Stomach problems??

Recently I was diagnosed with Lyme, Babesia, and Bartonella. My main symptoms are LOTS of gas, bloating, some abdominal pain on right side, urinary frequency/incontinence, anxiety, nausea, sometimes swollen glands, back pain.

My question is: do these diseases cause the excessive amounts of gas? I've seen a lot about pain and nausea, but not really gas. It is the thing that made me go to so many doctors and get countless amounts of tests (all which were normal). I've been on antibiotics for a month and a half (first doxycyline, but made me sick so switched to Biaxin), and 30 drops, 2x a day of both Samento and Banderol.

I've had the digestive symptoms for over 4 years and am feeling hopeless that anything will ever help them. It's horrible regardless of what I eat, and I want to know if there's any hope with this treatment.

Have you seen improvement when treating the lyme?

Something I found helpful was the use of Essential Enzymes. Lyme disease can disrupt the formation of the digestive enzymes needed to properly digest food. These are not expensive and have no side effects, so it is worth a try!

I'll have to try the castor oil packs. I've used betaine in the past, but while it seemed to help my digestion somewhat, it also caused more side and back pain. I'll give it another shot.

I'm on a strong probiotic from my doctor, which I take before bed. For a couple weeks my stomach was a mess from antibiotics, but it seems to have adjusted.

Here's hoping that by killing off the lyme and co-infections, my stomach might be able to function normally again one day.

Hi Everyone!

I have lyme too and have been having the same problems. I was treated for Lyme over 10 years ago and in a remission and now its back and I am getting treated again. My doctor gave my Nystatin for my gut (1 pill 3 times a day) but it isn't helping a whole lot. I am taking probiotics too at different times from when I take my Doxycycline. I wind up getting constipated too. The pain in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen has really scared me. It makes me feel better knowing others have had this too. What do you guys use for constipation when you have it if you don't mind. I almost went to the ER today because my stomach felt so bloated and just made me sick feeling all over. After a while it finally relaxed and I began to feel better and release some gas. I think I kind of panic over all of this. When I was treated over 10 years ago I don't recall having any of this kind of problem. Back then I just had numbness, aching and trouble walking. Now I have this gut issue added and its really miserable along with anxiety over wanted to be well again. =(

Hi Sinaj, welcome to our community!

So, are you seeing a LLMD? So, do you have the gut issue along with the numbness, aching and trouble walking? (your original symptoms are also back?)

I know you're not 'new to lyme', but you are new to our community so when you have a moment, please take a look at the thread at the top of the page titled: "New to Lyme?...Start Here!" It's full of good information, including symptom lists, detox ideas, and much more.

We have a member who knows ALOT about gut issues. She recommends Nystatin in powder form, rather than a pill. I'm hoping she will be along tomorrow to chime in on this. She has helped several other members with their Candida/fungal problems.
She will be able to give you a lot more information about gut issues...

Hi Tressa and Sinaj!

Sorry I'm delayed in responding… glad others responded to this older thread recently or I would have missed it altogether.

I'm so sorry you've had these digestive problems for so long. And I'm really annoyed that your MDs haven't helped you. For me, I battled the exact same issues for a couple of years until I found a Naturopath who helped piece together all the puzzle parts and got me through the first stage. And then with a LOT of my own investigation and research, and the brilliant posts of another ND (who has now compiled this information in a book), I finally cracked the solution.

Many people develop yeast and fungal imbalances (which are normally present in/on our bodies but for various reasons can overgrow and cause a LOT of problems that western MDs just aren't knowledgable about (willfully, because if I can learn it, they can…)

When we're treating with antibiotics, which immediately wipe out the bacteria in our guts—good and bad, or taking a lot of alcohol-based tinctures, which convert to sugar very quickly, we cause an immediate problem because the good bacteria help keep the yeast in balance. So, without the good bacteria or with too much sugar that feeds the yeast, it can grow exponentially. Just like the yeast in bread, which causes the dough to rise, the yeast in your gut releases a "gas", which expands in your GI tract, causing all the discomfort and pain. But this off gassing is really a neurotoxin and can also cause disruption in neurotransmitter function and cognition. There was a recent study that confirmed what naturopaths and nutritionists have known all along that what happens in our gut affects our brain; blood vessels were located that extended from the gut all the way to the brain… the gut-brain expressway.

I liked Cheetajade's responses above, there are many functions in the digestive tract that can be disrupted due to the presence of too much yeast/fungus or due to leaky gut issues. For me, I was unable to eat solid foods for nearly 2 yrs—it cause debilitating pain. For various reasons my pancreas was not giving signals to my stomach to produce enough digestive acids, which actually creates some of the same sx as acid reflux (and MDs kept prescribing acid blockers, making the situation much worse.) So even if you don't think you're eating a lot of yeast-causing foods, your body can still react in many of the same ways due to related malfunctions.

IMHO, I think a LOT of IBS, SIBO, and other GI issues are really a yeast overgrowth in disguise (not all) but MDs passionately deny it's a possibility. It's pretty darn strange. The simple test is how you respond to antifungals…

If y/f overgrowth is left untreated, the yeast grows roots into the mucosal lining of our gut, creating holes through which toxins, bacteria, fecal matter and yeast seep through and enter the blood stream. Your immune system reacts to these "foreign" objects in the blood w/ antibodies and soon you develop sensitivities and/or allergies to most foods you eat—even the healthy ones.

Studies have been done on gluten and GMO foods that suggest the same kind of damage done to the mucosal lining of our guts.

Read more about "Leaky Gut" here and if this rings a bell, let me know and we can talk in more specifics.

leaky gut:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3294327

yeast/fungal overgrowth:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3287783&p=2
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3413180
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3446175

Please let me know if you have any q's -

p

aphysicalwreck

I KNOW!! Once yeast/fungus takes hold, it is in charge. It is part of the reason why alcoholics simply cannot stop drinking… the yeast creates such powerful cravings because it needs MORE sugar to survive. I've read studies about it actually changing the brain chemistry. So, please don't feel guilty, it is not you that is being difficult or weak, it is the all mighty yeast running the show.

And… drum roll… there IS a magic pill! Sort of. Please try taking the PURE Nystatin powder. Not the pill or liquid Nystatin, which is half the strength and filled with expensive fillers and crap. With an established y/f overgrowth most people need a powerful anti fungal. Diet or natural supplements alone just won't cut it.

If you need more info about the powder pls let me know.

p

Pirouette

apw:

you want to ask for 1,000,000 units per day. This is the max that most MDs will prescribe, unless you can get them to do more. My post above w/ the links has more info about the powder but this site has really good dosing info, which coincides with 2,000,000 units per day:
drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Nystatin_-_how_to_take_it

Hope this helps--

-p