Undiagnosed GI Issues

[mrbusy]

For about 9 months I have been experiancing very frustrating symtoms. It all stared during a sinus infection. For the first week or so, it was just your average sinus infection and then I started experiencing serious digestive issues along the lines of multiple consecutive bouts of urgent diarrhea. The sinus symtoms cleared in about 10 without antibiotics, but the digestive symtoms have remained.

The "triggers" seem to include sugar, alcohol, and possibly dairy. When I avoid those, I am able to keep the symtoms to a livable level, but even if I avoid those all religiously I still have good days and bad days.

When I consume sugar my tongue also gets a white coating towards the back/middle. This disappears after a few days of avoiding sugar. I do not have any pain. Only bowel discofort and feeling of needing to have a bowel movement.

I have had all the run-of-the-mill blood tests and everything appears normal with the exception of a very slightly elevated bilirubin level. Single stool analysis turned up nothing as well. I have an appointment with a GI on Wednesday after waiting for months. What else could this be? SIBO, PI-IBS, bacterial infection, parasite?

I just don't buy that it is IBS and just happened to start on a dime during a sinus infection.

Symtoms:

Diarrhea
Soft/Loose stools
Bowel discomfort
Occasional urgency
Occasional mucus in stool
Very small transparant almost invisible worm like particles in stool (mucus?)

Weight loss

White tongue - (Directly linked to sugar consumption)
Post nasal drip/Mucus in throat/Throat irritation

Acne - (Directly linked to severity of GI symptoms)

[mrbusy]

I guess I just have to push for as many tests as possible. I find it really had to believe it's something extremely serious because that would reflect in blood tests. But at the same time, I really don't think it's IBS with all of the other symtoms, the fact that it started during a sinus infection, and the fact that I have no pain.

[ReaLifEntreprenuer]

PS: The reason I ask about liver issues is because your bilburin is almost ALWAYS raised due to liver damage (whether past or present) and you can have liver damage without your LFT's showing up badly and without any other signs. The only true way to verify your liver hasn't sustained any light damage is through a couple different methods from Ultra-Sound, Biopsy, Palpating after drinking alcohol or something else that would put any type of stress on your liver and feel for nodes or slight inflammation deep under ribs. You never 'feel' liver problems either until the VERY VERY late stages of damage. That is why they call it a 'silent' killer. (I HIGHLY doubt it is your liver) but I never rule out all possibilities. :) And I'm sure if it was your liver or potential to BE your liver, when your Bilburin levels were elevated and if the Dr. even SLIGHTLY suspected the possibility you would have already had the above tests done.

[ReaLifEntreprenuer]

Yes. Strep can enter the bloodstream and spread anywhere throughout the entire body.

Yellowish nasal discharge minus congestion can occur from many different things as simple as slight water behind your ear drum creating inflammation thus creating discharge, and ALL without any 'real' symptoms. You can also get the discharge with no congestion due to strep throat.

Once again, there are a lot of possible factors. But, considering that your stool bounces between diarrhea and 'soft fluffy' there is a GREAT chance that it is nothing major whatsoever. And if it IS something major by some off the wall odd chance, there is an even GREATER chance that you would be in such an early stage of it that it would be as easy to treat as a simple cold would :)

[mrbusy]

I have not been tested for strep, so that is something I will ask about in my appointment. I have had some throat issues such as white/yellow post nasal drainage present without any congestion.

I am not dehydrated. Sometimes the mucus in my throat causes irritation that I deal with by increasing my water intake, but urine is always nice and clear and no other telltale signs of dehydration.

A had blood tests to check thyroid in September and it was within normal range.

I'm in college so my liver has taken a bit of a beating but not like it did a couple years ago, and not bad enough that I would think any real damage was caused.

Could strep have been the cause of the sinus infection and then spread down into my GI tract?

[ReaLifEntreprenuer]

This may sound VERY off topic, but have you been tested for Strep during your bout with the Sinus issues? Explained: Strep is a VERY nasty bacterial infection that can spread to other stronger areas of the body if not treated immediately. Furthermore, a high percentage of people who get strep don't necessarily feel it in their throat and often times have NO symptoms at all until it has already spread.

I personally ended up with PeriCarditis (a very severe and scare inflammation of the lining around the heart) that mimmicked a heart attack and constricted heart flow. This was due to strep spreading and attaching to my heart.

Next- Are you dehydrated, and have you been tested for Celiacs desease?
Celiacs disease is an odd desease that has a lot of the same things you are talking about when someone is born with, or develops, and allergic reaction to Gluten. This can be with you from birth or show up spontaneously.

Next- Thyroid issues can very well also cause those particular issues, escpecially the raised Bilburin levels.

Next- Have you ever had a period of excessive drinking or done anything that could have damaged your liver in the past?