Really BAD GI issues

[dessie111]

Hi Doc,

I am having alot of GI issues that I can not seem to keep under control?  I was going to a nutritionist who said I had leaky gut/candida, and to go on candida diet and avoid the long list of food sensitives that I tested to (this was over a year ago)

Well here I am in the same boat again--I have never actually gotten better, just got restested and now have a slew of new food allergies/sensitivies--I have never had food allergies as a kid--I do not know what is going on with me--also have a really bad case of candida again--

I noticed the last few days too, that my stools are full of mucous--lots of mucous, no blood, just really slimey--my husband saw and said that is not normal--I do not have diarrhea and now I am eating more fruits and beans so not having any more constipation, which was a problem when doing the candida diet?

PLease help me know what direction to go --I am not getting any better and my food allergies/sensitivies are getting worse--I just want to be able to eat normal again--

Now my Doc says that alot of this is caused from chronic dieting and overexercising and my immune system has gotten really weak??  Have you heard of this??

thanks Desiree

[nanasluv]

I was just recently told by a docotr that the weird symptom that I expireince are due to a GI tract issue. I have been dealing with a bad body odor for two years now and edema which I never had before but the docotr says they are 2 seperate issues. She said my edema is related to my weight gain and the body odor is related to a GI tract issue and told me to start probiodics. I was just wondering if you don't mind what your symptoms were to determine it was a GI issue. Thanks in advance for any possible info you could give me. I have never has a GI issue before and just want to make sure I'm going in the right direction with my health. Take care and God bless.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The concept of leaky gut or candida is controversial, with some studies disproving these to be causes of typical abdominal symptoms.

There are a variety of other causes to consider, including, infection, malabsorption, or chronic pancreatitis.

If the symptoms are refractory, a colonoscopy would be a reasonable next step.  I would also obtain blood tests to exclude celiac disease as well as stool tests looking for malabsorption.

Other possibilities can be bacterial overgrowth or lactose intolerance, each of which can be evaluated with breath tests.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd