Does anyone have chronic stomach issues?

Scottishlass5
Scottishlass5 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 16 in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone struggle with chronic diahorrea and stomach upset? I think I have either food allergies or irritable bowel. I often wake up with stomach pain, diahorrea headaches, nausea, etc. Have probably 2 or 3 days of this a week.
Anyone else having this?
I think mine is stress related too.
I've heard a probiotic is a good thing to be on but haven't tried it.

Replies

  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    You might need to see a Dr. So many things cause those symptoms....add stress & that adds more.Good luck in finding answers.
  • theman900
    theman900 Posts: 48 Member
    Before i can continue as mentiomed above you should see a doctor ( one who knows hes doing either a funtional medicine or ibs doctor specialist )a these kind of symptoms have many ,many causes from yeast ibs to parastite or even autoimmune its best to test with a skilled doctor stress probably adds to this but i highly doubt it the cause btw im no doctor but have helped myself and some of my freinds with similar issues and the tips ill say are safe and can make huge improvements and only easy if you realy want it ( free :) )

  • CMNVA
    CMNVA Posts: 733 Member
    I do have IBS myself. One thing my doctor once told me when try to distinguish it from other things is that IBS is not something that generally happens in the middle of the night. It's usually when people are awake. How is yours? Does it happen in the middle of the night? My IBS will give me nausea and headaches when it's really bad. It's also a bit different than "real" diarrhea.

    I did get giardia once (parasite) and it was very different from my IBS but then it was similar in some ways. The doctors kept passing it off as "stress" and this went on for 2.5 months. Within 5 days of taking medication, it was totally fixed!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I have Crohn's disease and IBS. You are right about the middle of the night thing. Crohn's wakes you up at night.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I have IBS, but the other side of it. Can't go. It sucks and honestly messes the scale up too. Go to the doctor! I got meds.
  • Cheryls05
    Cheryls05 Posts: 1 Member
    Definitely, see a doctor I was diagnosed with IBS last year after having issues like this for a few years and currently under the care of a gastrologist. There can be several causes for your problem and you want to rule a few out. I know with mine I have to watch what I eat or can't eat certain foods....peanut butter, popcorn, spicy or greasy food can have me laying in bed for a day or two swearing someone is trying to pull my stomach out. My primary prescribed me a pill that I have to take 1/2 hour before eating that helps my digestive system to relax to prevent me from feeling like this.
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    I have IBS, you definitely need to see a doctor. I get a lot of nausea but my pendulum tends to swing the other way. I am able to control mine with diet and fiber rather than taking medication, I already take enough of that for another condition.
  • SparkedUpFitness
    SparkedUpFitness Posts: 3 Member
    I'm sorry to hear you're having stomach issues. That can really put a damper on everyday living. There is some good advice here about getting into have it checked out. My husband had similar issues for years....turned out to be IBS and we put him on our probiotic. (They are not all created equal) I helped him with foods that were less abrasive to the GI Tract for a season. That did it for him. He's fine today. Let me know if I can help you.
  • littlechiaseed
    littlechiaseed Posts: 489 Member
    Yes, new research suggests that IBS is not always stress related, but related to an inability to digest fodmaps correctly. I did the low fodmap diet which helped, but I still have to take bentyl just about daily. I tried the new IBS meds, xifaxian and viberzi. Neither worked long term. I really liked viberzi but after alittle over a month it stopped working.
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 674 Member
    I had stomach problems for over a decade, and my last gastroenterologist suggested doing a FODMAP elimination diet in addition to the 3 zillion tests. While the specific problem I was trying to fix wasn't IBS (every other GI doctor missed the gall bladder disease I had for 15 years), I did discover through careful tracking that there are certain foods that anger my bowels. Overeating sugar also throws my digestive system off, and I can easily binge of cookies every week.

    Definitely talk to your doc, but you can eliminate fodmaps for a month on your own if you have to wait for an appointment. There are a few free apps with lists of low and high fodmap foods. I even did a low fodmap birthday once! (Helloooo, sushi!)
  • Scottishlass5
    Scottishlass5 Posts: 6 Member
    What is a fodmap?
    Sometimes I am awakened in the night with severe gas pains and diahorrea and other times it's first thing in morning(nausea and pain/discomfort) and evening time.
    It comes and goes but is definitely chronic over the last few years. I'm only 34. Would it be best to do home allergy tests?
  • xMonroeMisfit
    xMonroeMisfit Posts: 411 Member
    I'm interested in any ideas also. I have constant stomach upset and sometimes i'm not able to get food down.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I used to and they never found the cause. I also had reflux.

    Then I joined MFP and started eating less fat and it went away.
  • Scottishlass5
    Scottishlass5 Posts: 6 Member
    I had severe stomach pain during the night and was up and down for 2 hours.. it was horrible. And I'm not losing any of my excess weight. Jumped on scale and I'm now heavier. So depressed by it all.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Scottishlass5 wrote: »
    I had severe stomach pain during the night and was up and down for 2 hours.. it was horrible. And I'm not losing any of my excess weight. Jumped on scale and I'm now heavier. So depressed by it all.

    So have you asked for a referral to a gastroenterologist yet?
  • Scottishlass5
    Scottishlass5 Posts: 6 Member
    I've going to my GP this afternoon. I hope they will refer me for some tests. I'm having issues almost daily now
  • Jewel0124
    Jewel0124 Posts: 119 Member
    Have you gotten a diagnosis yet? I've been dealing with this for almost a year. The last few months and been rough with the last few weeks were incredibly tough. I've done some preliminary testing but no diagnosis yet. I came across the FODMAP diet prior to finding this thread and it seems to be helping.
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    I have Crohn's disease and IBS. You are right about the middle of the night thing. Crohn's wakes you up at night.

    I have ulcerative colitis and diarrhoea that wakes you up in the night is a red flag which usually heralds a flare.
    Don't self diagnose! I waited too long before seeing a doctor about my symptoms (because I assumed it was ibs)
  • strifechick
    strifechick Posts: 129 Member
    I've had IBS and Reflux issues for years and my doctor just told me they think I have gastroparasis.

    So I have lots of unexplained random pains (and I mean lots) I also tend to alternate between diarrhea and constipation, whatever feels like happening that month(s) and tons of nausea and even vomiting.

    I can reduce a lot of my symptoms by avoiding a lot off foods, I sorta found my triggers years ago and just stay away. The only medication that has ever helped me with anything has been omeprazole which just helps the Reflux. If I don't take it I'll start vomiting blood because the acid literally eats away at my stomach.

    And yeah stress will make things way worse for sure!
  • ConquerAndBloom
    ConquerAndBloom Posts: 94 Member
    I will agree with all the above before I post my anecdote and say see a doctor. Stomach issues should never be taken lightly, and while IBS is common, it doesn't mean you necessarily have it--it could be something else entirely. Ask your doctor! :)

    I have IBS and it had gotten worse following a really bad car accident (my guts got jostled a bit!) but I've noticed that since I've been logging and eating better, my stomach issues have settled down a bit. I'm also trying to keep my stress level down and I'm seeing a difference there.

    In any case I know how awful it is to have digestive/tummy issues so my heart goes out to you. Good luck!
  • JCam8383
    JCam8383 Posts: 77 Member
    Try a low residue diet for a few days, that should work in helping you to feel better quickly. I'd definitely schedule a Dr's appointment though, you probably need to see a gastroenterologist.
    Good luck :)
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    I have IBS, but the other side of it. Can't go. It sucks and honestly messes the scale up too. Go to the doctor! I got meds.

    This. I have the same problem (IBS-C). When I was younger, it actually alternated between the two.

    If it concerns you, please find time/funds to see a doctor. Some GI disorders are just inconvenient, others are life-threatening or require actual lifelong monitoring with diet and (sometimes) medication. I hope you find answers!
  • boopster99
    boopster99 Posts: 48 Member
    @Scottishlass5 - a random question for you. Any chance you've had your gallbladder removed? I ask because I suffered with daily diarrhea for nearly 10 years and was always told "you have an ulcer" or "you have IBS, try to relax". Until - finally - a brilliant old GI doctor said I suffered from short bowel syndrome - caused by removal of the gallbladder. The liver dumps bile directly into the small intestine and causes symptoms similar to what you describe. Anyway, that's what I know from my own life .... hope you find some answers soon. <3
  • LVNF04
    LVNF04 Posts: 2,607 Member
    Since the end of last year and into this year I have been fighting with that problem, I think greasy food plus alcohol triggers it. And too much food. First time I nearly ate a whole pizza, I got sick several times, and hot/cold, shortness of breath, and it felt like someone shoved a screwdriver in my abdomen and twist it. Second time, 8 corndogs and burbon. 3 rd time, 2 burritos, 6 beers, 2 tacos and a triple crunch wrap. Since then I try to limit what I eat, and almost completely stop drinking alcohol.
  • littlechiaseed
    littlechiaseed Posts: 489 Member
    You should go to a gastro doc to get checked out, sometimes it's not just gas or IBS, it could be a more serious condition. Hopefully not, and you can work with your doctors on symptom relief through diet and medications.
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