The gut is called the second brain because it is lined with 100 million nerve cells. It reacts when we are nervous, and during especially stressful times, people's digestive systems start going haywire. Add a poor diet of sugar, stimulants and fatty processed foods, and by the time people turn middle age, nearly everyone has had some digestive issues.
The good news is that our gut is a big part of our intuitive warning system. The bad news is that many intuitive people suffer from digestive problems.
I started this topic so we could put our G.I. problems and possible solutions in one place. This forum is not a substitute for medical care, and we don't prescribe or do medical diagnoses here, but we do offer ideas and share helpful stories and links to further information for anyone struggling with digestive issues.
I don't often post on here but I know some of you are good at sending healing energy. I could sure use some right now.
Right after Memorial day my whole digestion just went on the blink. I think I had an ecoli infection; vomiting, you name it. it got better then worse again and by the time I got to the doctor I was tested negative for anything. That was over July 4th. Now a month later I'm still messed up, my issue now is heartburn daily, very raw and painful. My doctor wanted me go get a colonoscopy done; I'd just had one two years ago and suspected she was just covering herself. I'm calling this week if something doesn't change.
This all hit me right during the BLM uproar on TV nightly. That didn't help. I've been avoiding even reading a lot of discussion boards just to avoid the stress. There is a personal element in all this; I've lost most of my friends the past few years- over Trump. It's just a perfect storm right now. My wife does Reiki and has been doing that for me all this time. Any comments, suggestions welcome.
hi @martin , the best thing i have found for heartburn is baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)in water. It tastes terrible, but will relieve it almost instantly. I never measure, but about 1/2 a teaspoon for a glass of water, dissolved. Actually, if you put a very small amount in the water, it taste really good- like fresh rainwater. But for a bad case of heartburn you probably need to put enough in to make it bitter. Hope you feel better soon.
Were you also tested for COVID? Because if not, do that asap. Many cases of COVID begin with GI issues. I'd rule that out before getting probed again. In fact, a colonoscopy should be a last resort in this case, not a first line of testing. You may need to go to a rheumatologist and an immunologist to rule out a bunch of stuff. Also, I'd ask for an abdominal CT scan first - the GI stuff might be secondary to something else, and they won't find anything outside your colon if they don't look elsewhere.
Feel better in any case.
Is it your family doctor who is recommending a colonoscopy, or a gastroenterologist? Just wondering what tests you've had thus far. I'd investigate further if I were you.
I will say that I've had a number of gastro issues for the past two months. Nothing definitive has come up, but I do have a history of IBS. It's been years since I've had symptoms. In my case, stress plays a huge part with how my body responds. And let's face it -- this has been an incredibly stressful time for everyone.
I have a good friend who has also experienced some major gastro problems this past month. She also developed a low-grade fever and was severely fatigued so they tested her for Covid, which was negative. Her fever lasted two days. Her doctors have no idea what caused it, so they're speculating that it was some stomach bug. It's all very strange. She's better, but is still a little under the weather.
I will pray that you find a resolution, and will include you in our group healing meditation on Wednesday.
@Martin, We are not diagnosing or prescribing here, just offering some ideas in an educative way. But one common cause of that much heartburn, other than eating the wrong foods, is hiatal hernia. Have you checked it out?
What are you eating? If you have IBS, as Deetoo was mentioning, I didn't think it caused heartburn but it can cause terrible abdominal pain. Some of the worst foods are garlic and onion or the white part of any allium, although IBS sufferers have different food intolerances, but it always comes from foods with certain short-chain sugars that the small intestines can't digest. There's an IOS app that will list all of the IBS-inducing foods. And yes, stress will exacerbate any of these issues.
There are some recent food recalls because of salmonella and coli. Perhaps you may have eaten some item?
Is it your family doctor who is recommending a colonoscopy, or a gastroenterologist? Just wondering what tests you've had thus far. I'd investigate further if I were you.
I will say that I've had a number of gastro issues for the past two months. Nothing definitive has come up, but I do have a history of IBS. It's been years since I've had symptoms. In my case, stress plays a huge part with how my body responds. And let's face it -- this has been an incredibly stressful time for everyone.
I have a good friend who has also experienced some major gastro problems this past month. She also developed a low-grade fever and was severely fatigued so they tested her for Covid, which was negative. Her fever lasted two days. Her doctors have no idea what caused it, so they're speculating that it was some stomach bug. It's all very strange. She's better, but is still a little under the weather.
I will pray that you find a resolution, and will include you in our group healing meditation on Wednesday.
Its my family doctor. She's part of a large medical group that I suspect tell their doctors to push this. I had two recently, one in 2016 then another in late 2017, they had me come back because there was a larger ployp that needed surgical excision, they apparently got it all that time, but then started pushing me to come back in for a followup after six months, our insurance woudn't pay for it that soon. I just cannot see doing this now, but it looks as if I'll have to to get a referral to a GI doctor.
This all began suddenly after Memorial day, I think it may have been some parasite inection from lettuce or something but it sure seems it ought to be over by now, I've now lost ten pounds with it. I got tested for that but got a negative. I always feel fine when I get up in the morning. Once I eat something it starts in. I get relief in the evening after dinner. Been trying homeopathic with some relief but usually it doesn't last. Thanks to all for the encouragement. Also for inclusion in the healing.
I always feel fine when I get up in the morning. Once I eat something it starts in. I get relief in the evening after dinner.
Obviously I'm not a physician, nor do I play one on TV, but this sounds decidedly like a serious stress/anxiety issue. If you feel okay in the morning, and then you feel worse through the day and better in the evening, it seems to me that it's just following the stress pattern of your day. Morning = low stress, stress/anxiety increases and peaks through the day, and then evening = lowered stress/anxiety because the day is over, so symptoms subside. Perhaps investigate that angle if you haven't already?
@Martin, We are not diagnosing or prescribing here, just offering some ideas in an educative way. But one common cause of that much heartburn, other than eating the wrong foods, is hiatal hernia. Do read about it. It is caused when a little part of the stomach balloons into the esophagus and it causes a lot of burning pain.
What are you eating? If you have IBS, as Deetoo was mentioning, I didn't think it caused heartburn but it can cause terrible abdominal pain. Some of the worst foods are garlic and onion or the white part of any allium, although IBS sufferers have different food intolerances, but it always comes from foods with certain short-chain sugars that the small intestines can't digest. There's an IOS app that will list all of the IBS-inducing foods. And yes, stress will exacerbate any of these issues.
@Martin, I can sympathize and I’m hoping/praying that you will feel better soon- sending healing energy your way. I’ve had similar issues- I’ve had numerous GI tests including 3 endoscopies over the last 10 years. I’ve been diagnosed with GERD, hiatal hernia, and IBS and have basically given up trying to manage them or find patterns. They are very real problems that have gotten exponentially worse since 2016 (what a coincidence!). Anyway, all of this is not to take away from your own experience, just that I can relate and for me it is most definitely tied to stress/anxiety. Also wanted to jump in and say thanks @jeanne-mayell for the app recommendation- I’ll give the app a try. :) I sincerely hope that @Martin finds some relief and answers soon (without having to go through a procedure!).
@martin, Sending healing and wishing you relief. We will send you a soothing healing light on Wednesday night and pray you find a path to healing.
@nelysthealchemist. For IBS sufferers, I know people who suffered with IBS for years with no relief. Then they learned about the offending foods, got the app and it changed their lives. The app is from research done by Monash University that has tested hundreds of foods. It’s called FODMAP. When food shopping, you can type in the food and it will tell you whether or not it is going to be free of these IBS-inducing sugars. If you start by eliminating the difficult-to-digest foods and see how you feel, then you can slowly reintroduce them and watch how your digestion is the next day. Give it a few weeks to adjust to a new normal. It works. While garlic and onions are great foods for most people to eat, they cause big issues for IBS sufferers; so much so that there's a brand of salad dressings, sauces and ketchup called Fody that is garlic and onion free. Whole Foods carries it, but it is pretty easy to make your own. You will learn to make ketchup, tomato sauce, and pizza without garlic and discover you can really enjoy these foods. You can learn to make garlic-infused olive oil and in that way you get to enjoy garlic without pain. Also overeating in one sitting and stress adds to the problem.
@martin sounds like your GI gut balance is out of whack. Try incorporating fermented foods in to your daily diet. I make my own milk kefir (I tried water kefir.. my gut didn't like it) yogurt and eat sauerkraut, kimchi etc. to gently get back in to balance. I had a similar bout not too long ago and then read about a salmonella outbreak and recall of red onions.. which I had eaten and used because they were in a Farmers to Families veggie box. Not sure if I had salmonella but I re-hydrated with Biolyte and took a patented marketed probiotic called Theralac as well as eating some the foods above every day. My gut is finally back to normal. I also get out of whack due to auto-immune issues and my gut is the first Slap upside the head when a flare is coming. As others have said.. I am not a dr nor do I play one on TV..I don't even stay in a Holiday Inn ..not last night .. ..last time was back in 2009 when I saw my child graduate Basic Training. LOL I do know that stress exacerbates my GI issues. I have a hiatal hernia - it really bothered me when I was 57 pounds overweight.. it got better when I lost weight. I cut out sodas and things like that and it helped. If I DO indulge in a meal/food that I know will irritate (like 5 alarm chili or spaghetti or fried foods) I sleep in my recliner to keep from waking up with acid reflux burning my esophagus up. I use music through ear phones for healing and relaxation too. YouTube has an abundance of solfeggio tunes you can listen to- you just have to get by the political ads and crap they playing currently. Here is one that I like: https://youtu.be/N3DWp2XI7uE You can look them up and try them. Sending Healing Energy your way.... and prayers you feel better soon.
I'm going to include you in the healing meditation this Wednesday, but I want to also say that Unk-p is right, sodium bicarbonate (I use K-Bicarb capsules too) works wonders. Also charcoal capsules.
For me I had problems with IBC for years and when I started going to a NAET practitioner in my area, she gave me about 8 or 9 sessions (cost me about $550-$600) best money I ever spent. She cleared me of my food sensitivities and my digestive system has never been better. I went to years and years to gastro doctors with no relief. You can google NAET and even find a practitioner in your area if you choose to.
My best to you and healing light too ? ?
@Martin @Laura @unkP @deetoo @lovendures @nelysthealchemist @saibh
Tagging you all because I moved digestive issues to one place because they are becoming a big deal during these times and in case you have more you'd like to post about these issues.
The simplest is often the best so how great that @unk-p and his baking soda brought some relief.
The more we stress the more we create bigger problems with even bigger possible solutions to try.
Meanwhile, we'll all keep you in our thoughts and as a fellow Reiki practitioner sending waves of good ch'i/ki to you and to your wife for both of you through her.
Some things to consider..
A GI doc might want you to have an endoscopy. He might also want to check your gallbladder.
You might want to try the 14 day course of over the counter Omeprazole. I do that from time to time when the GERD/reflux gets out of hand, and it works well.
Make your own plain yogurt from scratch and eat about 1/3 cup each day. My husband has been doing this for years and it has helped him immensely.
I hope this resolves soon. If not and you continue to lose weight, you must see a GI doc.
For anyone with GERD, you may want to consider decolorized Aloe Vera Juice:
https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/aloe-vera-juice-acid-reflux
My father had GERD, but it has completely cleared up since he started drinking about 1/2 oz of aloe juice every morning.