I’m so confused with my symptoms

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melissa.summers85@yahoo.com
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Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:34 pm
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by melissa.summers85@yahoo.com on Mon Apr 08, 2019 5:49 pm

I’m so confused with my symptoms

Hi there,
I wish someone could give me answer to my symptoms and I remain hopeful that maybe someone will read this and be able to relate because to this day, friends family and drs don’t have an idea what’s going on with me. Here goes...
I’ve always been quite sensitive to food from a young girl and known that wheat does bloat me . As I became an adult I would restrict this from my diet mostly. Although I’m always on the loo (I go about three times a day) it was always normal - Bristol stool chart 3 and 4 and really didn’t smell. People would say wow your s**** really doesn’t stink. Prob cause I go so frequently or because I eat real healthy but it never was so bad that you would have to open a window. The last year and a half everything has changed for the worse. I’m typing this whilst on the loo in agony trying to evacuate a poo that has no consistency or texture. It’s just sticky goo like what you would wipe from a babies nappy!!! It stinks and is never ever over! I mean I can sit on the loo for half and hour at a time now and all that comes out is this disgusting smelly sticky mess that’s the same texture as toothpaste. I’m in pain all the time, always bloated, whatever I cut out or introduce makes no difference it’s always the same. I am wiping so much that I’m sore and shower so much as when I wipe the tissue is literally covered in Poo. My farts (which are all day every day) smell sooo bad like sewage. I’ve been tested for helicopcater pylori, had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, a test where they test my hydrogen gasses via breath test, tried prebiotics, probiotics, practice yoga often and still do, work out(which has been restricted because I’m always in pain with needing to poo but never empty, I look pregnant, what the heck is it....why did i change? And I must mention I’m vegan so it’s not lactose intolerance or too much processed crap. I just want a normal life but I feel dirty all the time and full up and just very miserable. Does anyone relate to my story? Please only kind and constructive comments. Thanks.

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Wendy Green
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Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 11:27 am
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by Wendy Green on Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:24 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Hi Melissa,

You mention you've had medical tests - I'm guessing to rule out inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. However, your symptoms - foul-smelling diarrhoea, tummy pain, wind and bloating, could indicate coeliac disease. This condition is caused by the body's immune system mistaking gluten as a threat and attacking it - and you say that you have 'always been quite sensitive to food' and 'mostly' cut out wheat because it bloats you. It's certainly worth asking your GP to investigate the possibility that you might have coeliac disease - if you haven't already.

If coeliac is ruled out, another possibility is that you're having trouble digesting the fermentable sugars (oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols - collectively known as FODMAPs) in certain fruits and vegetables, such as apples, onions and cabbage. To check whether this is the reason for your symptoms, you could ask your GP to refer you to a dietician, who would advise you on how to follow a low-FODMAP diet to see if your symptoms improve.

I hope this helps and you find out the cause of your distressing symptoms.
Wendy Green
Health Expert and Author

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... _green.php

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Dr Mani Naghibi
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:51 am
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by Dr Mani Naghibi on Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:13 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Hi Melissa,
You have described your symptoms well. It's clearly been a change to the bowel habits that you have been used to before and its effecting your quality of life.
I have seen others with this pattern of symptoms. It's reassuring that you have had the correct tests to date and they have ruled out worrying conditions.
Wendy is correct, coeliac does need to be ruled out and I suspect you will have had that done.

Can I ask you a few questions?
- Do you remember what your bowel habits were like in the immediate 1-2 weeks after the colonoscopy?
- Did they comment on the 'quality' of the bowel prep at the colonoscopy?
- Do you take any painkillers?
- Have you been taking loperamide to control the symptoms for social occasions?

If you feel able to answer some of these questions, then I can try and guide you further.
Dr Mani Naghibi
Gastroenterology Consultant

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... aghibi.php

melissa.summers85@yahoo.com
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:34 pm
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by melissa.summers85@yahoo.com on Thu Apr 11, 2019 6:07 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Thanks to both of you who have replied. It means a lot. I have had a coeliacs test and I don’t have that so that’s ruled off also. Forgot to mention that...sorry. I have tried the fodmap also but perhaps not for long enough. Do you think if I’m intolerant to these sugars that I could have been all my life and not being aware that I’ve caused it to get worse and now ended up like this? I wondered about leaky gut also but western medicine doesn’t really believe in that. I’m all up for alternative medicines though as I prefer not to take drugs but rather find the cause and deal with that instead.

The colonoscopy was cut short as I passed out from pain. They told me the gas and air instead of sedation would be enough and it clearly wasn’t but when I came around again, the specialist said that although he didn’t get to my large bowel (I think) that what he did see he was happy enough for me not to need it again?? What do you think about that? When I had the prep I went very frequently and was completely emptied out...it felt amazing I felt so fresh and wish I could buy that in the shops!! After the colonoscopy I felt like my bowels functioned like the good ole days for about 2/3 days then everything messed up again. I’ve noticed that fibrous food affect me more like if I eat chick peas, broccoli, brown rice etc...I will feel very ill, have to avoid the gym from terrible pain, belly making crazy noises desperately squeezing out wind to ease pain and it smelling bad. This is not only when I eat these foods but more full on. As a vegan veg was such a big part of my diet. I juice my fruit and veg now instead so I’m still getting the nourishment but without the fibre. I fast a lot now too due to fear of being in pain afterwards. Sorry that I’m rabbiting on. I just wish someone knew what and why?
Thanks
Melissa

melissa.summers85@yahoo.com
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:34 pm
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by melissa.summers85@yahoo.com on Thu Apr 11, 2019 6:08 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Also forgot to mention I’m not on any meds but will take paracetamol if needed...usually for period cramps or headaches.

Thanks

melissa.summers85@yahoo.com
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:34 pm
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by melissa.summers85@yahoo.com on Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:21 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Your just as confused too huh :cry:

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Julie Thompson
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Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:24 pm
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by Julie Thompson on Sat Apr 13, 2019 2:22 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Hi Melissa

You mention that you have completed the low FODMAP diet but perhaps not for long enough but not how long you have done it for. If the diet is successful most people will get a good degree of resolution within 3-4 weeks of starting the diet. You should only follow it for a maximum of 2 months before the re-introduction process, if it doesn't work by then it's not going too. It also will reduce symptoms to a good baseline but for most people doesn't resolve them all, but most people are more than happy with the results.

Another difficulty is that as a vegan the Low FODMAP diet can be very difficult to follow and low in some micronutrients. If you didn't do it with the help of a dietitian I would encourage you to do so if you want to try again with it.

Kind regards
Julie Thompson
Gastroenterology Specialist Dietitian - BSc (Hons) Dietetics

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... ompson.php

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Dr Mani Naghibi
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:51 am
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by Dr Mani Naghibi on Sat Apr 13, 2019 7:23 pm

Re: I’m so confused with my symptoms

Hi Melissa,

I can see how all the symptoms can be confusing.

The key to your symptoms is the reaction you had after the bowel prep for colonoscopy. It would seem that your colon is becoming overloaded and the diarrhoea is a secondary symptom. Once the colon was emptied you clearly felt better.

It can be challenge keeping the colon empty for those who suffer with it and worse when you are not even aware of it happening, but high fibre foods (once the colon has been emptied again) will help and hopefully won't be so hard for you to tolerate.

The key will be to empty the colon, just like the bowel prep did for the colonoscopy. This can be achieved by using the same regime, or slower with gentler laxatives. This is also achievable using colonic irrigation. Irrigation gained a bad rep when used excessively and for the wrong reasons, but when used for this reason will be effective.

I do think you will have good and not-so-good patches in the future and advise you to see your GP or a Gastroenterologist in your area to guide this path.
Dr Mani Naghibi
Gastroenterology Consultant

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... aghibi.php

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