Nausea, gut pain and other digestive symptoms

[bronte]

I was treated for h. pylori several months ago. I originally tried a natural approach with mastic gum, zinc carnosine, manuka honey, etc but then used a 14-day prev pac. My follow-up endoscopy showed some patchy mildl erythematous mucosa in the gastric antrum. Biopsies were taken. They tested negative for h. pylori. 

I've been on the AIP for about nine months, and I've been gluten-free for about two years. I was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and I have post-ablative hypothyroidism. I've had mild reductions in some of my symptoms since the changes in diet, but I still have nausea everyday as well as gut pain, especially in the mornings and after meals. I often get anxious and hot after eating and feel like I have to have a bowel movement immediately. Sometimes I have loose stools. I haven't been able to find a good stable dose of cortef for my adrenal insufficiency. I always feel either over- or under-replaced. I wonder if my stomach issues are causing me to need higher levels of cortef that my body just can't tolerate.

I had a follow-up appointment with my gastro yesterday and he wants to put me on a low dose of Desipramine, which is an older tricyclic antidepressant. He said that some people just have sensitive guts and that medicine seems to help for whatever reason. I'm hesitant to try the med. Just curious if anyone else has tried it or had similar symptoms and found something else that worked.

I'm also working with a clinical nutritionist who found out I have multiple nutritional deficiencies through spectracell testing.

My functional deficiencies: b6, b5, zinc, chromium, oleic acid, lipoic acid, calcium, immunidex

Borderline deficiencies: biotin, asparagine, vit d3, spectrox

I've had several stool tests. The last one was through Genova Diagnostics in October. It showed I had h.pylori, slight yeast overgrowth, a parasite present (taxonomy unknown), low elastase, elevated LCFAs and elevated total fat.

I'm just feeling lost right now. I'm in a lot of pain and I'm getting desperate for relief. Hoping someone here has some advice.

Thank you!

[abtacha]

Wow, that's a long bucket list. Sorry, you have to deal with all that.
I never got tested for H.pylori or anything else for that matter. After a stomach bug I could tolerate less and less foods without feeling nauseas and having frequent bowel movements (often right after eating). I cut out all FODMAPs which helped for a little while. When the symptoms came back I started on the SCD diet but never made it past the intro diet foods (meat, carrots, zuccini) without my symptoms returning.
This process of getting worse took almost 1.5 years. As you can imagine I read every book I could get my hands on. While reading the paleo approach it finally clicked. My digestion wasn't good enough so I needed to support it. I ordered some digestive enzymes (Now Foods - Super Enzymes) but started with one Tblsp of apple cider vinegar 10 min before eating right away. Within two days what I had thought was SIBO and or FODMAP intolerance was gone. I mostly take the apple cider vinegar now unless I know that I'll be eating out then I bring the pills for convinience. Last week I forgot to take the ACV before a couple of meals and I was fine anyways.
Maybe that's something you could look into or talk to your nutritionist/doctor about. Good luck!

[bronte]

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad you are doing better now, but I'm sorry you were in pain for so long.

I do take pancreatic enzymes, but I don't take apple cider vinegar. I've tried HCL and AVC before but both made my gut burn (probably gastritis or ulcers from the h. pylori). I also tried ox bile (since my stool test showed I wasn't digesting fats properly) but that also made my gut burn. I'll mention this to my nutritionist and see what he thinks. Thanks again!

[abtacha]

I started reading Dr. Kharrazian's "Why isn't my brain working" book and came across some info that might help you. He basically says, if you have digestive problems and you've tried everything else the problem might be with your brain or your brain-gut axis. Maybe it would help you to look in that direction. I just started the book so I can't really tell you if there's more information and if it's useful. Just thought I'd share.

[bronte]

Thank you! I think I downloaded a sample of that book on my kindle. I'll have to check it out.

[laine]

Has anyone dealt with acute pancreatitis after being treated for H-Pylori? I may also be facing the removal of my gall bladder as it is enlarged and full of "sludge". I suffered through 5 days of acute pain and was hospitalized. Test show a cyst on the pancreas. I've been told to eat a very low fat diet in order to help the pancreas heal. I'm curious if anyone else out there has dealt with this while eating a modified AIP diet? I've been gluten free for 3 years and followed AIP for 9months and then reintroduced seeds and nuts. Eggs are still problematic.

[heatherj]

Paine, I'm waiting for an ultrasound on my gallbladder as it became very painful as well. I had my chiro do two gallbladder releases, and I've been taking ox bile, digestive enzymes, peppermint and chamomile teas. I have been eating lowish fat and mostly broth as I am also dealing with a non h pylori ulcer. My stools are loose and lighter than they are normally, probably because of my gallbladder. I hope the best for all of us!

[laine]

heatherj,

I wish you all the best as you try to heal. I too am using a lot of broth. Trying to eat chicken and lower fat meats. I miss coconut milk and oil. I've been too fearful to try my old standbys like roasted veggies with avocado oil and braised kale with bacon. Of course all the Doctors point to my diet as to the reason I have pancreatitis. I'm just having to rethink how I cook now that fats need to be limited. If anyone else out there who has dealt with gall bladder or pancreas disease would chime in with how they dealt with it while eating paleo I would love hear your story.