Jimbo39
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I've had GI pain most of my life and it seems to have gotten worst in the last few years. Can anyone tell me what steps I should take to figure out what the problem is?
GI pain
- Thread starter Jimbo39
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Hi Jimbo39.....you should probably a GI specialist. It's really the only way to rule things out.
If meds are given by samples first, and the cost is prohibitive, ask for a cheaper substitute. I had unexpected (totally out of the blue) GI surgery last year. Now scar tissue will be one of my biggest foes. It happens with age. Best of luck in getting an answer to the problem. Yours, Lenora.
If meds are given by samples first, and the cost is prohibitive, ask for a cheaper substitute. I had unexpected (totally out of the blue) GI surgery last year. Now scar tissue will be one of my biggest foes. It happens with age. Best of luck in getting an answer to the problem. Yours, Lenora.
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Jimbo39
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I had a colonoscopy two years ago. Dr said it was clear and fine. Antibiotics for SIBO. Helped a little but not much.
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@Jimbo39 How deep do you want to dive?
Probably your gut flora and levels of intestinal permeability are not meeting your needs.
Suggest getting tested through Thryve and analysing the results with microbiomeprescription.com
It's not user-friendly but this as an emerging area of science.
Probably your gut flora and levels of intestinal permeability are not meeting your needs.
Suggest getting tested through Thryve and analysing the results with microbiomeprescription.com
It's not user-friendly but this as an emerging area of science.
Judee
Psalm 46:1-3
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Where do you get the pain? Like I have IBS so I get the pain in the corners of my intestines...sometimes I will also get cramping in my stomach or the intestines behind my stomach but mostly I feel it in the intestines.
What other gut symptoms?
For instance, My intestines must also swell because the stool size (sorry TMI) will come out thin like pencils when I'm having a bad IBS flair.
Have you been able to identify triggers? Mine are dairy---mostly cow's milk but straight goat milk will sometimes trigger it. However, I can do goat cheese or butter with no problems. Also anything that "scratches" (my word for it) my insides like bran, seeds and eating too many of some kinds of nuts. (Things which have a lot of fiber.) Cocoa sometimes will do it was well. (A single blackberry with all those tiny seeds will set it off big time.)
If you suspect IBS, I would avoid these things.
Medication the gastro prescribed for it did nothing. They just made me sleepier...with severe stomach pain.
For two weeks when I was first diagnosed I tried everything I had ever heard of for stomach---probiotics, DGL, digestive enzymes, aloe vera, etc...in addition to the usual otc stuff.
Finally I remembered I had some Mycopryl in the house and within about 5 minutes after taking that, the pain started going away. Now I find that will usually take the pain away unless I have cheated with those trigger foods--then it helps a little but I still have to wait until those things work their way out of my system.
Sometimes I have to add an enteric coated peppermint supplement but that can cause heartburn.
Anyway, this is just what I figured out for me. We are all different so you will have to find what works for you but I would say to keep at least a mental diary of things you have eaten or taken when you get a flair and avoid suspect foods.
Oh, one more thing...tryptophan is a definite trigger. I had keep my IBS in control for a long time and took some of that and was back in that horrible pain again. This is a good article about seretonin and IBS:https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/ibs-and-serotonin/
Also, a lot of ME patients also have IBS. This member's website talks a lot about IBS: https://cfsremission.com/
What other gut symptoms?
For instance, My intestines must also swell because the stool size (sorry TMI) will come out thin like pencils when I'm having a bad IBS flair.
Have you been able to identify triggers? Mine are dairy---mostly cow's milk but straight goat milk will sometimes trigger it. However, I can do goat cheese or butter with no problems. Also anything that "scratches" (my word for it) my insides like bran, seeds and eating too many of some kinds of nuts. (Things which have a lot of fiber.) Cocoa sometimes will do it was well. (A single blackberry with all those tiny seeds will set it off big time.)
If you suspect IBS, I would avoid these things.
Medication the gastro prescribed for it did nothing. They just made me sleepier...with severe stomach pain.
For two weeks when I was first diagnosed I tried everything I had ever heard of for stomach---probiotics, DGL, digestive enzymes, aloe vera, etc...in addition to the usual otc stuff.
Finally I remembered I had some Mycopryl in the house and within about 5 minutes after taking that, the pain started going away. Now I find that will usually take the pain away unless I have cheated with those trigger foods--then it helps a little but I still have to wait until those things work their way out of my system.
Sometimes I have to add an enteric coated peppermint supplement but that can cause heartburn.
Anyway, this is just what I figured out for me. We are all different so you will have to find what works for you but I would say to keep at least a mental diary of things you have eaten or taken when you get a flair and avoid suspect foods.
Oh, one more thing...tryptophan is a definite trigger. I had keep my IBS in control for a long time and took some of that and was back in that horrible pain again. This is a good article about seretonin and IBS:https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/ibs-and-serotonin/
Also, a lot of ME patients also have IBS. This member's website talks a lot about IBS: https://cfsremission.com/
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@Judee.....Good advice that you gave to @Jimbo39. I also have IBS, have had it since my late teens, early 20's. It does seem to be rather common among us...at least some GI problem. How have you been?
Jim, it's good that you had a colonoscopy. That should help in the worry department. I don't know what your main symptoms are, but food is a likely problem for many of us.
All of my friends have GI problems....I'm not so sure that it doesn't come with age. If you've had any intestinal surgery, or near intestinal, you'll have to watch out for what scar tissue can do. Nausea, vomiting and not being able to go to the bathroom are all signs that something's amiss. Even knowing that, it's hard to know when/where to draw the line and go to the hospital.
By the way, go by ambulance, you're taken far more seriously (if you don't have to pay for it, of course). Also, it forms a health record that is actually taken seriously. I hope this passes and it's just a glitch in the system. Yours, Lenora.
Jim, it's good that you had a colonoscopy. That should help in the worry department. I don't know what your main symptoms are, but food is a likely problem for many of us.
All of my friends have GI problems....I'm not so sure that it doesn't come with age. If you've had any intestinal surgery, or near intestinal, you'll have to watch out for what scar tissue can do. Nausea, vomiting and not being able to go to the bathroom are all signs that something's amiss. Even knowing that, it's hard to know when/where to draw the line and go to the hospital.
By the way, go by ambulance, you're taken far more seriously (if you don't have to pay for it, of course). Also, it forms a health record that is actually taken seriously. I hope this passes and it's just a glitch in the system. Yours, Lenora.
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Jimbo39
Senior Member
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- 405
- Location
- San Deigo, CA
Where do you get the pain? Like I have IBS so I get the pain in the corners of my intestines...sometimes I will also get cramping in my stomach or the intestines behind my stomach but mostly I feel it in the intestines.
What other gut symptoms?
For instance, My intestines must also swell because the stool size (sorry TMI) will come out thin like pencils when I'm having a bad IBS flair.
Have you been able to identify triggers? Mine are dairy---mostly cow's milk but straight goat milk will sometimes trigger it. However, I can do goat cheese or butter with no problems. Also anything that "scratches" (my word for it) my insides like bran, seeds and eating too many of some kinds of nuts. (Things which have a lot of fiber.) Cocoa sometimes will do it was well. (A single blackberry with all those tiny seeds will set it off big time.)
If you suspect IBS, I would avoid these things.
Medication the gastro prescribed for it did nothing. They just made me sleepier...with severe stomach pain.
For two weeks when I was first diagnosed I tried everything I had ever heard of for stomach---probiotics, DGL, digestive enzymes, aloe vera, etc...in addition to the usual otc stuff.
Finally I remembered I had some Mycopryl in the house and within about 5 minutes after taking that, the pain started going away. Now I find that will usually take the pain away unless I have cheated with those trigger foods--then it helps a little but I still have to wait until those things work their way out of my system.
Sometimes I have to add an enteric coated peppermint supplement but that can cause heartburn.
Anyway, this is just what I figured out for me. We are all different so you will have to find what works for you but I would say to keep at least a mental diary of things you have eaten or taken when you get a flair and avoid suspect foods.
Oh, one more thing...tryptophan is a definite trigger. I had keep my IBS in control for a long time and took some of that and was back in that horrible pain again. This is a good article about seretonin and IBS:https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/ibs-and-serotonin/
Also, a lot of ME patients also have IBS. This member's website talks a lot about IBS: https://cfsremission.com/
I can't handle dairy and wheat. Could this be a sign of IBS? Or food allergies? My stools are fine and regular. I suppose the pain is mostly on the edges. To bad about tryptophan as it's a neurotransmitter precursor
Jimbo39
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I had a GI stool test done. Dysbiosis and candida which I took care
Rufous McKinney
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that can happen to me, too- diameter is highly variable.
Why is everything to do with GI problems not user friendly? Too much of us is located on the inside of the body. I wish better tests would come along....and soon.
Our daughter recently had her first colonoscopy at age 50. The preparation is now even worse than before. It took her 2 full days....perhaps it was just a very careful doctor, I don't know. Worthwhile though, two polyps were discovered, both benign but now testing is being done to see how often she'll have to have the tests repeated. Every 2 years or every 5. We're thankful that she's alright and I can only say that I'm glad that it wasn't me! Yours, Lenora.
Judee
Psalm 46:1-3
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Do you mean the outer edges of your torso like there the large intestines would be? If so, I would say that's likely IBS.
If you can, try the Mycopryl. It's made of palm oil instead of coconut at least the last time we checked with the company that makes it. It also helps with Candida.
Jimbo39
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Yes mostly the outer edge although sometimes it hurts near my belly button
Judee
Psalm 46:1-3
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I get this sometimes too. However, is it on the lower right pointing in the direction of your right hip? That could be your appendix acting up.
I think my Mom was having issues with her appendix for about 1.5 years before it actually ruptured. She bloated out on the front very badly and even in the back, her hips widened out.
Our doctor at the time said chronic appendicitis is difficult to diagnosis but could in rare cases be possible.