Chest infection with gut dysbiosis

Has anyone out there suffered this combination? I'm getting over a lung infection now, after two long months, and it's virtually gone—all but the breathlessness, that is—but the 'gut' seems to still be volatile and reacts, particularly in the evening, causing bloating which seems to exacerbate the breathlessness. Do you think I have some kind of systemic virus/bacteria? Planning a chat with GP this week about possible Long Covid, as nothing else quite explains my array of symptoms.

(I also have a patch of 'alectasis'—collapsed alveoli—which can be caused by infection, so GP said, or 'exercise at high altitude' which I did do last October . . . )

[Ergendl]

The gut and the lung are both internal systems which are exposed to things coming from outside the body, so in a way , the lining of each is a form of skin, even though they have different functions. So yes, there can be a cross-over of issues between lung and gut. Especially as the breathing passages and the swallowing passages cross in the throat, and the air passage has to shut to let food pass on its way to the stomach. An example of this is acid reflux causing breathing problems.

But you might have two different issues going on, so it's good that you're going to have a chat with your GP about your symptoms.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden in reply to Ergendl]

Hi Ergendi, Thanks so much for your reply. Very good point. And I do sense that my lungs are still dealing with the damage and the infection, so that's probably what's up with me rather than 'heart failure' (suspected). Fingers crossed. As it seems to me that lungs are more prone to self-healing than heart.

[PRMatters]

Morning, I would recommend looking at probiotics to rebuild the healthy bacteria in your stomach - in particular foods such as kefir, kombucha, kimchi, saukerkraut and miso are great sources of this. You can also get probiotics capsules if you don't like the taste of any of these!

Wishing you all the best.

[Hidden in reply to PRMatters]

Thanks so much for reply. Probiotics a very good idea. I do have some, but stopped taking them for a while whilst things were at their worst. Think I'm now on the mend, so this is probably the time. Need to learn to make sauerkraut. Do they sell a healthy version in supermarkets? (-:

[PRMatters]

I believe you can buy organic sauerkraut in supermarkets - but the ideal ones will be in the fridged section as some of the probiotics are killed during pasteurisation (I believe) used in canning it. Obviously available in health food stores. Or you can make your own - BBC Good Food have a simple recipe that I was going to try: bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sim...

Apparently you only need to eat a tablespoon a day, either before or during meals. It can be be eaten raw or cooked, added to cooled stews/soups, on top of poached eggs etc. They say it can take a few weeks for it to heal your gut and be prepared to feel bloated initially as the probiotics kill off harmful bacteria and produce gases.. but I understand this settles with time x

[Hidden in reply to PRMatters]

Thanks, PR. Useful to know that things get worse before they get better. And good idea - I'll try making some. Can't be difficult. (-: