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Have people had any stomach problems who also have ME?

Posted , 8 users are following.

katoreo
katoreo

I have had agonising stomach and back pain which lasts for about two weeks. This has occurred many times really over the last two years. However it then goes and comes up again, I have Had many scans and an endoscopy which has showed nothing. Also had blood test testing for celiac but also come back normal. Am seeing a gastroenterologist on 28th of December.

It's fustrating because feel like people think am making it up but am starting to think could relate to ME, has anyone else had gastro problems with ME?

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • dawn94288
    dawn94288 katoreo

    Posted

    Sorry to hear that.  Yes.  It is very common to have stomach problems, often diagnosed as IBS, in tandem with ME.  But the back problems, I don't think so.  Have you read many books about ME?

    • katoreo
      katoreo dawn94288

      Posted

      No not really but if you have any suggestions that would be great.
  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 katoreo

    Posted

    Yes! I used to have stomach problems when I first became ill. Now my stomach is fine. I did take digestive enzymes, but other than that, didn't do anything in particular for my stomach to improve. Digestive problems are very common with ME/CFS. One thing you could do is to try to track what foods might be hard on your stomach. The usual suspects are milk and wheat, so you could try eliminating those, one at a time.

    • elaine17005
      elaine17005 jackie00198

      Posted

      Do u know a good specialist.my son has had ME for many years.we need a specialist who can help
  • toni62403
    toni62403 katoreo

    Posted

    Hi there, Before i got diagnosed with CFS I was originally diagnosed with low iron and gastritis - I had terrible stomach pain that used to make it difficult to sleep and I would often find it unbearable to have anything touch my stomach, even if it was only lightly. I also had an endoscopy which came back clear. I was on Proton pump inhibitors for a good few months and eventually my stomach issues got much less painful. I still have bloating and can sometimes feel sick after eating or struggle to know when I am hungry but on the whole the issue is a lot better now

     

    • clivealive
      clivealive toni62403

      Posted

      You may also have a Vitamin B12 Deficiency  as PIPs are known to affect absorption by reducing acid levels necessary to "grab the B12 from your food

  • elaine62759
    elaine62759 katoreo

    Posted

    Have you been tested for helicobacter pylori? I had a lot of stomach issues and eventually got treatment for this which really helped plus changing my diet. Also the back pain could be related to a kidney issue like kidney stones or could be an unrelated back injury.
  • phil50852
    phil50852 katoreo

    Posted

    I started with IBS over 15 years ago - 1 of my symptoms, along with nausea, pain, bloating etc was exhaustion! But it would go away after a few days rest and I'd carry on. But gradually over the years the exhaustion got a little worse each time.

    Until this year when I just haven't got over it at all, and now the GP has done all the bloods, got me referred and they pronounced I have CF. Maybe I've had it all these years in a mild form and never knew.

    But I drink aloe vera gel in the mornings and take a pill which seems to help. I've also done colonics which have helped in the past. I had the celiac test and I'm not, it said - but the test is unreliable, apparently. Last year I investigated the low FODMAP diet and have cut out most gluten, lactose, white onion and garlic as they seemed to cause sensitivities. Certainly helped with a lot of the gastric problems I had.

    Ironically, not the exhaustion. But the 2 conditions are certainly linked in many people.

    • clivealive
      clivealive phil50852

      Posted

      Have you had your Vitamin B12 level checked as deficiency of this is linked to IBS
    • phil50852
      phil50852 clivealive

      Posted

      I see you ask everyone this - but yes. B12 levels "normal range", although I do supplement anyway as its safe to do so of course

    • clivealive
      clivealive phil50852

      Posted

      I "ask everyone" because I want to raise awareness of how often B12 Deficiency can be "overlooked" as a cause for so many other misdiagnosed illnesses.

      More than 40% of US citizens are deficient in Vitamin B12, despite having diets that have them consuming B12 on regular basis via meat, poultry, dairy, and cereals.  Why? Lack of knowledge regarding enzymes, digestion, and absorption.

      What do all of these diseases have in common?

      Alzheimer’s, dementia, cognitive decline and memory loss (collectively referred to as “ageing”)

      Multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders

      Mental illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis)

      Cardiovascular disease

      Learning or developmental disorders in kids

      Autism spectrum disorder

      Autoimmune disease and immune dysregulation

      Cancer

      Male and female infertility

      Answer: they can all mimic the signs and symptoms of vitamin B12

      deficiency.

      You are right when you say it's safe to supplement as you cannot overdose on B12 but you do need to ensure that you have enough Folate to process it as the two work together. 

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