Finally...a good diagnosis...
Aug. 11th, 2018 11:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatAfter years of suffering from various symptoms listed below to the point in which I thought I was losing my mind, I finally got a proper diagnosis and treatment.
1. IBS - constipation, severe gas pains, diarrea, bloating, gastric reflex, heartburn
2. bouts of depression and anxiety...to the point in which I thought I was losing my mind and my nerves were shot.
3. Insane cravings for sugar and sweets. I was binge eating the weirdest things, like marshmellow covered chocolate bars, I'd have just one and immediately need another, and another, and another.. anything sweet. Gained 60 pounds back. I'd go off, but it had to be going off "all" sugar including fruit to kill the cravings, lose all the weight but get depressed and anxious, and eat too many nuts and still feel sick.
4. Brain fog -- inability to focus on anything for any period of time
At work, ran into a co-worker who was experiencing similar symptoms and she found a gastroenterologist who discovered that she had an overgrowth of bacteria and got it treated by antibiotics, and immediately felt better.
So...I hunted for a good gastroenterologist and went through a series of tests, and got a round of antibiotics, and...within two-three weeks:
* the bouts of depression and anxiety went away like magic, along with the rage
* the severe gas pains went away, the constipation lessened, the IBS improved. No longer have gastric reflux with every meal, bloating went away
* brain fog disappeared
* no longer crave sweets. I used to crave ice cream, now have no interest. I used to want more than one piece of chocolate, now one is more than enough. I'm not binging any longer. And couldn't watch Great British Bake Off without wanting everything on it. Now, no interest. I can watch a cake being made and not compulsively crave it.
What was it? Bacterial Over-Growth in the Small Intestine, which is usually diagnosed by a breath analyzer test, which isn't always accurate.
We skipped the breath test and just went with the antibiotics for 14 days, using a generic version of Rifzsimin or Xifaxan.
Here's the most accurate and reliable site that I was able to find on the topic: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth from Emedicine
* WebMd is made up of doctors and has strict advertising guidelines.
Anyhow, for the first time in a long time, I feel like myself again. Still having some gas issues but nothing like before.
In tandem with this approach, I purchased for $199 a subscription to the Headspace Mindfulness Meditation App, and after doing various guided meditations on it, my anxiety has been substantially reduced, depression gone away, I've been sleeping better, I'm calmer, and my mind is less prone to ranting.
In addition -- I have stopped reading the news or watching it, I look at it enough to know what is happening, but do not focus too much attention on it. This too has greatly reduced my anxiety and improved my mood.
The world is insane, I'm learning not to let it inside my head. I can control that.
I'm sharing this information in the hopes that it helps others out there who may or are suffering from the same issues.
1. IBS - constipation, severe gas pains, diarrea, bloating, gastric reflex, heartburn
2. bouts of depression and anxiety...to the point in which I thought I was losing my mind and my nerves were shot.
3. Insane cravings for sugar and sweets. I was binge eating the weirdest things, like marshmellow covered chocolate bars, I'd have just one and immediately need another, and another, and another.. anything sweet. Gained 60 pounds back. I'd go off, but it had to be going off "all" sugar including fruit to kill the cravings, lose all the weight but get depressed and anxious, and eat too many nuts and still feel sick.
4. Brain fog -- inability to focus on anything for any period of time
At work, ran into a co-worker who was experiencing similar symptoms and she found a gastroenterologist who discovered that she had an overgrowth of bacteria and got it treated by antibiotics, and immediately felt better.
So...I hunted for a good gastroenterologist and went through a series of tests, and got a round of antibiotics, and...within two-three weeks:
* the bouts of depression and anxiety went away like magic, along with the rage
* the severe gas pains went away, the constipation lessened, the IBS improved. No longer have gastric reflux with every meal, bloating went away
* brain fog disappeared
* no longer crave sweets. I used to crave ice cream, now have no interest. I used to want more than one piece of chocolate, now one is more than enough. I'm not binging any longer. And couldn't watch Great British Bake Off without wanting everything on it. Now, no interest. I can watch a cake being made and not compulsively crave it.
What was it? Bacterial Over-Growth in the Small Intestine, which is usually diagnosed by a breath analyzer test, which isn't always accurate.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): In patients with SIBO, large numbers of gas-producing bacteria (normally present in the colon) are present in the small intestine. The abundant bacteria in the small intestine compete with the small intestine for the digestion of sugars and carbohydrates, but unlike the small intestine, the bacteria produce large amounts of gas.
We skipped the breath test and just went with the antibiotics for 14 days, using a generic version of Rifzsimin or Xifaxan.
Rifaximin like neomycin is not absorbed from the intestine, and, therefore, acts only within the intestine. Because very little rifaximin is absorbed into the body, it has few important side effects. Higher than normal doses of rifaximin (1,200 mg/day for seven days) were superior to the standard lower doses (800 or 400 mg/day) in normalizing the hydrogen breath test in patients with SIBO and IBS. However, it is not yet known whether the larger dose is any better at suppressing symptoms.
Here's the most accurate and reliable site that I was able to find on the topic: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth from Emedicine
eMedicineHealth.com - Owned and Operated by WebMD and part of the WebMD Network.
eMedicineHealth.com is a consumer health information site that was launched in May 2003 by the doctors of eMedicine.com (now Medscape Reference). eMedicineHealth.com was acquired by WebMD in 2006. The site contains over 900 health and medical articles with a focus on emergency medicine, written by physicians for patients and consumers.
* WebMd is made up of doctors and has strict advertising guidelines.
Anyhow, for the first time in a long time, I feel like myself again. Still having some gas issues but nothing like before.
In tandem with this approach, I purchased for $199 a subscription to the Headspace Mindfulness Meditation App, and after doing various guided meditations on it, my anxiety has been substantially reduced, depression gone away, I've been sleeping better, I'm calmer, and my mind is less prone to ranting.
In addition -- I have stopped reading the news or watching it, I look at it enough to know what is happening, but do not focus too much attention on it. This too has greatly reduced my anxiety and improved my mood.
The world is insane, I'm learning not to let it inside my head. I can control that.
I'm sharing this information in the hopes that it helps others out there who may or are suffering from the same issues.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-11 07:26 pm (UTC)If you don't mind, I'd like to ask the name of your gastroenterologist. My wife is having problems in that area, and your doctor sounds like he (or she) can provide a solid diagnosis.
See u next week for Spike Lee?
no subject
Date: 2018-08-11 11:09 pm (UTC)Also next Sat for Spike Lee or Friday night? Let me know which. It's playing at both Cobble Hill and I think UA Court Theaters.
Hope so too, still a little on the gassy side. But I'm so much better. Night and day.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-11 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-08-11 11:14 pm (UTC)The naturpaths and holistic community sucks at research. It's not how they think. They tend to scoff at analysis and established scientific method. Going by their own intutition and experiences solely. I want to kick them. A lot of them came into the field by the back door, and really don't have much education in research.
The traditional medical doctors aren't much better -- they tend to be go with a quick diagnosis and don't think it through. Also you really have to see a specialist. Primary care doctors are for the most part useless. I'm hunting for a good one and striking out.