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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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  1. H

    An Introduction to the Microbiome and ME/CFS

    Please see my comments about gut malrotation/maattachment under "Hibernia" in other discussions. Typed a long comment, but couldn't log in ?? Hope this works.
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Yes, I sure appreciate your comments about surgery. I was offered surgery, but have not done it, as I am okay for now - not perfect, but okay. I had a huge rectal ulcer from my bowel telescoping - in the redundant sigmoid area. Acupuncture helped me with this. So glad you have had relief of...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Thank you Lala. About 5 years ago I took 2 weeks of Levaquin for severe abdominal pain with fever- thought to be diverticulitis, but it didn't show on abdominal CT. At about day 5 I felt the horrible fatigue begin to lift. I was able to hike several miles - no more abdominal pain. I thought I...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Gee, back in the 1970s when I worked clinical microbiology at a large hospital ( in Pittsburgh, Penna.) parasites, with the exception of pinworms, were very rare. Maybe this has changed ? Plus, light infections were hard to pick up - ie we had to concentrate the eggs, etc. A laborious process...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    I just wrote a looonnng specific comment but got bumped off somehow. Bottom line : the neurology and intestinal structure is critical, critical, critical. Please read about MRI negative myelopathies : http://pn.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/8/2/90 Also, intestinal malrotation, malattachment...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Okay GI friends. I love this discussion. Big, important thoughts. I also think we may have a MTHFR mutation at the bottom of this whole mess. Either that or a mild chromosome 22q 11.2 deletion ( DiGeorge syndrome) issue. ( could MTHFR be part of that ? must check) Malrotation of the gut can be...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Please note the tests I mentioned earlier - especially the Sitzmark. It really is essential to be with a doctor and radiologist who is an expert at these complex bowel diagnoses. There is a surgeon, Dr. Garth Ballantyne, who has written much and seems to understand the complexities. It is my...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Thank you, Athene. Your words are kind. I have learned much of this 'the hard way.' Please read, read, read. I will be away from my computer for a few weeks, but happy to answer anything I can.
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    Athene, Ah ha ! Redundant colon ! I am not surprised. Motility is an important issue in these cases. The Sitzmark test helps look at that. It is a very easy test. You swallow a capsule of (24 ?)little rings, then get a plain x-ray each of about 5 days to track the progress of the rings. Where...
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    my stomach swells like im 9 months pregnant..anyone else?

    There is an important issue that has been totally overlooked - intestinal malrotation/malattachment, including redundant colon. A malrotation of the gut is a congenital issue where the intestine ( during the early 4-6 weeks of embryo development) does not make the full 270 degree...