Autoimmune Inflammation help??

[hopeuproar]

I have been suffering from autoimmune issues for about a year and a half now. I believe it started with leaky gut, developed sibo, and now have some sort of other issue. None of the doctors I saw had any idea how to help me and just kept wanting to put me on more meds. Through my own research I was able to, for the most part, cure my SIBO and most of my food intolerances. Lost all the weight I gained, eat normal for the most part minus trying to avoid gluten when I can and dairy as well.

New Issue: My colon (I believe, lower right side of my body) along with the lower left side of my stomach (opposite colon) both are always extremely inflamed. My stomach looks lumpy from this if that makes sense? My colon literally sticks out from my stomach (I am in good shape and work out regularly) and then my stomach "dips" (looks normal) in the middle, then is inflamed on the other side.

I am currently taking: Amy D Myers leaky gut powder + immune booster powder, neem, berberine, L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, ACV pills, heathers irritable bowel syndrome peppermint oil capsules with ginger & fennel and just added in turkey tail mushrooms for immune support.

Any ideas what I could be doing wrong here?

[StupidGut]

Hi (sorry for the length of this)

I don't know if this is any help but it could be an anxiety issue. I've had a lot of the symptoms everyone describes on here and I've gut dairy out completely. I've also completely cut onion and garlic from my diet (quite difficult cos it's in almost everything you can buy off the shelf - at least in UK). Always the worst part about all of the symptoms was the fact of other people smelling something on me. I have avoided doing a lot of things for a few years now down, in large part, to this. It's definitely the most depressing part of it all and it's been the main motivator to trying to get healthy, making a food diary, trying ibs tablets, then laxative, then cutting wholewheat, boosting wholewheat, lactase supplements, spending a silly amount on self help books for 10 years, 9 weeks of cbt.. 😧 I know how exhausting it is trying everything and feeling like you're getting nowhere. I also noticed a bit of a spike in my symptoms (bloatedness, irregular bowel habbits, stomach cramps) when all this coronavirus started to get more serious - I'm waiting to hear about some temporary work as my regular employer has had to cut my wage in half. Yesterday I asked a couple of people I work with if they had ever smelled anything on me at work (I've worked with them both for 4 years) down to my ibs symptoms. They both replied 100% no. They had no idea what I was talking about and how much I'd been stressing. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it - I was totally convinced other people could smell something on me, like I was a bit incontinent, and just not telling me. My sisters said gave me the same reply. This has lifted my mood quite a bit and my stomach does feel less tight. I only recently told work that I'd had anxiety/depression issues for a few years. I think my main issue has been a lack of close relationships. When you distance yourself from others your mind can invent a completely false reality. It's harder to laugh about your problems without others and you worry about every. single. thing. Anxiety is like a disease of your soul and it's horrible. From now on I'll stop at nothing to reduce it as much as possible - right now that means opening up to people and noticing what I'm taking too seriously in my life. Sorry if this was too long or unhelpfull. Good luck ☺

[MatthewU in reply to StupidGut]

Go to your GP and ask to be put on a low dose of a SSRI (citalopram is a good one), this will help with the anxiety, put serotonin back into your system which is usually lacking in people with IBS; you may find that your symptoms improve hugely after 3-4 weeks in way that will surprise you.

[StupidGut]

Cutting onions, garlic and dairy did seem to help a lot too so I'll still keep that up while reducing anxiety as much as possible. Another thing I sometimes use is this fodmap app play.google.com/store/apps/... I'd never heard of the low fodmap diet untill a couple of years ago but I use this when I'm usure about an ingredient or a portion size.

[hopeuproar in reply to StupidGut]

I actually just bought one of those app things where you send in fecal sample and it gets sent off to be tested etc and they match the results on an app for your phone with suggested food intolerances, supplements, Good foods to eat, etc

[Smythwine]

That could be your ovaries!!!!! Check with your gyno ASAP!!!!

You probably did indeed cure your SIBO, but if your ovaries ot other lady parts are inflamed, you need to address that! See if maybe you have fibroids or cysts. Hope you get this resolved!!

[hopeuproar in reply to Smythwine]

I checked with a gynecologist when this all first started (before I knew it was sibo) and even did ultrasounds - everything came back normal :/ do you think I should check again?

[Viklou]

What autoimmune inflammation do you have

[hopeuproar in reply to Viklou]

My colon (I believe, lower right side of my body) along with the lower left side of my stomach (opposite colon) both are always extremely inflamed. My stomach looks lumpy from this if that makes sense? My colon literally sticks out from my stomach (I am in good shape and work out regularly) and then my stomach "dips" (looks normal) in the middle, then is inflamed on the other side.

[Viklou in reply to hopeuproar]

Have you had a Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy to see what it is

[hopeuproar in reply to Viklou]

No, both are very expensive with my insurance and I can’t afford them right now, which is why I’m here looking for help.

[Viklou in reply to hopeuproar]

How do you know that you have autoimmune inflammation. Have you had blood tests and stool samples taken

[hopeuproar in reply to Viklou]

Because my stomach intestines are literally protruding out of my stomach. You can literally see them because I am so thin. My colon literally sticks out. I’ve had blood tests taken that came back normal and I’m waiting on the results of my stool sample. I’ve been seeing a GI doctor like I said, I’ve done xrays, ultra sounds, blood work, etc. they just don’t know what’s wrong.

[Viklou in reply to hopeuproar]

Sounds like you're in the same boat as a lot of us with IBS. Somethings wrong but just don't know what. Good luck xxx