and encouragement who had the same bugs and were very sick. Our doctor at a local hospital ordered the test for my son so insurance covered it but I think you can get them without a doctor order via this company.

Edited by sbgrace
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I have IBS...gluten free seems to be the way to go, as per the two naturopaths I've had. FYI, I'm also supposed to be going sugar/dairy/yeast free as well (candida is an issue for those that have gut problems). I find it difficult going off these things...what one is intolerant to is usually what they crave! :001_huh:

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I do agree with trying gluten free to see if it makes a difference.

 

However, have you ever had a stool culture from Metametrix or a similar company? They found what was making my son sick when all the doctor's tests, scopes, etc. couldn't find the cause. In his case it was d. fragilis and b. hominus...two parasites not commonly tested for but not at all uncommon. I've since had adults contact me for treatment advice and encouragement who had the same bugs and were very sick. Our doctor at a local hospital ordered the test for my son so insurance covered it but I think you can get them without a doctor order via this company.

 

Can I ask you what your son's symptoms were? My kids all (the three little ones) have crazy digestive issues.

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I agee with the previous posters, gluten free seems to really help. Another thing that may ease your discomfort is slippery elm powder. It is very healing for the gut. 1-2 tsp 4X a day will probably give you great relief but even if you feel a lot better with the slippery elm I would also encourage you to try to get to the root cause of the problem rather than just treating the symptoms.

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I also recommend going gluten-free. About 20 years ago I had all kinds of stomach issues. I thought it was IBS. All the symptoms went away when I stopped eating gluten. It's definitely worth a try.

 

:iagree: Another vote for GF. I had 13 years of really quite debilitating stomach issues, particularly bloating that made me curl up on a foetal position it hurt so bad. Doctors dismissed it at IBS, I stopped eating gluten, the stomach issues went away, and so did a whole host of other issues that I hadn't related to the gut issues. If I have even a little gluten, the issues are all back again, they start about 2-3 days after ingestion and go on for 2-4 weeks.

I don't know if I have coeliac disease, the doctors think I might do but I refuse to eat gluten again to get tested. Even if you were tested negative for CD, it's worth trying GF.

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I have IBS. I only get really bad pelvic pains. I have no bowel issues. Honestly, the only thing that can "cure" IBS and stop the vicious cycle is to get on a medication such as Levbid. Or, a combo medication. I take Amitryptiline, and a Benzo. Low doses. I was on Librax for 5 years, but came medication resistant to it.

They say to stay away from gassy foods. But I can eat anything and nothing bothers my stomach.

You can try all those diets(I did), and nothing worked until I got on presciption meds.

A visit to a good GI would be a good idea.

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Diagnosed with IBS but have had so much trouble this past year that I spent thousands of $$$ on specialists, every test under the sun, etc. All of that to be told IBS, stress, fatty liver but no real ideas how to treat this.

 

I've had stomach troubles for 20 years. I have severe PCOS and metformin has always been hard on me but it's more than that lately. The bloating pain alone makes me want to crawl into bed and never get out.

 

 

 

Any ideas?

 

Have you seen a GYN dr yet? Bloating is one of the early signs of ovarian cancer that is often ignored or blamed on something else.

 

I'm sorry that you've been feeling so rotten. :grouphug:

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I was diagnosed with IBS 20 years ago. A few years ago, my sister was diagnosed with Celiac disease. She suggested I stop eating gluten. I did in May, and have no more intestinal problems at all.

 

First step I'd do, personally, is give up wheat and dairy for 6 good weeks.

 

If that doesn't help, low dose tricyclics (I mean really a piddling amount) can work miracles. Think of it as an antidepressant for the tiny, primitive, diffuse "brain" your gut has.

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We are taking our family gluten free. :( We have tested for (and found) gluten intolerance in one of our daughters and I am sure there are more. It is REALLY hard to be gluten free in our society. However, I do not believe we were created to eat so much gluten and our grain products now contain huge amounts of gluten.

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Thank you so much for all of the thoughts you've shared here. Very helpful.

 

I have seen my gynocologist about ovarian cancer. I've seen my GI and been tested for what seemed to be everything under the sun. Nothing but a bit of irritation in my stomach showed up. I had a ton of celiac symptoms but testing said no. Maybe going GF is the best next step. It can't hurt.

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