IBS/Gastritis/Covid

[ValDee88]

Ive had IBS-D for 50 years. I acquired a hiatus hernia, followed by gastritis some 35 years ago. I had my own pattern of symptoms as we all do. Two years ago IBS-D changed to more IBS-M-usual tests were all fine, this was put down to age. I had Covid last July. My main symptoms were all digestion related-awful diarrhoea, nausea, gastritis flares etc. In September I had my Covid vaccine-the previous vaccines were Astro Zeneca-no problems at all, this one was Moderna. I was ill within 10 minutes and had virtually a repetition of my Covid experience-really bad IBS and gastritis symptoms. Since then, Ive never got back to anything like normal. Gastritis every week or so, often waking me up at 3am, cant really tie it to anything even though Ive kept a food diary. Episodes of constipation which makes everything worse. I paid to see a consultant in January who advised that I double up my Lansoprazole when I feel ill and that was it. Is anyone else feeling a post Covid impact on your digestion-if so, any suggestions to calm this all down as its really having an impact on my life. Thank you🙂

[Linley]

Hi ValDee88Sorry but I have no answers for you but empathise with you my IBS d has been with me for the same amount of time and recently Omeprazole for reflux.

I had Covid pre introduction of the jabs so no side effects.

Hope you get some answers. Take care

[JBaird1952]

I had a similar reaction to Covid vaccine Moderna was ok but Pfizer wasn’t , on particular bad days I take Silicolgel it seems to coat the bowel , I take lanzaprozole and like you was told to double dose with no noticeable effect, so I don’t do it. I take cyclizine hydrochloride for nausea and keep Imodium in my bag. I find if I go on a bland diet or have soup it helps, fodmap diet didn’t work for me, so I just take it easy on the food intake, water biscuits can help. If I need to take something for constipation I use Movicol half if you take along with Silcolgel it doesn’t give you diarrhea .

Not a lot else I’ve had IBS for 40 years and believe it or not my daughter no longer speaks to me as I can’t plan to go out for a meal she thinks IBS is just an excuse But there we go , good luck take care rest and try to relax.

[Luisa22 in reply to JBaird1952]

I had a couple of instances of what in hindsight, I can see must have been IBS for a couple of years before 2020. But each time they went away in a few days and my gut went back to normal, so basically my gut was normal for 2 years!

Then in March 2020 my IBS symptoms came back, and 3 weeks later I got Covid (the Wuhan version I think) Strangely my IBS cleared up when I had Covid and my worst symptoms were on my chest, high fever, muscle weakness and shrinkage, and heartrate issues and incredible physical weakness. So I thought Covid had actually cured my IBS !! Because for weeks and weeks after I recovered, my gut was fine and I could eat all sorts. I felt quite wonderful.

But Ibs came back and never went away about 2 months after recovery from Covid. It was that summer that I was diagnosed. It has never permanently gone away since.

I chose not to have any of the vaccines or boosters etc because I had an instinct it would make me worse. It doesn't make everyone worse, but I decided not to anyway.

Have you mentioned this to your doctor? I wonder if it could be something auto-immune going on?

I do hope you find an answer to how you are feeling right now. Take care. I wish I could be more helpful.

[LFHell in reply to Luisa22]

Thats also interesting about Covid curing your IBS. I found it cured my migraines and i can't find anyone else who had this experience. They came back after tho but total freedom for 1 month. Was bliss! IBS and migraines do involve the immune system i think!

[LFHell in reply to JBaird1952]

Thats really awful. I have parents who think my food intolerances are just an excuse to make their life difficult. But they do at least comply even if they get my brother to cook! But still make jokes about it. I notice in comedies on tv they always make fun of people with food intolerances so thats prob why? Its societal to bully us? Have you tried telling your daughter she's out of order and ablist?

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to JBaird1952]

I am so sorry.

One of my dad’s best friends was told for 5 years his gut / bowel symptoms were IBS.

His family joked about his IBS - insinuating he was making too much of a problem about it.

He was never offered a colonoscopy, by his GP or any other doctor he saw.

Until he and his wife were on their way to a wedding one day and his symptoms were so severe he had to go to a hospital.

He had advanced bowel cancer and died within the year. His help was not helped by doctors giving him penicillin, which he had told them he had an allergy to, which his wife reminded nurses there he had.

His wife and children felt so terrible afterwards, realising they hadn’t listened to him, even though they knew he found his symptoms difficult.

How do we get people to take IBS more seriously, both before and after they encounter it in their families (when it has been positively tested for and other conditions ruled out) or when they encounter a patient with what they think it must be in their consulting room?

How do we take away its “waste basket diagnosis” reputation?

I am upset on your behalf that your daughter is not more understanding. Am so sorry. I have no practical suggestions, I just wanted to say I am affronted for you.