Persistent bowel infection

[Stuart24]

Dear all,

A while since I have written. I was struggling for a year or two with colon pain and seemingly uncontrollable IBS-D. I had a colonic MRI scan done which found I had diverticulosis (side-pockets on the colon). I did not have all the symptoms of diverticulitis (inflammation of the pockets) causing fever etc. so they were unwilling to treat me for this. However, I did manage to convince my GP to give me a course of Co-amoxiclav antibiotics which is the first line treatment for diverticulitis, should there be an underlying infection. This basically cured my symptoms, and has done so for about 9 months now. It seems that I had a low-lying infection of the colon walls and I think this could also affect many others. Interestingly, about 20 years ago in Venezuela when I first presented to a consultant, the first thing he gave me was a course of two antibiotics and this cleared me for at least 6 months, although I was exposed to all sorts of other GI infections including Giardia in Venezuela.

So, my approach is now generally medicine based. I eat just about anything in moderation (FODMAPS or not), but for heavy meals (or a large portion of chips, or lots of Fodmaps) I use Digestive enzymes. I have 20 mg omeprazole every day for hiatus hernia, gas (burping) and reflux (works perfectly for me at this dose). I do take vitamin D, and other multi-vitamins and I am exercising now every morning, and feeling fine. I also take Imodium once or twice a week when things get loose, just to slow down my gut peristalsis.

The important point though, is that I am fairly sure you can get an underlying long term bowel wall infection which can be at the root of IBS-D flare-ups, but is hard to shift without anti-biotics.

Good luck with your case.

Stuart

[Sparrow58]

You seem to managing your IBS well. As for getting antibiotics, not sure GPs will give them out, and don't get me started on getting an appointment.

[MatthewU]

Try looking up 'leaky gut' and follow treatment, it may help

[Luisa22]

Thanks Stuart. That's always worth thining about. Low grade infections could just drag on. They might not be bad enough to show up on something like a blood test, but enough to disturb the tummy. I'm glad you have found a way to manage your situation.

[Moonchild23]

Hi Stuart, IBS is so terribly random. I had been suffering terrible symptoms that were worsening for over 4 years and was totally miserable. I got prescribed routine antibiotics for a different unrelated infection and bam, I haven't had many IBS symptoms since, and the ones I have I think are most likely tied to some internal damage from being sick for so long. I finally have a little more energy for life. So I conclude that I slso possibly had some kind of undetected infection going on. Good luck everyone.

[Stuart24 in reply to Moonchild23]

Thanks for sharing your experience, inflammation and pain is often due to infection, it's just not well understood I think.

[Stuart24 in reply to Stuart24]

Co-amoxiclav is used to treat diverticulitis which is an infection of the colon tissue in diverticules on the colon wall. It's not unreasonable then to think that healthy colon tissue could be infected in the same way.