sick since food poisoning

[minnesotan]

I got food poisoning over 5 years ago. My body changed within a month of the episode. I am now 33 years old.Symptoms are: constant bloated feeling in lower abdominal area (like my intestines were going to burst), weight gain, lethargy, depression, vertigo and fainting ( a few times each), panic attacks (2), acne, worsening hormonal imbalances (that I already had from my teens), hands and legs falling asleep, "full" feeling along sides of back and waist, brain fog, and I suppose I could go on and on. I have spent well over $50,000 on doctors, most tests being "normal", except for hormonal imbalances. I don't want to manipulate my hormones medically anymore. I now do regular chiropractic and acupuncture, because I am frustrated with most doctors, and I can't afford it anymore ( I am a flight attendant). So, I am wondering what people think - if anyone has had similar symptoms. As a Christian, I pretty much just try to be positive and focus on the joys and ignore my physical "uncomfortableness". I just started taking vitamin D - maybe that will help!  I welcome any feedback.

[minnesotan]

Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your response. After reading stories like yours, and of course knowing what some of the rest of the world has to suffer, I know my issues don't really compare. BUT, it's frustrating! I have not read the article that you mention, but I'll find it and read it. Today when I went to my acupuncturist, who always says that I am getting better each time ( I just can't notice the changes yet), he took some of my hair to do a toxicology test for nutritional deficiencies and heavy metal toxicities. My new theory is that maybe since my intestines were so disrupted, I'm not getting what I should get, or maybe the bad things are finding their way to where they shouldn't be. Back to your question though... At the time that it happened I didn't know that it was food poisoning- since I'd never had it before. I felt ill after eating french fries (as did the person I was with), and I felt like my stomach was churning. When I woke up the next morning I felt fine, but within a few weeks my stomach was distended, I had an achy fullness along the sides of my back and waist, and was very fatigued. Parasite tests have been negative, but maybe I do have some sort of parasite, or candida. My acupuncturist doesn't think so. As to your story, have you been feeling better since November? I had been taking tons of supplements, but my acupuncturist told me that I was just managing the symptoms doing that, and not correcting my body, which theoretically is what acupuncture is supposed to be able to do. I don't know what to think or believe - it's very frustrating and time-consuming to deal with chronic illness! I pray every night to be delivered from my health problems. I'll pray for you as well.

[rebecca1176]

Welcome to my crazy world...well, I guess it's vise versa since you got sick 5 years ago...mine was 1 year ago.  

One question I have is were you put on anything for the food poisoning?  Antibiotics?

I was severly sick vomitting for 5 days before I was hospitalized...it took the hospital another 5 days to figure out it was food poisoning and they put me on a potent antibiotic with known long term side affects.  

My residual symptoms of the food poisoning are more "neurological".  As I type, I can't raise my arms or walk well.  Dr.s are baffled.  I did see a dr who specializes in allergies. Not only did he find out I'm allergic to dairy, eggs, beef, and pork..but numerous other imbalances (hormones) , deficiencies, and a candida growth in my gut.  

We've pretty much come to the conclusion I have a very weak immune system. I'm hypersensitive.  I've been on a dozen supplements/prescriptions to balance my insides since November.  Now, I'm rambling....

BTW have you read the recent article about long term problems with food poisoning?  Try googling it...abcnews has the article.

Take care

[minnesotan]

Thanks for your comments soonerman and medicmommy. I have done all that you've recommended. I've seen gastros, endocrinologists, naturopaths, homeopaths, internists, osteopaths,urgent care docs, ENT's, allergists, and many more that I can't remember. As a flight attendant, I've even flown to see the top docs. I guess the theory is that the food poisoning disrupted my intestinal tract, and I got leaky gut syndrome and with that bacterial imbalances, and started absorbing things I shouldn't and not absorbing things that I should. I've taken lots of things over the years that haven't helped, spending thousands on supplements. Tests haven't revealed anything either, except that for a short time I had a citrobacter freundi infection and leaky gut syndrome. I had a Spectra cell test to see what I was deficient in, and nothing major came out of that. Parasites are a possibility, but testing was negative also. I hope that I am getting better slowly. I trust my acupuncturist, who says that I had just been treating symptoms with all the supplements and that I have to get my whole body stronger so that it can heal itself. The positive thing that I've noticed so far is that the white spots on my fingernails are disappearing, so I'm hoping that my absorbtion of nutrients is improving, and that I will get better. Sorry for this long message. If anyone knows of something specific that I could be going through (my major symptom is lower abdominal distention, and hormonal imbalances), please let me know!  Thanks everyone.

[Soonerman]

Agree with medicmommy, especially on the probiotic.  If it is a disturbance in the bacteria in your gut, a good probiotic could help re-establish normality and promote good digestion/absorption of nutrients/minerals/vitamins.  

[medicmommy]

Hello!
I've known several people with different kinds of food poisoning...The thing they all had in common was lasting gut problems...If you got gastroenteritis (inflammation of the GI tract) chances are you have some scarring and bacterial flora imbalances...With the scarring can come malabsorption troubles which result in B vitamin and mineral deficiencies...Do you have a good naturopath in your area?
He/she will be able to help a bit more than I can...For now, try taking a quality B complex vitamin, using enzymes (acidophilus, lactobacillus, etc) when you eat and cutting out as much white sugar and white flour foodstuffs as you can...If this is the cause of your problems, you may find many other health problems may disappear..Good luck...