Aa
Please help me feel better?
I'm a 36 year old male. It all started about a month ago. I had some bad cramping and had a hard time having a bowel movement. That only lasted a few days, now I can't stop! I started having diarrhea a few times a day and it turned into every time I eat or drink something. Even water. Sometimes it is dark brown with black specks (sort of like after you press coffee) and sometimes it is green. I don't have any food allergies other than lactose but I try not to include that in my diet. I can't eat much because when I do after a few bites I feel full. About 3 days ago I started feeling nausea that hasn't really subsided. No vomiting. Have a hard time swallowing food down as it feels like it gets stuck in my chest. I have lost weight that is concerning because I don't exercise and I've lost at least 10lbs since last month. In 2015 I weighed 270lbs. I weigh now around 190. I thought it was because I was working labor jobs and I went through fire academy. Now it won't stop. I see the doc in 2 days but does anyone have any idea how I can make this bearable until then? I'm also extremely fatigued. No fevers. Had a scan but nothing. Idk what's going on??
Look into a condition called SMA Syndrome (Superior Mesenteric Artery Compression). It’s a rarely diagnosed Vascular Compression Syndrome where the duodenum gets compressed between the Aorta and the Mesenteric Artery. Here’s some of the symptoms it can cause:
• Feeling full quickly when eating
• Bloating after meals
• Feeling of food being stuck
• Burping (belching)
• Nausea and vomiting of partially digested food or bile-like liquid
• Small bowel obstruction
• Weight loss
• Mid-abdominal "crampy" pain that may be relieved by the prone or knee-chest position or by lying on the left side
Many people that have been diagnosed with SMA Syndrome are also diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome (Renal Vein Compression). Both of these conditions occur at the same location and Nutcracker Syndrome can cause Extreme Fatigue as well. I have a friend that was recently diagnosed with both of these conditions. Most doctors have never heard of these conditions so they are rarely diagnosed but they can cause the problems you’re having. Check out some of these groups on Facebook. There are some very knowledgeable members that can give you some great advice on how to get tested for these Compression Syndromes.
• Feeling full quickly when eating
• Bloating after meals
• Feeling of food being stuck
• Burping (belching)
• Nausea and vomiting of partially digested food or bile-like liquid
• Small bowel obstruction
• Weight loss
• Mid-abdominal "crampy" pain that may be relieved by the prone or knee-chest position or by lying on the left side
Many people that have been diagnosed with SMA Syndrome are also diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome (Renal Vein Compression). Both of these conditions occur at the same location and Nutcracker Syndrome can cause Extreme Fatigue as well. I have a friend that was recently diagnosed with both of these conditions. Most doctors have never heard of these conditions so they are rarely diagnosed but they can cause the problems you’re having. Check out some of these groups on Facebook. There are some very knowledgeable members that can give you some great advice on how to get tested for these Compression Syndromes.
Hello~I am so sorry you are having these horrific symptoms. JohnnyRocket has given some good advice.
What comes to my mind is possible Irritable bowel syndrome, (Also known as "spastic colon") it, too, can cause the symptoms you are having.
People may experience:
Pain areas: in the abdomen
Pain types: can be recurrent in the abdomen
Gastrointestinal: change in bowel habits, constipation, diarrhea, inability to empty bowels, indigestion, nausea, passing excessive amounts of gas, or urgent need to defecate
Abdominal: cramping or discomfort
Also common: anxiety, depression, discomfort, loss of appetite, or symptoms alleviated by defecation
I am glad you are seeing a doctor soon, he/she will be able to rule out any serious issues, as they, too, can cause all the troubles you are having.
As to what to do until you see a doctor:
Since there’s no sure cure for IBS, people develop their own ways of living with the enemy. The key: Don’t become discouraged. Dietary changes and stress-relief tactics should provide a significant dose of relief. For more insurance, combine them with one of the alternative therapies noted below. Once you have a system for controlling your symptoms, IBS will surely put less of a cramp in your style.
Manage your stress
‘ Since stress is one of the factors known to trigger an IBS flare-up, learn to short-circuit it with meditation, yoga, or a simple breathing exercise like this one. Sit comfortably, or lie down. Turn your attention to the air going in and out of your body. When upsetting or anxiety-producing thoughts intrude, focus completely on your breathing. Practice this daily. Then, whenever you feel yourself becoming tense and anxious, use it to calm yourself.
‘ Keep a diary of your IBS symptoms, noting what types of problems you have and how severe they are. In this journal, also jot down any stressful events you face in your day. Occasionally look back at your diary. If you see more IBS symptoms just before airplane flights or meetings with your boss, for instance, there may be a connection. Once you’ve detected situations that seem to trigger IBS symptoms, look for ways’like using the breathing technique above’to cope with them better.
Go easy on your intestines
‘ Minimize fried foods, meats, oils, margarine, dairy foods, and other fatty foods. They cause your colon to contract violently, which can lead to diarrhea and abdominal pain.
‘ Stay away from spicy foods. The capsaicin in hot peppers, for example, makes your large intestine go into spasms, which can cause diarrhea.
‘ Cut down on caffeine. It can worsen IBS by irritating your intestines.
‘ Avoid foods known to cause flatulence, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
‘ Don’t chew gum or candy that contains artificial sweeteners. Among the common sweeteners in these products are sorbitol and mannitol, which can have a laxative effect. They’re very difficult to digest. When bacteria in your colon eventually break down these ‘nonabsorbed sugars,’ you get gas and diarrhea.
‘ Stop smoking. Nicotine contributes to IBS flare-ups. Also, when you smoke, you swallow air, and people with IBS are very sensitive to having air in their gut.
Fit in more fibre
‘ Soluble fibre soaks up liquid in your intestines, helping to prevent diarrhea. Good sources are beans, oatmeal, and some fruits, such as apples, strawberries and grapefruit.
‘ If you can’t seem to get enough soluble fibre in your diet, take a daily supplement of psyllium, the main ingredient in dietary fibre supplements. Unlike chemical laxatives, psyllium is safe to take long-term. Follow the label for dosage directions.
‘ If constipation is your main complaint, fill up on insoluble fibre, found in whole wheat, bran, other whole grains, salad greens, and other foods. Insoluble fiber bulks up stool, which speeds its passage through the intestines.
‘ If you haven’t had much fiber in your diet, increase the amount you eat gradually. Adding too much fibre all at once can actually give you gas and bloating. Start with 8 g of fibre daily’about what you’d find in two pears’and increase by 3 or 4 g each day until you’re up to 30 g daily.
‘ Drink at least six to eight glasses of water each day to keep fiber moving smoothly through your system.
Graze, don’t gorge
‘ Eat smaller meals more frequently rather than a couple of large meals each day. Taking in too much food at once can overstimulate your digestive system.
‘ If you usually bolt down your meals, go more slowly and pay more attention to chewing your food. Fast eaters often swallow too much air, which turns into bothersome intestinal gas.
Eat yogurt
‘ Having diarrhea can drain away good bacteria that help prevent harmful bacteria from growing out of control. When you’re having IBS-related diarrhea, eat plenty of yogurt containing active bacteria, such as acidophilus. Or take supplements of acidophilus. The usual daily dosage is one pill containing 1 to 2 billion live organisms. Take it on an empty stomach.
Drink tea
‘ Every day, drink a cup or two of peppermint tea, which relaxes your intestines, reduces spasms, and relieves gas pain. Make sure to buy the kind that contains real peppermint, rather than black tea with peppermint flavoring. Alternatively, you can take enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules. The coating ensures that the oil reaches the intestine instead of breaking down in the stomach. Take one or two capsules three times a day, between meals.
‘ Drink ginger tea. Ginger soothes all manner of digestive problems, including IBS. For the freshest tea, grate a half-teaspoon of ginger into a cup, then pour in hot water, let it steep for 10 minutes, strain out the ginger, and drink the tea. Ginger tea bags are also available. Drink four to six cups a day.
Get some exercise
‘ Whenever possible, get at least 30 minutes of noncompetitive exercise such as walking. Exercise helps relieve stress, releases natural painkilling endorphins, and keeps your body’including your digestive system’working smoothly
I hope you get the help you need soon and start to feel better. God bless you.
What comes to my mind is possible Irritable bowel syndrome, (Also known as "spastic colon") it, too, can cause the symptoms you are having.
People may experience:
Pain areas: in the abdomen
Pain types: can be recurrent in the abdomen
Gastrointestinal: change in bowel habits, constipation, diarrhea, inability to empty bowels, indigestion, nausea, passing excessive amounts of gas, or urgent need to defecate
Abdominal: cramping or discomfort
Also common: anxiety, depression, discomfort, loss of appetite, or symptoms alleviated by defecation
I am glad you are seeing a doctor soon, he/she will be able to rule out any serious issues, as they, too, can cause all the troubles you are having.
As to what to do until you see a doctor:
Since there’s no sure cure for IBS, people develop their own ways of living with the enemy. The key: Don’t become discouraged. Dietary changes and stress-relief tactics should provide a significant dose of relief. For more insurance, combine them with one of the alternative therapies noted below. Once you have a system for controlling your symptoms, IBS will surely put less of a cramp in your style.
Manage your stress
‘ Since stress is one of the factors known to trigger an IBS flare-up, learn to short-circuit it with meditation, yoga, or a simple breathing exercise like this one. Sit comfortably, or lie down. Turn your attention to the air going in and out of your body. When upsetting or anxiety-producing thoughts intrude, focus completely on your breathing. Practice this daily. Then, whenever you feel yourself becoming tense and anxious, use it to calm yourself.
‘ Keep a diary of your IBS symptoms, noting what types of problems you have and how severe they are. In this journal, also jot down any stressful events you face in your day. Occasionally look back at your diary. If you see more IBS symptoms just before airplane flights or meetings with your boss, for instance, there may be a connection. Once you’ve detected situations that seem to trigger IBS symptoms, look for ways’like using the breathing technique above’to cope with them better.
Go easy on your intestines
‘ Minimize fried foods, meats, oils, margarine, dairy foods, and other fatty foods. They cause your colon to contract violently, which can lead to diarrhea and abdominal pain.
‘ Stay away from spicy foods. The capsaicin in hot peppers, for example, makes your large intestine go into spasms, which can cause diarrhea.
‘ Cut down on caffeine. It can worsen IBS by irritating your intestines.
‘ Avoid foods known to cause flatulence, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
‘ Don’t chew gum or candy that contains artificial sweeteners. Among the common sweeteners in these products are sorbitol and mannitol, which can have a laxative effect. They’re very difficult to digest. When bacteria in your colon eventually break down these ‘nonabsorbed sugars,’ you get gas and diarrhea.
‘ Stop smoking. Nicotine contributes to IBS flare-ups. Also, when you smoke, you swallow air, and people with IBS are very sensitive to having air in their gut.
Fit in more fibre
‘ Soluble fibre soaks up liquid in your intestines, helping to prevent diarrhea. Good sources are beans, oatmeal, and some fruits, such as apples, strawberries and grapefruit.
‘ If you can’t seem to get enough soluble fibre in your diet, take a daily supplement of psyllium, the main ingredient in dietary fibre supplements. Unlike chemical laxatives, psyllium is safe to take long-term. Follow the label for dosage directions.
‘ If constipation is your main complaint, fill up on insoluble fibre, found in whole wheat, bran, other whole grains, salad greens, and other foods. Insoluble fiber bulks up stool, which speeds its passage through the intestines.
‘ If you haven’t had much fiber in your diet, increase the amount you eat gradually. Adding too much fibre all at once can actually give you gas and bloating. Start with 8 g of fibre daily’about what you’d find in two pears’and increase by 3 or 4 g each day until you’re up to 30 g daily.
‘ Drink at least six to eight glasses of water each day to keep fiber moving smoothly through your system.
Graze, don’t gorge
‘ Eat smaller meals more frequently rather than a couple of large meals each day. Taking in too much food at once can overstimulate your digestive system.
‘ If you usually bolt down your meals, go more slowly and pay more attention to chewing your food. Fast eaters often swallow too much air, which turns into bothersome intestinal gas.
Eat yogurt
‘ Having diarrhea can drain away good bacteria that help prevent harmful bacteria from growing out of control. When you’re having IBS-related diarrhea, eat plenty of yogurt containing active bacteria, such as acidophilus. Or take supplements of acidophilus. The usual daily dosage is one pill containing 1 to 2 billion live organisms. Take it on an empty stomach.
Drink tea
‘ Every day, drink a cup or two of peppermint tea, which relaxes your intestines, reduces spasms, and relieves gas pain. Make sure to buy the kind that contains real peppermint, rather than black tea with peppermint flavoring. Alternatively, you can take enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules. The coating ensures that the oil reaches the intestine instead of breaking down in the stomach. Take one or two capsules three times a day, between meals.
‘ Drink ginger tea. Ginger soothes all manner of digestive problems, including IBS. For the freshest tea, grate a half-teaspoon of ginger into a cup, then pour in hot water, let it steep for 10 minutes, strain out the ginger, and drink the tea. Ginger tea bags are also available. Drink four to six cups a day.
Get some exercise
‘ Whenever possible, get at least 30 minutes of noncompetitive exercise such as walking. Exercise helps relieve stress, releases natural painkilling endorphins, and keeps your body’including your digestive system’working smoothly
I hope you get the help you need soon and start to feel better. God bless you.
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