Headaches and gut health

[SurreyGuy]

This is a long shot but has anyone had experience of unexplained headaches? I am 13 years post oesophagectomy and are being reviewed for satiety. About six months ago I was prescribed Ciprofloxacin and Flagyl for a bacterial overgrowth in my gut. I had an amazing result. Symptoms massively improved. They have mainly fallen back now but I was great for about six weeks. However, I also started to develop headaches. I never really get headaches but these are like a hangover. At first I just thought it was lockdown stress as I found myself trapped in a foreign country. But I have been home for four weeks now and they are still with me. I am now wondering if they are connected to gut health. This is new thinking so I have no other details. But, has anyone else had anything similar? Bloods were all normal about 8 months ago. It may of course not be connected but they started about the same time as the antibiotics and have been with me for most (not every) day since. Thanks for your time.

[Popsic]

Hi surreyguy

Yes I have a headache most days! I am 7yrs post op, I have been on antibiotics since then as I'm allergic to metaclopamide and domperidone and I have slow gastric emptying. I, like you have had bloods taken for vit B12, iron, etc, all came back normal. I've just started to take acidophilus tablets, 1 a day at the mo, to see if that helps, also I've cut the antibiotics down to 1 a day and the omeprazole to 2 every other day and 1 in between, if that makes sense. My hubby is really worried about the Headaches but I've put it down to the heat, I don't fair well with hot weather. But it would be interesting to see if it's anything other!

[SurreyGuy in reply to Popsic]

Interesting and thank you. I hadn’t connected the headaches to my GI issues until recently but I think they are connected. Like you, i initially thought they were due to something else. Paracetamol seems to take the edge off them so I am also wondering if they really are tension related. But now I am back home I can’t think what would be giving me stress (my stress has always presented physically and never mentally). More worrying is that I also sometimes have dizziness with them. But, not always. They are very odd and very non specific and not serious enough to need attention yet. But, they are very annoying. I see my consultant in 2 weeks and will get his opinion, Thanks for sharing.

[Popsic in reply to SurreyGuy]

Thank you for replying, I get the dizziness too and like you paracetamol takes the edge off, although I have to use the ones with caffeine in.

I seemed to have encountered many problems connected to my op, which is a bit disheartening, but I’m grateful I’m still here!

I don’t get to see my consultant anymore, unless I present an unusual problem. They found I have a rogue stitch left in my belly button from the op, caused no end of probs. Waiting to have that out now, hopefully won’t be anything other than that.

I do hope you get your probs sorted out,

Did you have full removal f your oesophagus?

[SurreyGuy in reply to Popsic]

Interesting that you get the dizziness too. I can be sitting down and the dizziness hits. It isn’t bad, just very odd. I can’t blame dumping syndrome as it has no relationship to when I last ate. It is all very strange. As I say, it feels like a hangover headache.

Yes they took the whole oesophagus. I had achalasia and it needed to come out. I have no regrets as my condition was terrible but like you I seem to have a few issues due to the surgery. The satiety only started two years ago. I must admit, i foolishly assumed that after the first few years that would be all the problems. Oh well, like you, glad to still be here.

[Popsic in reply to SurreyGuy]

I get the dizziness at daft times like you, mine isn't dumping either, although I do still get that too.

What is Achalasia? I havnt heard that before.

[SurreyGuy in reply to Popsic]

Dumping is a real pain as it messes the whole day up. If I have anything planned I don’t eat until the end of the day.

As for Achalasia...it is a rare disease. But basically over time the vagus nerve deteriorates (possibly autoimmune, no one too sure) and as it progresses so function in the oesophagus is lost and the cardiac sphincter at the base of the oesophagus stays closed. In my case I eventually couldn’t get fluids (including my own saliva) through it. So the oesophagus dilates up and makes the problem even worse. So, now to have satiety/delayed gastric emptying after oesophagectomy is a real drag after having Achalasia for 25 years. Hey ho, but there are worse things out there though.

[Popsic in reply to SurreyGuy]

Ahh I see, thank you for that. You learn something new everyday!

I had cancer of the oesophagus at the junction of the stomach, so had my oesophagus and part of my stomach removed in 2013. I worry every day that it will return, but life goes on.

I am like you, if I've anything planned to far from home I don't eat until I'm safely at home again, it's a pain, but like you say there are worse things.

My brother died today of cancer, he battled for 18 months, we thought he was winning, but sadly no. It wasn't of the oesophagus, it started in his bladder, ended up everywhere. But we weren't expecting him to go today. So a sad day for me.

I'm glad your doing well, it's always good to hear of success,

[SurreyGuy in reply to Popsic]

Oh my goodness. So sorry to read that news.

We never know what is around the corner. My mum has recovered from two cancers and is going strong. No sign of return. But, as she says “no point worrying about it as she doesn't worry about the other things that could happen such as stroke, heart attack, etc”. I admire her approach.

Personally, i believe having a strong mental health is a key ingredient to staying physically healthy. So, look after all of you and thank you for the chat. Once again, so sorry to hear your news I hope you have people around you at this time?

[Popsic in reply to SurreyGuy]

Your mum is right, I try not to worry about tomorrow,thank you for your thoughts.

I am with my family in Nailsea at the moment, I got here too late to say goodbye. I have faith, it is helping, it was just unexpected.

I have to live for his memory now and live I shall.

Lovely to chat to you, hope you get things sorted, keep us updated if you will, shall be interesting to find out if the Headaches are connected.

Night night.

[Mauser1905 in reply to Popsic]

Popsic,

I was in Nailsea for 6 months till April. Used to attend a lovely patients group in Bristol City every two months. Suggest join the same. If you need details please let me know.

[Popsic in reply to Mauser1905]

Hi Mauser1905

Thank you, that's very kind, I don't live here I'm afraid, it's where my brothers family is, we came up yesterday to say goodbye to him, but were too late😥

We don't have a group in Plymouth, we have to travel to exeter

[Mauser1905 in reply to Popsic]

So sorry to know of your loss. Hope you stay strong.

Opa.org.uk has list of groups hosting meetings. If not checked already. Plus maggies , CLAN and macmilan centres host GU network meetings too.

[Popsic in reply to Mauser1905]

Thank you, I am trying to stay strong, its hard, I keep telling myself that he had a different kind of cancer. Its just the shock and quickness.

[052517]

Dehydration is a known trigger for headaches. Travel can enhance dehydration, especially on planes and outsude temperatures. With achalasia we needed lots of qater to move the food but post surgery "diet" makes it hard to get 10 cups of fluid and enough food intake.

[Mauser1905]

Have a read of the leaflets came with your prescribed medicines, these should mention side effects. And headaches are sometimes commonplace.

Secondly multiple medicines can induce reactions as such. Pharmacist should be able to review multiple medicines you are taking to assess for issues with it and recommended solution to your GP.

As somebody has mentioned dehydration, which again goes with constipation induced with specific medicines or multiple intake. Needs more than normal water to flush the system as well more fibre.

[SurreyGuy in reply to Mauser1905]

Cheers. Thanks for that. I don’t take any medications. Haven’t been on anything for years. Thanks though.

[Mauser1905 in reply to SurreyGuy]

thats one issue strikes out possibly, your GO should be best to make that call though.

Having said that, it is very typical to try and link the new symptoms directly to the oesophagectomy, given you are past 13 years.

Suggest insisting with GP purely based on the symptoms, rather prejudicing with oesophagectomy. Thats for an unbiased diagnosis direction, from symptomatic holistic point of view.