I feel like I am vanishing

[Philbs1980]

Ok the title is a bit extreme but I am losing 2kg per month and I am really starting to worry. All of my adult life I have been 73kg (I am a 38 year old male) and I am now 59kg despite having a totally normal diet. I suffer from constant constipation and then after 3-4 days my body releases everything (sorry to be graphic). I have had so many tests and the only thing has comes up is slow motility in the colon and excessive fermentation in the large bowel. Another issue I have is muscle spasms in both calf muscles 24/7. I really need some help/advice as I can't continue to lose so much weight. People comment at work which is affecting my confidence.

[FRreedman]

I wonder if you need to drink more water? Apart from anything else, you should drink 2-3 litres of water per day, this will help your bowels and also reduce cramping in your calf muscles. Try it for a week or so, and let us know how you get on. Oh, if you haven't already, you should also speak to your GP if you are losing weight, without being on a diet.

[Sheeniejay]

Have you tried digestive enzymes? I am trying them for the first time - ones which have those which help specifically/mostly for difficulties with vegetables & legumes - so it's early days - literally, only second day BUT I think we have a similar issue. I have thought about slow motility but I keep a food diary and it certainly is specific foods. I was fine until about 2 years ago when I had a year of intestinal overgrowths which seems to have entirely changed my digestion. I can't stand the constipation - I usually cave in and reach for senna after a couple of days but then I spiral, mentally, into anxieties over wrecking my microflora and encouraging overgrowths again. Do you have a stressful job? I ask as the only other suggestions for my intestinal issues is that - I suffer from Generalised Anxiety DIsorder (chronic anxiety) and have a stressful job and a super healthy diet so it's not my diet that's causing this.

[Philbs1980 in reply to Sheeniejay]

Hi Sheeniejay. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I did indeed develop GAD early last year after a health scare. However, I got over this in time but my stomach started playing up. The doctor suggested that I try a low dose SSRI to reduce nerve sensitivity. Have you thought about this? I am like you in that I cave in after a few days and reach for the Senna which causes a bad experience the next day.

[Sheeniejay in reply to Philbs1980]

Coincidentally, because the orthomoleculaire doc (who arranges all these microflora tests) said, after finding out I had a Candids overgrowth in my intestines, a few weeks after being treated for a mould overgrowth in my intestines (I live in NL and it's called ' overige schimmels' which translates as mould but suffice to say, bad bac gone beserk!), said it can only be low acidity (put me on high dose vit C) and stress/anxiety. so then I thought, enough is enough. This is messing me up so I went to talk to my GP. We agreed getting some meds to bring me up to normal and then have therapy with a psychiatrist is the best approach. He recommended one type of SSRI and said I could go research it and let him know (he's a great GP, really supportive) - first thing I saw was advice to clinicians - high risk of triggering suicide ideation. Okay, perhaps not. I don't want to be less anxious only to be depressed. I have suffered bouts of depression and there is a suicide in my close family so I am going to see if there is another med. The cramps do sound like vit or minerals - one of the ones maybe you've not tested. Or plain and simply not stretching (if you sport) - try dry needling. I do it - some people find it painful. I'm okay with it. It'll release tight knots and you will probably stop cramping. A good sports physio is the best place to look - better than standard accupuncture. Though accupuncture is good for relaxation - I always fall asleep during it - though I have also fallen asleep during an MRI so perhaps I am not quite your average person!

[Philbs1980 in reply to Sheeniejay]

I am going to try a low dose SSRI called Sertraline. I will start 25mg on Monday and let you know how I feel. Sertraline is supposed to be an SSRI with the lowest side effects compared to other SSRIs

[Sheeniejay in reply to Philbs1980]

Let's keep in touch - well, if you wish, obvs! - on the intestinal & mental aspects. Surely between us, we'll stumble on a few answers!

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

We recommend speaking to your GP.

[Philbs1980 in reply to IBSNetwork]

I have many times. They have not been very helpful at all

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network in reply to Philbs1980]

Ask your GP to refer you to a dietitian as you need help with nutrition and weight gain as well as IBS advice.