gastro issues/lupus (from AubreyBear)

Hi Guys - Quick update here...

I did a LOT of time researching this weekend on my gastro issues. Of course, I am no doctor, but I know my symptoms way better than I could ever describe them to the doctor. I am looking into something called Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Luckily for me, my GI doc is very supportive of me trying a batch of antibiotics to combat this, if that is indeed the issue. I've read lots of materials on this, and it can lead to some autoimmune issues, neurological issues and if it is the cause of my issues, could have led to me having IBS, wheat allergy and maybe even eventually full blown celiac. I am still having intermittent ear pain, bone pain, swelling, exhaustion and the research I have done has shown me that SIBO could be causing all of it.

So I'm trying an antibiotic for the next 10 days... my wedding is on June 14 so I'm just praying that it all goes well. Then I am also going to go to the allergist as the GI doc has requested so that he can see my food allergies plotted out in a clearer fashion. I will likely be on my way to an upper endoscopy and biopsies if the antibiotics don't help.

Sorry to post this in the lupus forum, but you guys have been the MOST supportive of anyone on the HealingWell boards and no one even responded to my post in the Celiac forum. Please think good thoughts for my batch of antibiotics! I am hoping and hoping and hoping that I will have a breakthrough.

Thanks, Jan! I am a little nervous about starting the antibiotics. I don't do well with medications; I am usually pretty sensitive to them. But I only have to make it through 10 days. Just hoping it doesn't wipe me out too bad as I've been pretty wiped out the past few weeks and unable to do a lot of things I've wanted to do, like going to a BBQ with friends. I had to skip and go home and go straight to bed on a Saturday at 1pm. My pup was dying for a dog park visit and I didn't have the energy to do that either. One day at a time though.

As for the wedding, 18 days left and lots of last minute things. Still don't have our vows written but working on it.

Let us know how your visit with the doctor goes!