Persistent Symptoms

[Willco28]

Hi all,

First time posting but looking for some help as really struggling to find anything that works.

For almost 2 years now I have been struggling with gut issues. It’s not clear how and why it started, but I have two theories;

1) It is a reaction to having a strong antibiotic to clear up a fungal infection which has been made worse by further antibiotics to tackle my gut issues at a later date.

2) It is a reaction to either having COVID or my last COVID injections.

My symptoms are not severe in the sense I cannot do my job or day to day life but they are persistent, uncomfortable and continue to impact my physical and mental health. Generally my symptoms are; bloating, lots of gas, inconsistent stool, very regular stool, never feeling fully relieved after passing stool, lots of gut movement and noise and a tightening feeling across my abdomen (almost like an internal belt due to the bloating).

I have a very sedentary job (office based) which increases the feeling of uncomfortableness when very bloated and become hugely self conscious due to the noises my gut makes - especially when within a meeting with my colleagues. I do exercise frequently but struggle with this as I always feel tired and lack energy and motivation.

When researching IBS it would be described more as IBS C than D but it’s not like I am blocked and struggling to pass stool it’s just the lack of full relief that makes me think it’s more C than D.

I have seen my GP and privately had consultation. This has resulted in antibiotics (to ensure no gut infection), cutting out certain food groups e.g. lactose as well as completing Low FODMAP for 2 months or so. I also carried out a course of hypnotherapy which just made me fall asleep..

I am now at a loss. My clothes are getting harder to wear, I have tried so many types of antibiotics, probiotics, diets, buscopan, mint tea etc but nothing seems to work.

It’s really getting me down, I dread going to work as I don’t know how bad I will be and feel tense as I try to manage my gut movements and noises. My consultant said there’s no cure and things may just settle down but I struggle to follow that.

Hopefully some of what I have shared will resonate with others and I welcome your thoughts and ideas. I just want to feel comfortable again to feel more confident and to not worry about my gut everyday and have a clearer mind to focus on enjoying each day again.

Thanks

[XDjames]

Yes, it resonates for sure. Keep making the effort to work and don't worry what people think.

Get up and walk around as much as you can.

One GP I spoke to was thinking my bad IBS could have been kicked off by a Covid vaccine, but it's just circumstantial. Antibiotics are risky as they muck up your 'biome'.

[Campoverde in reply to XDjames]

I definitely think my IBS was caused by too many antibiotics for urine infections. Got them sorted but now left with IBS. I am sure stress makes it worse.

[Willco28 in reply to XDjames]

Thank you - I shall keep trying different things and exercise is one I must persevere with to keep things moving.

[711debbie]

My IBS was much more manageable until my Covid injections; I only saw my gastro in June and January. After the injections and boosters started, it seems I was going to see him much more often, but the tests showed nothing had changed. He said he thought I was "looking for trouble," i.e., that I was a hypochondriac. Two weeks after my third booster, I could no longer drink real coffee and even have problems with the caffeine in decaf (more diarrhea, loss of electrolytes). Now it's been nearly 2 years since my third booster and things have stabilized or at least I've grown use to what happens with my body since I insist on still drinking 2 cups of decaf a day. So, I'm certainly not "cured" but at peace with the daily diarrhea, bloating and loss of electrolytes (all worse in the morning and lots of bloating at night but not many problems during the work day).

[Willco28 in reply to 711debbie]

Wow that’s awful to hear the feedback you had, but reassuring that you have been able to make it somewhat more manageable.

[Luisa22 in reply to 711debbie]

Believe it. no doctor is going to get on board with the obvious evidence you provide: i.e. that Covid vaccines caused your misery. It's a "jobsworth" thing. There might be a rare doctor here and there who will admit it, but most are going to toe the party line.

Bear in mind also that each GP has on average about 2000 patients, and received a bonus sum for each administered vaccine shot. They continue to do so, with all the boosters too.

Nobody seems to care much about the rising evidence of bad effects from them.

I have a feeling some kind of reputable alternative practitioner would perhaps be helpful? Perhaps a herbalist or homeopath who has no "party line" going on.

Or maybe someone good who specialises in Functional Medicine.

[711debbie in reply to Luisa22]

I'm in Slovakia, and my gastroenterologist told me that quite a few of his patients had problems after the vaccines. Here's a thread from Reddit that shows quite a lot of people had horrible GI reactions after the vaccines, so it's not just me....

reddit.com/r/ibs/comments/m...

[Luisa22 in reply to 711debbie]

Thanks 711debbie. I will read that. Personally, my instinct told me "no" to many things and the vaccines were among those things. That was just me though and I am not saying everyone is the same. Catching Covid can also be bad for IBS. It's difficult to know what to do for the best.

I just trusted my own instincts.

[Alpinelover]

Hi, really sorry to hear about your problems. I have had IBSD for many years and my last flare up was shortly after I had Covid and lasted for several months. Have you tried Colpermin peppermint oil? And active charcoal? I find both of these do help my bloating and wind; maybe worth a go? Really hope you feel better soon

[Willco28 in reply to Alpinelover]

I have tried Colpermin but not the active charcoal so intrigued to see how that works so thanks for the recommendation.

[PinkPenguin96]

I can relate to much of what you have described. I work at home so the gut noises are not so problematic, but the wind and bloating can be pretty fierce. Have you tried a course of simeticone for the bloating? Recently for a bad bout I took Windeze regularly 3 or 4 times a day (after meals and at bedtime) for several days and it seemed to help, though it's always hard to tell for sure since these episodes come and go on their own too.

[Willco28 in reply to PinkPenguin96]

I have tried various things but not Windeze specifically but will do some more research and see what I can get my hands on. If I can get some relief then hopefully can try implement more structured lifestyle changes to manage it better long term.

[Mutleyforever]

it sounds more like slow transit of the gut, with incomplete evacuation than constipation to me , which allows more time for fermentation of bacteria , causing this build up of gas. I have a similar problem, and have found (eventually after 4 years) that eliminating some foods that are high fodmap culprits and taking Symprove every day can help enormously to help your gut function better. Best wishes and hope this is helpful.

[Willco28 in reply to Mutleyforever]

What FODMAP areas have you found that worked? I have done various sensitivity tests which it’s hugely daunting in terms of the list of items I cannot have but I don’t know how accurate they are. I have been intrigued by Symprove but there are so many things marketed now I don’t know what is reliable and what’s not.

[Mutleyforever in reply to Willco28]

Unfortunately this is not a quick fix, it is more trial and error. I find Symprove very helpful, I have tried active charcoal, windeze, colpermin, fennel etc with little effect. For me, lying flat on the floor and massaging my abdomen in a clockwise direction to help move everything along ( including gas ) was very helpful. Even just lying on the floor, not the bed,seems to help . I realise this is not practical at work, but try at home, really relax into it as well. Foods I react to are mostly some fruit and veg, such as green beans, leeks, asparagus, mushrooms, cherries, nectarines, ripe bananas, pineapple, pears, blackberries, plums. It is more controllable omitting these foods than taking tablets afterwards.

I am going to try Triphala an aryuvedic natural remedy to help promote better gut movement, and digestive health, since my normal healthy diet is now quite restricted….wish me luck !

[Mutleyforever in reply to Willco28]

Sorry I forgot to mention peppermint oil capsules, I’ve actually still got some to help ease the discomfort, maybe a little helpful, though prevention is a lot easier than finding a cure.

[xjrs]

Have you tried a good probiotic such as Alflorex? That worked the best for me.

precisionbiotics.co.uk/alfl...

Bloating can also be down to trapped gas caused by poor abdominal muscle control so working on the core (such as with Pilates) may be helpful - any form of regular exercise may also help shift the gas and help the bowels to move.

Sounds like you may need to increase fibre. Alflorex may help increase tolerance to fibre since it also helps to digest complex carbs and suppresses gas producing bacteria which may also help with the bloating.

Good luck.

[Willco28 in reply to xjrs]

I haven’t tried that but thanks for the recommendation! Will have to give it a go.

[Poshy]

Like fellow sufferers we have all tried this and that to control our symptoms and it is a minefield. Xjrs helped me with the Alflorex suggestion and I take that daily but now it is all back with a vengence once more caused by goodness knows what. I have all the classic symptoms of wind, bloating, loose bowels, gut pain and I also get a muzzy head, fatigue and a general feeling of illness. So far I haven't got rid of it so I too am searching for a remedy. I do see a homeopath for another illness so have turned to her because after the covid saga I no longer trust the medical profession in the way I did before. I have always suffered all my life from gut problems and have never found a real answer as to why but this latest session I think stemmed from an antibiotic given for an infection which we all know destroys your bacteria in the gut. There is sluggish gut, leaky gut, you name it is sure to be one of them if not all. Because I did not have the vaccine as I didnt trust the narrative then and now I would also say that it would damage your health any which way having experienced that but that is just my view. But that is when I distrusted the doctor's and chemical pills which relieve but never cure and give you many side effects as well as. Recently I have read about human parasites which invade your body and stay there and lead to many illnesses so I am about to acquire some (natural) pills and try them out as the symptoms for having parasites was similar to IBS.. I will let you all know if they work.

[justmyluck]

Here is a recipe for you: (I too have IBS for years):

One heaping tbsp of fennel seeds grounded

3 stocks of fresh spearmint leaves cut up

Half a lemon squeeze d juice

Put them in a tea pot with a strainer on top and pour hot water on it

Let it sit for 20-30 min to absorb and drink it. It’s a strong taste but you can add honey if you wish. This will kill the bad bacteria in your gut and promote good bacteria. It helps me deal with my ibs better.

[Linley]

Its trial and error as regards what to do for the best to ease your symptoms. I am female and have a hola hoop that does help relieve gas, also I find walking briskly does helps.And finally I consulted a Homeopath who I found most helpful

[BabblingBrooks]

Your story is similar to mine.

My IBS story started in 2007. Had a sigmoidoscopy the year after which was negative.

IBS was reasonably well managed until 2020.

Since then had Covid three times ( most recently end of June this year) and 4 Covid injections.

Bowels became more problematic in January/February 2021 after Covid in November 2020 and first Covid shot in January 2021.

Started probiotics after becoming constipated around February 2023 onwards which were effective.

Got Covid end of June and right away it affected my gut and has done since.

3 flare ups since but now IBS D instead of C which was my specialty.

Chuck in 2 flu jabs Autumn 2022/23 and a cocktail of antibiotic courses since 2021 ( 4 rounds since December 2023 for sinus/ear infections). I now have a scarred ear drum.

I’m on all year round anti histamines, twice daily nasal sprays to reduce hay fever symptoms and congestion and help prevent having to take any more antibiotics for ear/sinus infections .

I had post nasal drip pre Covid but never needed anti histamines prior to the last few years. It was well managed.

NHS allergy test came back negative yet anti histamines are effective with my symptoms.

I’ve also been struggling with a fungal nail issue since summer 2022. A mild one though.

So in my case yes I am looking at you Covid and shots, and antibiotics and no I won’t be getting another flu shot thank you very much. 🤬

[Ritornello]

I sympathise; I have suffered from IBS all my life to a greater or lesser degree. But Fodmap diet really helped, so maybe keep your diet simple to try and see which foods you react to most. Don't eat processed things as there can be sneaky irritants which might upset your gut. Not to belittle your suffering, but if there is no obvious medical cause, then it is very likely your gut bacteria which is out of balance, especially if you have had antibiotics recently. Have you tried kefir and sauerkraut? You could just introduce them slowly. (Sauerkraut not in vinegar, which destroys beneficial bacteria). Sitting down a lot probably doesn't help, so try and walk around as much as you can and don't wear tight clothes. Sorry if this sounds patronising, but diet/food is almost certainly the answeranswer. Last thought, has GP done stool test to rule out giardia for example? And another last thought.. What about eating within a time window to give your gut a good long time to rest overnight? You will get through this.

[Phil865]

Be patient. They are just starting to take these issues more seriously and study them. I could tell you my story but, long story short, antibiotics.