Digestive issues no matter what I eat. Long, but Please help!!
hellokitty4321
Posts: 9 Member
I have suffered with severe digestive issues for eight years. The symptoms include acid reflux, major bloating, diarrhea, constipation, chronic fatigue and inability to lose weight. I have been diagnosed with ibs and fibromyalgia and have been tested for hypothyroidism and celiac disease. I also got an upper endoscopy and apparently I have mild to medium inflammation in my large intestine. I've tried eating really healthy (a lot of fruits, little bit of junk food, barely ate out etc) but my digestive problem felt like hell. So, I tried all sorts of diets (paleo, low fat, low carb, gluten free and am currently on a strict low fodmap diet) but still none of them worked for me. I have only been on the low fodmap diet for about three days and then failed bc I was so discouraged of the fact that my digestive issues haven't gotten better. Not to mention, I cannot fruits besides a little bit of bananas, because they all give me severe digestive issues. I know that it might not seem like I carry extra weight around my abdominal area and that I don't need to lose weight in my profile picture but that is because I took the picture when I wasn't as bloated and it is also due to the camera angle. I weigh 131 lbs and am greater than 30 inches around the waist. After eating, my waist size can go up to 33 inches. I wear a size 8-10 pants and a 8-10 dress. This might be tmi but I mostly wear a size large underwear, sometimes medium. Trust me, sometimes, after I eat, I can be mistaken as a pregnant person due to my major bloating. I'm so sick and tired of these issues to the point that I sometimes become suicidal. One time, I became so desperate to lose weight that I only ate 500 calories a day, and my only meal consisted of watermelon bc I felt like watermelons gave me the least digestive problems. I only lost eight pounds from eating 500 calories a day. I went to a gi doctor and got a blood work done and oddly, all my vitamins and minerals were at the right level. I do not know what is wrong with my digestive system. Can anybody relate to me? Can somebody tell me what to do????
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Thank you to anybody who has taken the time to read this. I also want to note that I have anxiety and depression.0
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Also, at one point, I became obsessed with exercising. I would work out extremely intensely for fifty minutes five times a week. On top of this, I also did some exercises early in the morning (stretches, jump rope, running etc)0
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Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.0
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Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.
This.0 -
Keep working with your medical professionals and stick with the fodmap a little longer. Diarize which foods make you feel better. Over time your list of acceptable foods will get longer and longer.
I suspect you range on the extremes, hoping for a "cure" but I think you need to start thinking along the lines of "feels a little better". Please do eat enough to feed all the great things you are doing. Can you be happy at 130 pounds, size 8-10?
I think you might benefit from Stanford's Chronic Disease Self Management Program. Is there one available where you live? There's a similar program available in the UK.0 -
Hi katsmo. I am just really tired of dealing with my digestive issues and inability to lose weight. I've seen two gastroenterologists, my primary care doctor and a dietitian. I am losing hope that a medical doctor can do anything for me. The reason I pointed out that I have depression and anxiety is because maybe my emotional problem might be linked to the digestive issue I have. I wrote this post in hopes that somebody has been or is going through the same thing that I have, because I really need an answer to my digestive issue.Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.
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Have you been referred to an allergist/immunologist? Are you still seeing a GI specialist? My goodness there are any number of things that could cause these symptoms. Some are simple and easily fixed, others are complicated and not fixable, but you need to know the cause before trying to find the cure. Why did you quit on FOODMAP after only 3 days!?
Get thee to a doctor. If they can't help, demand to be referred on until you find someone that can.0 -
Start taking "Digest Gold", made by enzymedica, with every meal. After your first two bytes of each meal take the enzyme capsule. Whala - you be cured!!-6
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Start taking "Digest Gold", made by enzymedica, with every meal. After your first two bytes of each meal take the enzyme capsule. Whala - you be cured!!
This might be the most irresponsible advice I've seen you give around here. I realize that you never return or engage with criticisms, but you are not qualified to diagnose, treat, or cure her problems over the internet. No one is.0 -
hellokitty4321 wrote: »Hi katsmo. I am just really tired of dealing with my digestive issues and inability to lose weight. I've seen two gastroenterologists, my primary care doctor and a dietitian. I am losing hope that a medical doctor can do anything for me. The reason I pointed out that I have depression and anxiety is because maybe my emotional problem might be linked to the digestive issue I have. I wrote this post in hopes that somebody has been or is going through the same thing that I have, because I really need an answer to my digestive issue.Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.
I have a close family member with severe digestive issues. It took several years and many doctors and many procedures to get a diagnosis. There are really just so very many things that could be wrong it's impossible for anyone here to say based on the little information you've provided. Keep seeing doctors and keep looking for answers. And give their advice more than 3 days to work.
Since you've only had these symptoms for 8 years it's probably not something you were born with. It could be an allergy or intolerance. I'd ask for a referral to an allergist/immunologist.0 -
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He won't come back, will he? He's mispronouncing the french word, voilà. Nails on a chalkboard.0
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I also have issues with anxiety. I've found when my stress levels go up, I get digestive issues no matter what I'm eating. I've had months go by where this is a constant thing - every time I eat. I've also been treated for IBS, though none of the treatment ever helped. When I'm more relaxed, happy, and don't have as much anxiety, my digestion issues mostly disappear. Nothing has been confirmed from a medical perspective, these are just my observations. It could be that you are experiencing something similar. If you're experiencing anxiety and depression, you should also be seeing a doctor for those. Ask them if your digestive symptoms could be related.0
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diannethegeek wrote: »Start taking "Digest Gold", made by enzymedica, with every meal. After your first two bytes of each meal take the enzyme capsule. Whala - you be cured!!
This might be the most irresponsible advice I've seen you give around here. I realize that you never return or engage with criticisms, but you are not qualified to diagnose, treat, or cure her problems over the internet. No one is.
You'd be surprised how often you get crap like this when dealing with gut disorders. I'd be a rich woman if I had a dollar for every person that recommended yogurt as a "cure". Some even after being told he has a milk allergy.0 -
I have been looking for a food allergist that takes my insurance but haven't found one yet. Maybe I'll try looking again. I quit the low fodmap diet on the third day bc it is extremely difficult. I cannot eat any fruits with the exception of a banana about every week and it seems like every veggies makes me feel bad except for spinach. So, I've been only eating chicken broth, rice, chicken, bananas, potato chips, eggs and spinach for the past three days. Still, my symptoms haven't gotten any better. The diet is extremely difficult bc you are so limited on what you can eat. With me, I don't even want to try eating fruits and veggies bc I remember years ago, I used to get horrible digestive issues from most fruits. But yes. I just hope that a doctor will be able to help me. I just need this digestive issue to go away.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Have you been referred to an allergist/immunologist? Are you still seeing a GI specialist? My goodness there are any number of things that could cause these symptoms. Some are simple and easily fixed, others are complicated and not fixable, but you need to know the cause before trying to find the cure. Why did you quit on FOODMAP after only 3 days!?
Get thee to a doctor. If they can't help, demand to be referred on until you find someone that can.
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hellokitty4321 wrote: »I have been looking for a food allergist that takes my insurance but haven't found one yet. Maybe I'll try looking again. I quit the low fodmap diet on the third day bc it is extremely difficult. I cannot eat any fruits with the exception of a banana about every week and it seems like every veggies makes me feel bad except for spinach. So, I've been only eating chicken broth, rice, chicken, bananas, potato chips, eggs and spinach for the past three days. Still, my symptoms haven't gotten any better. The diet is extremely difficult bc you are so limited on what you can eat. With me, I don't even want to try eating fruits and veggies bc I remember years ago, I used to get horrible digestive issues from most fruits. But yes. I just hope that a doctor will be able to help me. I just need this digestive issue to go away.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Have you been referred to an allergist/immunologist? Are you still seeing a GI specialist? My goodness there are any number of things that could cause these symptoms. Some are simple and easily fixed, others are complicated and not fixable, but you need to know the cause before trying to find the cure. Why did you quit on FOODMAP after only 3 days!?
Get thee to a doctor. If they can't help, demand to be referred on until you find someone that can.
Which is worse, following the diet recommended by your doctor (as a tool for diagnosing your problem) or continuing to live with the digestive problems? That is the choice you must make.
The Foodmap may be difficult, time-consuming and seem pointless(it's not!), but living with constant digestive problems is WAY worse.
I've had digestive issues too; been poked, prodded and scoped on both ends. Once you figure out the foods that hurt/help you, your life will improve dramatically. Don't give up on it!0 -
Anxiety and IBS go hand in hand it may be worth asking your doc for anxiety meds, you're probably in a viscous circle where your digestive issues fuel your anxiety and the anxiety is making your IBS worse. Stick with the fodmap its really hard but its designed to reduce the bowel inflammation so in theory it should calm your bowel down and then give you the option to reintroduce foods to gauge your bodies reaction to them but it will take longer than 3days on fodmap to see an improvement. Also look at some meditation or beginners yoga for relaxation which should help both your anxiety and IBS.
In short get some anxiety medication, stick to fodmap as described by your physician and go online for some meditation techniques.
p.s.from experience, peppermint tea is good for cramps and bloating caused by ibs.0 -
Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.
Ok I think it's the depression and anxiety that could be your cause!! You see the gut and our mental state are very very closely joined! Get yourself to a medical doctor and get a referral to a phycologist a get to the bottom of your mental issues then see how you feel0 -
Unfortunately it is time consuming to see many different doctors and give all of their suggestions a fair chance.
Seeing an allergist that can give you a blood allergy test, if you haven't already, is a good direction to start.0 -
hellokitty4321 wrote: »Hi katsmo. I am just really tired of dealing with my digestive issues and inability to lose weight. I've seen two gastroenterologists, my primary care doctor and a dietitian. I am losing hope that a medical doctor can do anything for me. The reason I pointed out that I have depression and anxiety is because maybe my emotional problem might be linked to the digestive issue I have. I wrote this post in hopes that somebody has been or is going through the same thing that I have, because I really need an answer to my digestive issue.Sweetie, you need to talk to a medical doctor. Perhaps someone here can offer you support, but with your digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and obsession with exercise, I think you'd feel a lot better talking to an actual professional for legitimate guidance. Be good to yourself.
Ya, my mom's IBS is worse when she is under a lot of stress. She did a whole bunch of things for it, only two of which I remember - taking acacia powder and Never eat insoluble fiber alone or on an empty stomach. Always eat it with a larger quantity of soluble fiber, and you will keep your gastrocolic reflex stable.
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I think there are some people here who can only eat fruits cooked (?) I can't remember the name for the condition. @Kalikel were you one of them?0
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What does your doctor say?0
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I used to have serious problems with fresh fruits and veggies, but they've eased up a lot over the years...don't ask me why. Not looking that gift horse in the mouth, anyway. Still have never eaten melons, though. Maybe one day!kshama2001 wrote: »I think there are some people here who can only eat fruits cooked (?) I can't remember the name for the condition. @Kalikel were you one of them?
The OPs issues sound like they need way more care than anyone could give online. OP needs a regular doctor and a psychiatrist, not a message board. IMO, anyway.0 -
a long time ago I had severe IBS. I saw a naturopath, went on a pretty full on cleanse diet thing and it is cured. After the treatment I still had to be careful of what I ate - like no fried foods and other things that made it flare back up but over time I am now OK.
The cleanse was basically a vegetable juice diet for a month. carrot, beetroot, celery, parsley, watercress and silverbeet - juiced and drunk as often as I needed during the day. I was not hungry. The first 3 days were hell and I felt like I wanted to chew things and felt nauseous and gross and my tongue was all green and feral and ugh - it was hell. Then it got better and better and I energetic and well. I also had to take a variety of herbal concoctions and do colonic irrigation to unravel my twisted and inflamed guts.
Then I started to eat stuff like lettuce and grilled fish and paw paw - there was a list of stuff I could eat (can't remember now - this was about 20 years ago) and a list of stuff I should stay away from.
But as I said - over time it got better.
Oh yeah - and at the time I was also in a stressful *kitten* relationship and not doing exercise and all sorts of things and once all that went away things got better too - exercise helped and dumping the loser helped and getting my mental health back in a decent space helped!
I didn't want to go down the conventional doctor's route - which was to cut out a massive piece of my guts and be on cortisone tabs for the rest of my life. especially after I randomly met a girl when I was out one night and she'd had the same problem and had the op and still had problems anyway - even with the op.
Chinese medicine also I'm told is effective.
Just giving other options is all
Good luck with it!
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Hey there--sorry you have been feeling this way for so long.
I have also experienced issues with digestion and over the course of several years saw different doctors (and types of doctors) about it, was prescribed different medications, and saw no real improvement. I was, however, under extreme stress throughout this period of my life. Near the end, I felt incredibly nauseous each morning before work (and was subsequently given several pregnancy tests and a transvaginal ultrasound...really intense/invasive when you know you are not pregnant and under a lot of stress. Probably intense/invasive for anyone.). All of this amplified, turning into regular panic attacks.
Through this period of feeling sick all the time, I had awful eating habits. I tried eating everything (and lots of everything) in an attempt to make myself physically feel better. I thought that some forgotten combination of foods might make my digestion normal again or something.
When our mental health is out of balance, wacky things can happen in the body. You mention anxiety and depression. I also deal with both of these. I've noticed that in keeping up with my weekly therapy sessions (where I can work to more fully express how I feel about things--something I was not in the practice of doing before) my anxiety has lessened, my digestion is much better, and I have a way better handle on curating my diet for maximum satiety. I am more in tune with my feelings in general. Are you seeing a therapist on a regular basis? If you are, how do you feel about your therapist? Some people think therapy is therapy, but your connection (or lack of connection) with a therapist can be a great asset or really detrimental to your progress.
I'm totally projecting my situation on yours--hope you find a great solution whatever that may be 1 -
A co-worker of mine had all kinds of issues and it turned out to be her gallbladder. My college roommate had really bad digestive issues, the root of her problems, psychological as a result of being sexually abused as a child. Don't rule out a physical problem without checking everything, but continue to work on your emotional issues. Sometimes it is a combination of problems.0
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My digestive issues have always been linked to stress or medication allergy. Are you on any medications? Again, discuss with a doc.0
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I do understand your frustration. I encourage you to continue working with your doctors to find a diagnosis but I can also tell you from experience that severe ibs alone can cause all those symptoms. I can absolutely relate to your bloating issues. It's a nearly daily problem for me as well no matter what I eat. I also have celiac but since I follow a gluten free diet I know that ibs is the real issue. I have anxiety and depression as well so I know how emotions can make my IBS unbearable sometimes (and vis versa)
As others have said I really hope you seek help from a therapist of some kind. You definitely have an unhealthy relationship with food and suicidal thoughts should never be taken lightly. Mental health is just as important as physical health. And you might find that getting help for your depression and anxiety also improves your IBS. Wishing you the best.0 -
LadyLallybroch wrote: »I also have issues with anxiety. I've found when my stress levels go up, I get digestive issues no matter what I'm eating. I've had months go by where this is a constant thing - every time I eat. I've also been treated for IBS, though none of the treatment ever helped. When I'm more relaxed, happy, and don't have as much anxiety, my digestion issues mostly disappear. Nothing has been confirmed from a medical perspective, these are just my observations. It could be that you are experiencing something similar. If you're experiencing anxiety and depression, you should also be seeing a doctor for those. Ask them if your digestive symptoms could be related.
This. I have stress or my schedule changes and my IBS flares. Usually it's constipation.0 -
I think you've gotten some good advice here, but one very important thing you need to keep in mind when starting a new diet (food map) is that it takes two weeks for any irritating food to get out of your system. For example, when my daughter was little she was having constant diarrhea. Found out she was lactose intolerant but the diarrhea didn't stop until day 13, because it takes that long to completely clear the system of all molecules of an offending food.0
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