Digestive issues for years, feeling ill and can't gain weight.
Posted , 5 users are following.
Good day to you all.
My name is Stan, 25 years old, from the Netherlands.
I came to seek advice on my problems with my digestive health. I have had problems for years, but they have become worse since a year. I hope someone would recognize my symptoms and maybe have some advice for me. I have had testing done and tried different things, but I'm kind of lost.
I will try my best English, I apologize in advance for any mistakes.
As said, I have had digestive issues for years. Probably since my childhood. I was always a skinny kid. Recent years, symptoms have become worse and about a year ago I became ill and had to take a step back in work (and life).
The symptoms in my belly that I experience are:
- Bloating,
- Abdominal pain (slight)
- I'm quickly full when eating (is that correct english? 😉 )
- Bad stool
The bad stool is probably the most characterizing of my symptoms. I have badly formed stool. It is often mushy, slightly runny, smells bad, different colors, contains undigested particals and floats. I often have to use meters of toiletpaper to clean the mess 😦 I can't seem to get rid of everything from my behind (pardon my language).
Also, I have trouble gaining weight, and already lost a few kilos. I weigh 57,5 kilos now and measure 185 cm, so I am underweighted. I try to eat as much as I can (proper foods), but it is just not much.
Next to this, I also have brainfog, pain in my joints (mostly my knees), a coated tongue (white-ish, thrush?), tiredness and a general discomfort through my body. (I try to mention as much symptoms I can which I think are relevant. I haven't gained a single gram since a year.
They have run some tests on me in the hospital which have turned out negative. I have had bloodtests, a gastroscopy, ultrasound and fecestest. They have ruled out parasites, celiac disease, ulcers and cancer in the upper digestive tract. Also no bacteria like H. Pylori. I have got all the results and I am happy to share them if necessary. I got diagnosed with IBS but the doctor immediately admitted that is just a fancy word for "there is something wrong, but we haven't found out yet". One blood test came out low compared to my hospital reference values: Alkaline Phosphatase; but couldn't anything with it. However at this stage, my local hospital can't help me anymore and they and I will be redirected, probably to an academic hospital.
Thus far, I have tried pepermint oil, pancreatic enzymes, hypnotherapy, dietician, osteopathy, anti bugs supplements, anti candida supplements (which I am using now again), physiotherapy. Nonetheless, my mental status is very well. I have wonderfull friends and family and I enjoy my work. I have all hope that I will heal one day 😃 But in the meanwhile, I could very much need your help! If you have any tips or advice, or questions, I would very much like to hear them! Thanks in advance.
Best to all of you is these difficult and strange times. Stay healthy and take care!
0 likes, 12 replies
sam18386 SWillems
Posted
hi stan, no apologies needed for your language is quite easy to understand! this doesn't sound fun at all. you mentioned you had lost weight, lose bowels and tried lots of things up to now. you didn't mention full blood count, vitamin d and b12 blood tests, or other blood tests. what did the dietician do? did you ask for drinks to boost your calories? in England these are called COMPLAN or Fortisips. your pharmacist may know better (farmacia in spanish, pharmacie in french or a green cross outside a shop). try something to make your bowel not so liquid when you have to go, IMODIUM or BUSCOPAN is good. lots of people here will help you. i hope you get some help. 🤞
SWillems sam18386
Posted
Thanks for your reply Sam!
It is indeed no fun, it impacts my life every day 😦
I have had full blood count, vitamin D and B12 blood tests. According to my hospital's reference values, these were al okay. Vitamin B12 serum even was a little elevated above the reference values, but could do no harm I was told (since a shortage is more alarming). I have had other blood tests like calcium, magnesium, thyroid, calprotectin, albumin, and many others. All within reference value. But I can look them up, should you be interested.
My first dietician advised to increase intake of dietary fiber. But this didn't help anything and she couldn't give me more. I'm with another dietician now. She has a background as a nurse and studied orthomoleculair therapy. She can give me way more usefull advice. She is worried that the B12 can't reacht the cell and advised me to take sub-lingual B12 to be sure there is no shortage.
I have had drinks to boost calories. But they really didn't help. My dietician also says that these products contain lots of sugars and are therefore not very healthy. She advised me to increase calorie intake more via fats and proteins, which I am trying to do now. But since I cannot eat a lot...
Thanks for the tips on the meds for my bowel! I will look into it. However, I am worried about taking meds that alter the biodiversity in my gut. I think the mushiness is more due to undigested fats in my stool rather than water?
Thank you very much for your help!
layna68454 SWillems
Posted
Alkaline Phosphatase, low or high can mean that something is wrong with either a liver or gallbladder. I had exact same problem and it was not IBS at all, it took my doctors 14 months to figure out but the ultrasound revealed problems with my gallbladder and liver. Ask your doctor to examine your liver and gallbladder, either ultrasound or an MRI. Liver and /or gallbladder can cause your digestion problems with symptoms similar to IBS. Good luck and I hope you find your answers soon!
SWillems layna68454
Posted
Thanks for your reply Layna!
Yea, I read that too! However, the doctors checked the function of my gallbladder and liver through blood testing and ultrasound, no abnormalities found. A MRI is still an option.
May I ask what you had? And how it was resolved? (I hope that at least!)
sam90321 SWillems
Edited
get your gallbladder checked, i go through alitle bit of what ur saying you got, even after i had my gallbladder removed am still going through it, i notice i dont eat much, i get full quickly, my stomach would be bloated, i had series of test done and they found gastric and diagnose me with ibs, my body isnt digesting nothing and i believe thats whats contributing to me losing weight, am suffering badly, most days my stomach would burn me and i get lots of acid that come up and cause me breathing issues. i also was tested for h.pylori and was negative.
SWillems sam90321
Edited
Thanks for you reply Sam!
That sounds horrible! I hope you can find help soon!
They checked my gallbladder through bloodtests and ultrasound, but found no abnormalities. I don't want to sound harsh, but it sounds like removing your gallbladder hasn't improved your conditions? Why did they do it?
Fortunately, I have no heartburn. A handful times of reflux a year maybe, but not burning.
I also think I got problems with digestion. That would be a downward spiral as not digesting food causes more problems with weight and the chemistry in our bodies, which in turn make it harder to digest food again?
You got any research going?
All the best!
sam90321 SWillems
Edited
hey sorry for late reply but mines was removed because i was ill all the time and my gallbladder was over flown with stones, removing my gallbladder i would not say i regret it but it didnt fix my acid reflux or my digestive issues like the drs say, there was no point of me having it, i would be so sick i couldnt ever get out of bed, couldnt eat anything without puking and having bad diarrihea, my blood work were all over the place, i would poop alot of bile so it was affecting me very bad, overall the only thing am having issues with now is bad digestive issues, acid reflux and i ibs, i did so much research and it always come back to proper diet and controlling stress, i dont eat much cause my body dont digest most things and am always stress out especially now with the covid19, and i also have severe anxiety and depression and those make it worst, my dr told me to go on acid meds but i hate those medication they give me side affects, i was doing the low fodmap at one point but i fell off
leeniepie SWillems
Posted
Hello Stan. it's does very much sound like you have IBS diarrhoea dominant. have you heard of the low FODMAP diet? it is very useful for gas and bloating, and can help you identify trigger foods for your IBS. it is best to do this diet with a registered dietician to make sure you do not become deficient in any nutrients.
have you tried taking and anti diarrhoea medication to help with the stool in the meantime?
SWillems leeniepie
Posted
Hi leeniepie, thanks for your reply!
Yes, I have heard of FODMAP. I did not try this. I have been with two dieticians and they didn't think it would be beneficial. I had kept daily diary on foods, stool and symptoms. They don't seem to point toward a specific food or group. However, I suspect I have trouble with fats.
I do not take anti diarrhoea medication as I don't really have diarrhoea. I googled my stool and it is more like a fatty stool, sometimes with white mucus or specks or undigested particals.
SWillems
Posted
Update.
Turns out the doctors did find something on the ultrasound. A light case of steatosis hepatis, fatty liver. It was not severe and didn't influence my blood chemistry. However, it is somehting abnormal and must be cured. I have been referred to an academic hospital. I am curious to see what they will do.
sam18386 SWillems
Posted
hi swillems, well at least you have an answer, well done for getting the truth! go from this and be relieved whatever they tell you as it beats not knowing!
SWillems sam18386
Posted
Hi Sam, more of like an information, not an answer yet. The question still remains how it got there and what else is going on. But at least it is part of the puzzle! I hope that the new doctors will find a solution!