To be at the end of my tether with these health problems

[Timetochangeit]

I'm in my late 20s, fit and healthy with two DCs aged 3 and 10 months, currently breastfeeding

About 2 months ago out of the blue got a sudden outbreak of 25+ painful mouth ulcers, could barely eat and lost half a stone in a week.

GP prescribed steroids which cleared them but since then I constantly have at least 10 at once. GP ordered blood tests which came back normal.

GP was stumped but prescribed Aciclovir (antivirals) for 5 days. On starting the tablets started with really bad digestive symptoms - diarrhoea 10+ times a day, assumed it was a side effect of the tablets.

Have now finished the tablets, which cleared up the ulcers, but still left with the same tummy issues.

I'm so fed up of being poorly now and have no idea what's causing it. I can't really afford to be feeling poorly as I have the kids to look after and don't want to lose any more weight.

Any thoughts appreciated

That sounds awful. Not sure about the ulcers but aciclovir does cause loose stools. How long since you've been off them?

I would ask your Dr for a copy of the blood results if you can. Mouth ulcers can be a symptom of low B12. The 'normal' lower level in the UK is much lower than in other countries so it could well be this. Have you had any symptoms?

It sounds like the diarrhoea is a side effect of the tablets so hopefully this will clear up soon. When did you finish the course?

You may have developed an inflammatory bowel condition and could be just really rundown (even though your bloods were okay). Has the GP considered Crohn's or Bechet's syndrome?

Someone l knew had these. And it was wheat allergy.

Thanks everyone.

Finished the tablets yesterday evening so was expecting the tummy symptoms to at least have improved by now if they were a side effect.

I did check with the GP re the B12 levels as someone else mentioned that to me too but they said I wasn't even close to the borderline.

Mouth ulcers are one of my ds lupus symptoms.
Good luck getting it resolved.

I would also ask for a copy of the blood results.

Lupus was my first thought too.

I am prone to mouth ulcers for various reasons and had an awful flare up when I took an anti inflammatory as a teen, my GP had to take me off the meds but they cleared up very quickly once I stopped the meds.

If your bowels don't improve soon go back to your GP. They may need to consider inflammatory bowel disease.

May also be worth trying a probiotic - I take sulfasalazine for psoriatic arthritis and GP recommended this as sulfasalazine can cause nausea and loose stools.

When my cousin had this it was Crohns. Exactly the same as you describe, mouth ulcers, weight loss, stomach problems, then leg ulcers. It was a sudden onset as an adult out of the blue having never had any issues. You need a blood test to determine it, for a long time they dithered about Crohns vs colitis vs wheat allergy but settled on Crohns after a blood test. She eats a completely gluten free diet now which seems to help (brings her own utensils and food to a dinner party, that's how gluten free she is!)

it does sound like a digestive system issue - ulcers in the mouth as ultimately at the opening of the digestive tract. Did they also check for coeliac disease?