So I've always had acne since I was a teenager. I first started getting cystic acne when I turned 16. I continued to get cystic acne even after turning 18 so I went to see a doctor and I got prescribed 200mg minocycline for 6 months to control my acne. After stopping Minocycline, I didn’t get that much cystic acne from the age of 19 - 21 even when I was eating unhealthy and rarely washing my face.
But I turned 21, I've developed IBS-C, Gastritis, Acid Reflux, Impacted colon, Redundant colon, Unusually long and floppy colon, Slow colonic transit and Rectal prolapse.
This is what happened to me when I turned 21 in 2012:
End of February:
- Food poisoning from sushi. I bought a takeaway sushi(Salmon roe) that was for sale since the restaurant was about
to close. Two hours later, I started feeling queasy in the stomach and then threw up.
Mid March:
- had an accident at work and caused many damages. I was in extreme stress and anxiety for 30 minutes. I was tensing my stomach really hard in response to the stress.
Before 10th of May:
- drank between 30 ml - 70 ml of 8 month old bottle of unrefrigerated, previously
opened red wine that was stored sideways in a hot room and the liquid was touching the aluminium lid. I realised that the red wine tasted sour like a vinegar and within 5 minutes of drinking it, I started getting intense burning upper abdominal pain which lasted for 10 minutes.
10th of May:
- I started getting abdominal pain after eating baked beans with eggs so I went to the doctor saying that I think I have IBS after telling him that I'm experiencing abdominal pain after eating and constipation and I got prescribed antispasmodic medication(Buscopan Forte) for 3 weeks.
- The medication only temporary treated my abdominal pain during the day and the pain came back as soon as the medication weaned off. While on the medication, I started straining a lot in the toilet in a squatting position due to constipation. And while straining, I felt my lower abdomen physically drop down and at the same time 3 cm of my rectum popped out. It wouldn't go back in so I had to push it back in using my finger. This was when I've developed rectal prolapse.
13th of May:
- After developing rectal prolpapse, all of my symptoms worsened significantly. I started getting severe constipation, tenesmus, mucous discharge and abdominal pain whenever I ate food. I went back to the doctor and I was told to get 3 days worth of stool samples to test for parasites.
9th of June:
- I drank a sip of carbonated drink which caused my lower abdomen to suddenly become bloated like a balloon for 5 minutes. It was extremely painful that I thought my colon was going to explode. But after 5 minutes, the gas escaped somewhere and the inflation subsided. But I'm afraid my lower abdomen might have been damaged from this incident. This could be the cause of my floppy, thin redundant colon.
10th of June:
- The result for the stool sample to test for parasites in stool came back negative. So I had X-ray of my abdomen.
24th of June:
- The X-ray showed that I had impacted colon and I was put on stimulant laxatives(5mg Bisalax).
Until 22nd of August:
- I continued to get constipation without stimulant laxatives and abdominal pain after eating. For the next 2 months, no matter how many times I went to the doctor for my abdominal pain after eating, they continued to just prescribe me stimulant laxatives.
This is how much stimulant laxatives I've taken overall:
Bisalax 5MG (Took a total of 52 tablets):
- 42 tablets within 3 weeks(2 tablets every night) when I was first prescribed
- 10 tablets(1 - 2 tablets at night) occasionally when I became incompetent.
Coloxyl and Sena 8mg Senoside (Took a total of 40 tablets):
- 30 tablets in 2 1/2 weeks(2 tablets every morning and night)
- 10 tablets(2 - 4 tablets a day) used occasionally after been prescribed a second bottle.
22nd of August:
- Got fed up with doctors from the first hospital not doing anything about
my abdominal pain after eating so I went to a different hospital. With the new doctor from the different hospital, I was put on Nexium(PPI) for 8 weeks and Psyllium husk. The PPI finally cured the upper abdominal pain that I've been having shortly after eating solid foods like biscuits. The doctor suspected that I had Gastritis because I was tested negative for Peptic Ulcer via blood test(although it's possible that it was healed by then) and Urea test(breath test) came back negative. I continued to get no bowel movements for up to 3 days or more even with psyllium husk so I had to rely on stimulant laxatives or coffee to get bowel movements. After the second X-ray with the new doctor, it showed that I was starting to get constipation again. When I asked the doctor why, he said that my colon had simply stopped working for some reason.
24th of October:
- Had a Colonoscopy.
November:
- Diagnosed with IBS-C, Redundant colon and Slow Colonic Transit after Colonoscopy. The Gastroenterologist told me that my colon was abnormally long and thin/floppy for my age. He initially thought I had Sigmoid Vulvulus because during the Colonoscopy, my colon had flopped to one side which made it look like it was twisted. He said my colon was similar to that of an elderlies.
- White powder came out of the bottle lid from the Ethical Nutrients IBS Support Probiotic and it was covering the capsules. I didn't realise there was a white powder until I swallowed the capsule with it and gave me an agonising stomach pain:
1. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121112232526AAY781y
2. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2299419
May 2013:
- had defecography which showed no structrual problem with my abodomen other than the rectal prolapse.
- had surgery for rectal prolapse which cured constipation, tenesmus and mucous discharge.
2015 Present symptoms:
- Tenesmus, mucous discharge and difficulty defecating had been cured after Rectal prolapse surgery.
- Post rectal surgery: I often get sharp rectal pain after an intense exercise.
- Post rectal surgery: Whenever I get anxious or stressed, I often feel an uncomfortable tension in my rectum. This is affecting me a lot because I need to have some stress and anxiety in my life. I could ask my surgeon if there's anything he could do but I'm pessimistic about
it.
- I often become bloated after eating foods like onions, dairy, excessive spices etc.
- I don't get constipation anymore, but my stool is often round and hard if I don't eat enough fibre. This is probably due to either my slow transit or redundant colon.
- I rarely burp/belch now even after eating a big meal which could be a sign that there's a problem with my stomach valves.
- I often get Acid reflux after eating a big meal and while exercising.
Looking back, I think the cause of my Gastritis and IBS was from either:
- Food poisoning from takeaway sushi which caused me to vomit 3 months prior to getting IBS symptoms
- Very stressful accident at work which made me tense my stomach really hard for 30 minutes a month prior to getting IBS symproms
- Drinking 8 months old, previously
opened, unrefrigerated red wine that was stored sideways in a hot room and the liquid was touching the aluminium lid. Realising that the red wine tasted like vinegar and within 5 minutes after drinking 30 - 100ml, giving me an intense burning upper abdominal pain for 10 minutes a week prior to getting IBS symptoms
And I think my floppy, thin redundant colon was caused from impacted colon/chronic constipation, drinking old red wine, painful gas inflation or when I developed rectal prolapse while straining in the toilet and resulting in feeling my lower abdomen dropping down.
After developing gut problems, I became concerned about
my general health. So I’ve been tested for thyroid disorder, diabetes, celiac diease, nutrient levels and liver enzymes. Everything was normal except for my ALT levels which were slightly high which I think was due to me drinking too much coffee and feeling nauseous few months prior. Although I seem to have no illnesses, there's a possiblity that I might have prediabetes/hypoglycemia because I oftem feel light-headed/dizzy after eating sugary drinks/foods.
Although I've already had a Colonoscopy, I haven't had an Endoscopy yet. So I don't know if there's any problems with my stomach or my upper G.I. tract. I could get an Endoscopy to see if there's anything wrong with my stomach and what could be causing my Acid reflux. Is it worth having an Endoscopy? Again, I'm pessimistic about
having tests like Endoscopy, because even if they find out that I have damaged stomach vavles, there's not much they're going to do about
it.
One of the main reason why I want to fix my gut health is because my acne has gotten worse significantly ever since I've developed these intestinal conditions.
I've already been the dermatologist and I got prescribed 20mg Accutane for 6 months. But I had to stop taking it after 5 days due to not been able to cope with the severe side effects which were depression, mental fog and fatigue. So I'm now on 100mg Doxycycline which seems to be working. However, I don’t want to rely on it Antibiotics forever(especially since I already have less optimal gut) and it's not tackling the root cause of my acne which is my gut issues.
If anyone has recommendations for things I should do/take to heal my gut such as supplements, probiotics, foods to eat/avoid, medicines, surgery, medical tests etc. I'd greatly appreciate it.
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Full outline of my past health problems: http://goo.gl/FkS4kZ
Original thread when I started getting IBS symptoms: http://goo.gl/ai7yxp
Colonoscopy and CT Scan report: http://goo.gl/prKZnF
Picture of my skin now after developing G.I. issues(it can get a lot worse than this): http://goo.gl/Ubgpz7
Picture of my skin 3 years ago before I had G.I. issues: http://goo.gl/6gfgTb
Blood tests for thyroid disease, nutrient deficiency, diabetes, celiac disease, liver enzymes etc: http://heinstar.imgur.com/all/
Post Edited (Heinstein) : 2/20/2015 9:45:18 AM (GMT-7)