Long Covid gut symptoms

[Purpledharma]

Does anyone have experience with long coviid and problems with abdominal pain, bloating and slower gut transit times?

I am still waiting for a diagnosis of symptoms since having an episode of low blood pressure and dizziness after trying to return to work 3 weeks after getting covid for the first time.

Since then I have to lie down after eating or the spasms and bloating is worse. Initially I tried eating little and often, but that didn't work out. Now I'm doing daily IF eating just two meals per day and the first one between 11.30 am and 1 pm. There's no knowing how long I need to rest after eating. If I have used more energy the day before (nowhere near my normal level) I often end up asleep for 2 to 3 hours without choice. I end up eating only once when the discomfort is more severe.

I have been off work over a month already. I'm managing with healthy diet but still not settled the gastric/intestinal symptoms despite daily home made kefir, BioKult preobiotic and both freshly cooked and raw foods. Slippery elm seems to give ease to pain but not to the bloating and discomfort. I'm going to make some sauerkraut to add more good bugs in the hope that repopulating my GI tract will help.

Ideas, anyone?

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Some people have developed histamine intolerance following covid infection.

You might find it beneficial to try a histamine elmination diet. histaminintoleranz.ch/downl...

[Imaaan]

How are your vit d levels? Also fish oil helps when it comes to inflammation. I found eating canned sardines in water and canned wild salmon ro be helpful for my gut.

[Purpledharma in reply to Imaaan]

I'm waiting for blood test results for vitamin levels. I do take a supplement on a regular basis.

[Imaaan in reply to Purpledharma]

Hopefully the results will give you some insight.

[Hypopotamus]

In my experience nothing works as well for gut problems as Water Kefir.

decdun.me.uk/Kefir/Water_ke...

[Flaxjax]

Sorry to hear you're unwell 😕 Ground flaxseeds really helped me with gut problems (2x tbsp in my porridge for breakfast) also collagen powder daily will help to heal the gut lining (may take up to 12 weeks for full effect).

[grumpyold]

I have not had Covid but I have had the gut problems you describe. They turned out to be caused by SIBO ( an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.)

Atrantil helps ease the pain. I get them from Supplement Hub.

I also take a probiotic called Alflorex. The chewy banana and strawberry one.

To hasten my slow gut motility, 2 kiwi fruits a day help me.

6 months of these, and I no longer look 7 months pregnant and the pain is much improved.

We are all different but maybe worth a try? I hope you find something to help.

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there, my daughter has a diagnosis of long-covid and attends a long covid clinic.She caught covid just before the first lockdown.She has many symptoms including exhaustion and digestive problems.She has put 2 stone on and cannot lose it.She is continuing to work but has to manage things well.She was gluten free before but believes this is minimising her bloating and cramping.She takes an actimel every day and has noted certain foods which make things worse.Have you kept a food diary to see if anything makes things worse for you? She had bloods done to check for deficiencies but everything was ok.She has bad acid reflux and takes a generic gaviscon which helps those symptoms.Unfortunately covid has left many people with unexpected after effects which they have to try and manage.One if the main things the clinic has stressed to her is to get as much rest as possible.Relaxing and doing nothing every day.They said her body is in burn out and forget excercise all together.Imagine her body is a full battery when she gets up in a morning and everything she does is depleting it.Every time she goes up and down stairs, even just travelling to work is draining her before she starts.Small things they have told her to change have made a great difference and she has improved.I'm sure you'll get there.

[CernCrystal]

Hi - I had Covid in Sept and in Nov Dr reduced levo by third (making me hypothyroid) so I've had the double whammy of long covid and hypothyroidism. I've noticed that carbs really affect me - upset stomach and awful bloating. I can fall asleep after eating them too - at desk (homeworking). I now have minimal carbs and feel much better but still have really slow gut. I also take B12 drops (under tongue) and eat liver pate (homemade) for folate as I recognised (following support on here) that stomach acid much reduced and I was losing weight without trying which meant I was not getting vitamins despite eating healthy diet. I'm also trying unfiltered cider vinegar with food plus taking levo with a little lemon juice in water. I am much improved. Still have some covid symptoms but even those are less frequent and not so mentally damaging - every now and then a few days where I cannot move well and awful brain fog. BTW I have fought Dr and am now back to original dose and am refusing TSH testing (all that is offered) as it is totally meaningless.

[Bethea-Alice]

Just to say when I had my second bout of Covid (Dec 21) I had GI problems after the initial cold symptoms: mainly burning sensation in oesophagus, burping and altered taste after eating/drinking anything. Then had my 4th booster jab in October 2022 which left me unwell for months: very tired, muscle weakness in legs and constant indigestion/reflux/slow transit. Had ‘flu in December and was really struggling with constipation by February. The only thing that has worked for me has been eating all bran cereal every day (not bran flakes). The slow transit has now completely resolved even though am still experiencing other GI symptoms which are now being investigated. Have had intermittent GI symptoms since my 20’s (hiatus hernia) and it feels as if Covid attacked my weak spot. Do hope you can find a solution because it really is debilitating!

[Purpledharma in reply to Bethea-Alice]

Thanks, Bethea-Alice,I'm glad that you have found some relief and took the trouble to respond.

I hope that the investigation finds you a treatment that brings you better health.

[Windmill6]

Hello sorry to hear you are sufferingI have very similar symptoms to you but not from covid from very low potassium levels which affect gut motility.

I advise you to get a kidney funct ion blood test to see if it is potassium that is low..