Posted 6/29/2017 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I am a 24 yr old, average weight female with no pre-existing medical conditions or outstanding medical history. Throughout my lifetime I have experienced frequent constipation (which has been manageable with water, diet, and occasional laxatives). So I have a BM almost everyday, sometimes may skip a day. Also have a history of mild depression/anxiety.
Short version-
Symptoms: constipation, severe and persistent bloating/abdominal distension since April 2016, appetite loss leading to unintentional weight loss (lost nearly 15 lbs in one year; 10 in 6 mos), occasional abdominal cramping, diagnosis of SIBO in Nov 2016
Overview of tests & results:
abdominal ultrasound - normal
sitz marker test - normal but patterns were consistent with constipation
thyroid - normal
anemia - normal
celiac - normal
stool test - gluten sensitivity
breath test - small intestine bacterial overgrowth
Current treatment plan: right now I am on a gluten free diet since November 2016 and low FodMap, with occasional "cheating" when going out/holidays.
Current recommended treatment plan:
GI doc says: Amitiza and Mirlax daily; colonoscopy in a month d/t weight loss concern
Functional Med says: Allimax - garlic supplement.
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Since April 2016, I have been experiencing persistent bloating/abdominal distension. I wake up with the bloat everyday, and experience it all day throughout the day. I have not seen my normal belly since April 2016. During this time I was having a BM 5-6 times/week. Even if I have a complete BM, the bloat remains. It looks look I am pregnant, and it is my entire abdomen.
November 2016 - diagnosed with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) - methane based after taking a breath test. I took three rounds of Rifamaxin, but symptoms remained. I also take Betaine HCL before all my meals, have tried Iberogast (a natural motility agent), and Mg Calm as needed. I have been on a gluten-free diet and low FodMAP diet since November with occasional "cheating" when going out/holidays. April - November I was taking a probiotic, but it really didn't seem to have any impact, so I stopped.
Since April I have seen my GP, 4 GI doctors, and 1 functional medicine doctor. None of them have really collaborated with each other. But they all seem to give me different recommendations that are not helping me. It's been over a year, and I am having the same problem every single day, only it's getting worse. I have unintentionally lost almost 15 pound because my stomach feels full and bloating just after 1 small meal. In the past six months alone, I lost almost 10 pounds.
I went back to the first GI doctor I saw and he wants me to take Amitiza and Miralax everyday. He also scheduled me for a colonoscopy. He's not sure if the procedure will find anything but the only reason he's doing it is because of the significant weight loss. My functional medicine doctor wants me to take Allimax which is not an Rx drug, it's a garlic based herbal supplement.
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Has anyone experienced anything similar or has any input on any of the drugs/supplements mentioned in this post? Please any sight would be helpful. I'm very frustrated with the medical field that they have not been able to effectively provide with a proper treatment plan because all their recommendations thus far have been ineffective. It's awful that I am in the same place as I was 15 months ago, actually in a worse spot. It doesn't matter what I eat. Even if I eat a serving of carrots, my stomach feels full and can sometimes cramp. I don't know what to do anymore.