long covid IBS

[buggins55]

Does anyone else out there have chronic IBS or worsening IBS symptoms since covid my life has been severely affected in the last two and a half years or so. I have lived with IBS for years but never like this it has now become a chronic illness , I became unwell in 2021 having had covid twice before that and the doctors suggested the possibility of long covid since all tests came back fine and since then Its been ruling my life there are periods of feeling good and then back to square one again !! I know there is now research going on looking into this so was curious to know if others have experienced similar problems

[Daz1113]

I’m really sorry you’re suffering. But my IBS has gone worse in the last year. Where it was barely tolerable before and you had your good days and bad. Lately the good days are few and far between.

I feel the intensity of the pain and the nausea and the sweats are a lot worse at the moment Imodium don’t seem to be working ,plus the Tesusmus has gone a lot worse

Some days I think is this IBS. Because the symptoms are that bad. It’s changed my personality. And everything I really feel for the people who suffer with this illness.

How do people cope with this illness? And the annoying part is people just don’t understand

I’m sitting here after thinking I’d be ok. And I’d just solider through it anyway. So booked a 10 day break. Upgraded my room. And lo and behold woke up this morning and my stomach is awful again. I should be in Mallorca but I’m sat here just wishing it would pass. But again my own fault. I should have known better.

Anyway I hope you get some relief take care

[buggins55 in reply to Daz1113]

I'm so sorry you've had to cancel your break I know that so well from many cancellations over the years myself !! at this moment Ive been felling lousy on and off for about 3 weeks, getting stuff done in the moments/days when i feel a bit better but have had enough and am in panic mode catastrophising and chewed up with anxiety despite trying to accept relax meditate etc

Try not to beat yourself up to much (I know i often do!) it's a mixture of annoyance disappointment and FOMO and many other emotions when we have to cancel yet again

I would just settle for a bit of piece for a while right now

Good luck you're not the only one !!

[Frasina in reply to Daz1113]

I know it is risky, but back in 2016 and with a flare lasting months, a cruise was booked in the Med. I was certain that I could not go due to accidents everywhere and pain, nausea, anxiety it causes etc....my GP at the time said as bad as the IBS is, sometimes a change of scenery magically helps the condition. So, I did go on this cruise and surprisingly I was nowhere near as bad as I anticipated. I pinned the whole experience down to the brain-gut connection as holidays are (in general) meant to be a time to relax and de-stress. I think the worst stress part was the not knowing, but for me things settled more whilst away that at home.

I found out in 2021 that I actually also have IBD (patchy pancolitis) and that may have accounted for all my years of issues being told 'it's just IBS' which is so infuriating as no one understands what it is like unless they have it!

Please don't dwell on the fact you should have been in Majorca but maybe consider rebooking somewhere and you could even test the water first by trying a few days not too far away. I know that so many of us put our lives on hold but something I have learned form 30 plus years of this, is that stress plays a major underlying role! I hope you get some relief and get away somewhere.

[xjrs]

I haven't experienced this myself (since I don't think I've knowingly had COVID-19), but I have seen research that has found that COVID-19 can worsen IBS or even cause IBS in people who've never had it. They seem to link it to the fact that COVID-19 can impact the microbiome, worsening dysbiosis (gut bacterial imbalances/domination of bad bugs in the gut) or causing dysbiosis. The reason I say this, is whether you have tried any good probiotics. It can be hit and miss with these since they are all different and people's IBS can be different from one another but I've tried many and Alflorex worked best for me and has some science behind it regarding IBS. They can help to kick dominating bad bugs in the gut into touch and improve the balance of microbes.

[Hannah-Hay in reply to xjrs]

This is very interesting. I have had IBS for years & coped with it but since having another Covid jab a month ago (Moderna) my stomach has been horrendous. I was fine after Pfizer jab. I was told by a diabetic consultant I saw 2 weeks ago that 30% of people having Moderna jab get bowel problems! have had Covid twice both times caught on cruise ships & not noticed any worsening but it has made me think, has it got worse due to Covid. I have just got back from a week with a group with guided walking tours & was wondering if I could cope - what if I needed the loo urgently - fellow sufferers will know hus this feels. However I took Loperamide ( immodium) & was fine. Now home and trying to give it a miss & see what happens. Not straying far from the loo!!!

[Tibblington in reply to Hannah-Hay]

I just don't understand folk as there has been so much adverse publicity about "the jab" but they go on taking them. Why do they do it? I'm 89 and my wife 93 and we absolutely refused any jab but ensured that our diet was good. We both had some unpleasant symptoms that lasted about three days and that was all. Don't tamper with Nature. At the onset of Covid Dr. Dolores Cahill recommended daily doses of pure vitamin C, vitamin D and Zinc, all available in good food but in winter a booster is required.

[Hannah-Hay in reply to Tibblington]

I must say we have been jabbed to within an inch of our lives! I did wonder whether to go for another one this time. Should have listened to my vibes & not done so.

[711debbie in reply to Hannah-Hay]

I never had the virus but two weeks after any Pfizer booster, my IBS got worse. I know this doesn't sound impressive compared to most of you, but I can't even drink decaf coffee without getting diarrhea, whereas until my third jab, I could still drink real coffee in moderation. The fact that I still drink decaf also gives me problems with electrolytes and magnesium. The magnesium can give me diarrhea but if I try to avoid it, I go into spasms, especially in humid weather. I have to carry around potassium pills, magnesium powder, and electrolyte mixes (along with water and a small cup) to keep the spasms (sometimes feet or hands or teeth or whole body feeling odd) at bay. So, absolutely no more jabs for me! (if anyone has similar problems with electrolytes, it would be great to hear how you handle them!).

[Hannah-Hay in reply to 711debbie]

That’s very interesting. I certainly don’t want another Covid jab either. I was fine with Pfizer but it was Moderna that caused a really bad flare up of IBS I had Covid twice but didn’t notice any difference in my IBS. However there may have been without me realising as sometimes it goes into overdrive & I just think I’m having a bad attack. None of my friends has had this problem & I began to think it was just me. Reading these posts has reassured me to a certain extent. Maybe if you are an IBS sufferer it exacerbated the problem but you are ok if you don’t have existing IBS. As I said it’s very interesting.

[Icebears]

my aunt caught covid in the first wave back in early 2020. She suffered from ibs for months afterwards. I suggested she try sacharmyces boularddi (I had a tub from optibac) and it cleared up fairly quickly. I recall that it came back a second time. I think after she had Covid again but she already had the tub and this time it went away fairly quickly and as far as I know, she’s been fine since.

Might not be a magic pill for everyone but I always suggest giving it a try if it’s on the loose stool end of the spectrum and not allergic to yeast.

I hope you’re feeling better soon. xx

[Treetop33]

Definitely me. I got IBS symptoms from the native strain and then it all got worse after an infection last year. That said, I don't know if it is IBS because no doctor has ever done any tests (I'm finally getting an ultrasound scan now). I decided to pay for a very expensive GI Map test to cover those bases.

[Dollymae06]

I could have wrote this myself but never thought it could be long covid. I had Covid in 2020 and diarrhea was uncontrollable then 2021 I had Covid again. Symptoms have definitely been worse I now have fecal accidents and bad anxiety as I worry when I'm leaving the house. This illness is soul destroying and stops me living a normal life. I take Propranolol for anxiety and it really does help and Loperamide daily . Also I take Alflorex which Consultant recommended it is a probiotic. It's awful suffering like this but it helps to know we are not alone and can support each other on this group. Wishing everyone better days.x

[XDjames]

I had only mild Covid but like you my life has been severely affected, the term 'life changing' could be applied. Odd thing (?) is I had two long 'breaks' like back to normal in last two years over summer and this year so far a single week before it suddenly flipped. No idea if Covid is linked.

[Luisa22]

I'm never sure what influence catching Covid had on my IBS to be honest. Probably some...

I started with IBS symptoms first in 2018, I had a week of a bad belly, then it went away. I thought it was just some passing thing, but generally didn't feel great either with lots of other symptoms. Doctor found nothing so I was a mystery

Then in early March 2020 I got the tummy symptoms again which came and went for the whole of that month. I had no idea it was IBS. I'd only just even heard of IBS then.

On April 2 2020 I came down with Covid. It was quite nasty but mostly respiratory symptoms, heart symptoms and total weak exhaustion like I was dying or something (no kidding). I lost so much weight in only days even though I was happily eating!

Oddly my belly was perfect all through it. I recovered so well from Covid. The only lingering symptoms were many missed heartbeats (sometimes 4 or 5 a minute) and a weakness physically. The weakness passed in a few weeks as I built up some strength again, and started getting my winter firewood in as usual, and going for walks.

But about 6 or 8 weeks later the IBS came back quite badly and it stuck with me. So I don't know what part Covid had to play in all that.

[Gilwats]

I've had IBS for many years but always kept it to a couple of bad days. Since I had covid when I couldn't get off the toilet it's been very bad ever since. Now I can't even go shopping and my bowels open up so I'm in the toilet 3 or 4 times in the supermarket. I'm on a train today visiting family and have just been told all the toilets are not working. My state of anxiety is through the roof and plenty of emodium. I really can't understand why. I do feel for you.

[Luisa22 in reply to Gilwats]

I feel for you too Gilwats, in the situation you have right now. I am sure the Imodium will save the day, and all will be well. Train journeys are bad enough especially long ones, but awful there are no toilets working! I dread long train journeys and will have to do at least one of them this summer.

[Pumpkin2009]

Hi! I also am not sure what role Covid 19 has. I have lupus so that complicates knowing, but had Covid in 2020. My A-fib and other arythmia came back and intestinal issues worsened. I finally saw a good gastroenterologist who took me seriously. What I had thought and my GP also thought was mast cell activation. I also saw a good neurologist who found I have dysautonomia which often goes along with MCAS. She is the one who sent me to the gastroenterologist thinking everything might be related. The biopsy showed increased masst cells so I will start treatment for that and see my immunologist in August. Covid 19 is also linked with Dysautonomia and MCAS , So basically, I don't know what caused what, but stomach and intestinal problems can be lined to mast cell aactivation.

Healing hugs.