Stomach bug has broken my digestion!

[samsonagonistes]

I had a stomach bug about three and a half weeks ago - as did DH - after having a takeaway. It didn't seem that bad at the time, but I'm still not fully recovered. I'm fine as long as I eat bland foods, but anything spicy or fatty and possibly also milky sets me off, and I get huge amounts of gas which gives me stomach aches that keep me awake at night. I'm taking a ton of probiotics, and that has helped a bit, but it's still not gone.

I am going to go to the doctors, but is there anything else I can do in the meantime?

[CharlotteInBlue]

I have exactly the same thing and googling right now to try and see what I can do!

I think my was due to norovirus which I had a month ago only for it to keep recurring. Not only do I get stomach aches, nausea, wind, but I also get the dizziness that I had with the norovirus. It is driving me mad.

I did think about going to the doctors too but not sure what he can do. I started probiotics again this morning in tablet form and need to cut out milk again. Hopefully somebody else will have an idea as there is nothing on Dr Google!

[samsonagonistes]

How peculiar, maybe it is some new bug that is going the rounds.

I've been taking super-strength probiotics and kefir, and everything gets better and then if I eat anything not bland, it all sets off again. Driving me mad too. I think you can get IBS as an after-shock from having a bug, but I don't want to believe that as that might mean it will go on for ages.

[samsonagonistes]

I've just spoken to one of the practice nurses and they have said it is most likely the stomach still recovering, but they want a sample from me (oh joy) just in case the infection is still there, and to come back if it's not sorted out in a couple of weeks.

[CharlotteInBlue]

What is kefir? I will ring the GP if it carries on but just started on probiotics again so will give it time. I had started drinking wine last weekend which might have started it all off. Now you have mentioned it, it does seem a bit like IBS symptoms but with mild dizziness that I first had with the virus a month ago. It is beginning to get me down as I have less energy too, I feel post-viral.

[samsonagonistes]

It really does sound like the same thing, doesn't it. I wonder about the wine too, I drank some at the weekend and it wasn't happy.

Kefir is a kind of yoghurty like fermented stuff but with way more good bugs than any yoghurt. Ocado sell it, as does my local health food shop.

And yes, I'm short on energy too and my muscles ache. I've also got some digestive enzymes to see if that makes my stomach a bit happier as well.

[CharlotteInBlue]

It does sound the same, perhaps yours wasn't due to the take-away but a virus. I emailed my GP a month ago as I wanted advice but not to infect others in the waiting room and he told me to just let it run its course as it was viral. My DS and DH got it too but not as badly as I did. Yesterday and today I have no energy or motivation to do anything, just watching TV. I wish there was more I could do but perhaps I need to eat bland stuff and no alcohol!

[samsonagonistes]

That might well be it - there's been a lot of it going around at school, although by some miracle DD doesn't seem to have had it!

[CharlotteInBlue]

Sams - just wondered if you were feeling better. I have had a real relapse after last weekend of drinking Prosecco and eating two meals with creamy sauce, feel very uncomfortable and fed up. Presumably my symptoms now are IBS, really horrible, I'm unable to digest most meals since then, feel bloated and full. I had finished probiotics 10 days ago so I have started them again today.

[getinthesea]

Oh poor you (me here with a name change).

Mine is actually a lot better, to the extent that I have tested it with some yoghurt for breakfast, so I will report back on this later.

I think the probiotics helped quite a lot, but the big difference has I think been made by a strange German herbal concoction called Iberogast. I saw this mentioned in a newspaper article as a herbal remedy that actually works, and got it from eBay. I've been taking it for five days, and my stomach is a lot better, which is a big relief because I am taking it to Glastonbury next week. Along with the Iberogast.

I read an interesting article though, which said that this kind of post-viral IBS is often triggered not just by a bug, but by getting it at a stressful time. This is definitely true for me, as my mother died only a few months ago, so I don't know if this resonates with you too.

[CharlotteInBlue]

Thanks for posting! I had stopped the probiotics 2 weeks ago thinking I would be ok now but it was obviously too soon to stop. Then I had half a bottle of Prosecco on Saturday night plus rich creamy sauces for 2 days. I think I should have avoided all milky products like you did. I really feel bad today, bloated, mild stomachache, no appetite, feeling full. I need to go back to square one and will look at your herbal tonic you suggest. Thanks!

[CharlotteInBlue]

oh yes, enjoy Glastonbury

[OnlyLovers]

Not necessarily a cure but might help the discomfort: have you tried the super-concentrated peppermint oil capsules you get? I can't remember what it's called but the pack says it's for IBS, but my pharmacist told me it was good for general digestive issues. I went to see them when I had what I think was a stomach virus (temperature, painful stomach, slightly upset digestion) and it worked wonders.

[CharlotteInBlue]

Sorry about your mum, I went through that 12 years ago and it is horrible. I might well have been stressed when I first got the stomach virus, but the more I have symptoms, the more stressed it has made me, today it is classic. I feel ok in myself but my digestive system is really broken - just like you said in your first post. I can't eat much today at all.

[OliviaBenson]

I had this after horrible food poisoning on holiday. It's taken me a good year to be close to normal, but I do think I'm more susceptible now as a result. Do get samples etc checked.

I feel your pain!

[CharlotteInBlue]

Great idea Onlylovers about Peppermint. I have just cut some mint in the garden and am brewing some tea right now, thank you!

[CharlotteInBlue]

OliviaBenson, yes I need to take some specimens as it is too long now, it has been going since end of March and has kept returning.

[OnlyLovers]

Mmm, fresh mint tea!

The peppermint capsules are not to be enjoyed in a brew unfortunately, but I really did find they made me feel better.

[Dowser]

You can buy peppermint essential oil and one drop in warm or cool water is very effective for gas and bloating.

It's quite portable too and economical. I also take colpermin when needed.

Samson have you tried making your own kefir and sauerkraut. I took some of my own kefir to my doc and she said it was really good stuff. She used HK to test it. I prefer my own Pepperkraut. Don't go by the name it probably means pepper cabbage. I make my own Pepperkraut with red, green and orange peppers. It's a much sweeter taste than sauerkraut. Google Donna Schwenk. It's much much cheaper than buying probiotics. I take some every day. You get different strains from sauerkraut . Also look at kombucha. Again different strains. I gave up sugar 8 weeks ago. Now I'm not feeding the bad bacteria I think that helps.

I also use homeopathy which is amazing.

The lady whose mum died , you may need some ignatia. A very good grief remedy.

I took 3 strong doses after my ex husband died and it worked like a charm. Cleared my whole system out and cleared a dreadful headache into the bargain.

Going to look at iberoblast. Haven't heard of that one. I do take bio triphahala from organic india. That's amazing stuff too.

Maybe you could do a parasite cleanse from harmonikireland as well.

[Dowser]

If you don't know anyone with any kefir grains to give you , there's a kefir grain company you can order from.

[CharlotteInBlue]

Getinthesea - just starting taking Iberogast, will let you know how I get on but interestingly I am in Switzerland at the moment and it is exactly what they recommend for IBS in the chemist here. She said it is excellent!

[getinthesea]

Yes, do let me know how it goes. I've run out - waiting for another delivery today or tomorrow - and things are definitely not as good without it!

[Dowser]

I'll have to try it.