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Suggest Remedies For Gassy Stomach And Abdominal Discomfort
Question: I am a 44 year old woman. Healthy overall. Let me tell you what's been happening.
I first got sick from influenza B even though had a flu shot but it got ok after a week. While I was recovering my parents gotsick and I was running around with them. Then myhusbandgot sick with some stomachbug ( he had couple of loose motions and mild fever). But was ok in two days. After couple of daysI started with chills, fever 100 and just stomach cramps/gas ( I had no diarhhea/vomiting). Weird. My temperature was 99 to 100.4. The gas was there and cramps too. the temperature became normal but gas and abdominal discomfort have not gone away. They did all kind of tests to urine infection, strep, pneumonia. Nothing came. I asked doc to prescribe antibiotics. She did but she says it might not work as it seems viral. On pushing she she prescribed Azithromycin. I have taken full dose of that .. The low grade temperature improved and no fever. They also did the blood tests and the CBC and electrolytes were normal although ESR was 66. My condition in terms of gas and abdominal discomfort still there. The gas is odorless gas, and abdominal cramping is there. Its almost 3-4 weeks that it hasn't gone away. I am not sure and feel helpless. . Please advise
I first got sick from influenza B even though had a flu shot but it got ok after a week. While I was recovering my parents gotsick and I was running around with them. Then myhusbandgot sick with some stomachbug ( he had couple of loose motions and mild fever). But was ok in two days. After couple of daysI started with chills, fever 100 and just stomach cramps/gas ( I had no diarhhea/vomiting). Weird. My temperature was 99 to 100.4. The gas was there and cramps too. the temperature became normal but gas and abdominal discomfort have not gone away. They did all kind of tests to urine infection, strep, pneumonia. Nothing came. I asked doc to prescribe antibiotics. She did but she says it might not work as it seems viral. On pushing she she prescribed Azithromycin. I have taken full dose of that .. The low grade temperature improved and no fever. They also did the blood tests and the CBC and electrolytes were normal although ESR was 66. My condition in terms of gas and abdominal discomfort still there. The gas is odorless gas, and abdominal cramping is there. Its almost 3-4 weeks that it hasn't gone away. I am not sure and feel helpless. . Please advise
Brief Answer:
Viral infection...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read carefully all your concerns and I am sorry for the situation you are in.
You are reporting that you have passed influence B and after that all your family has been sick.
You still have gas abdominal pain etc.
To my opinion using antibiotics at your situation hasn't been a good choice.
Firstly it will not help to improve the symptoms and secondly it may cause gut bacterial flora misbalance.
The second one may be associated and worse the symptoms of influence and stomach bugs.
The fact that the other members of your family has passed viral infection more easily than you may be associated with the fact that you have been tired or low immunity due to tiredness and taking care of them.
So to my opinion I can't see nothing more serious than a viral infection with bacterial gut misbalance.
This is why at your case I would recommend to :
- use probiotics for more than 3 weeks
- use antacids
- use antispasmodic drugs like mebeverine
- use simethicone to improve gas forming in gut
- take plenty of water and fresh juice fruits
- take rest (is too important )
If you symptoms will continue after a couple of days than you can do culture stools test to definitely rule out /confirm any confection with bacterial infection on GI tract.
Hope.it is helpful to you!
If you have other queries or concerns I would be glad to assist you further.
Dr. Klerida
Viral infection...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read carefully all your concerns and I am sorry for the situation you are in.
You are reporting that you have passed influence B and after that all your family has been sick.
You still have gas abdominal pain etc.
To my opinion using antibiotics at your situation hasn't been a good choice.
Firstly it will not help to improve the symptoms and secondly it may cause gut bacterial flora misbalance.
The second one may be associated and worse the symptoms of influence and stomach bugs.
The fact that the other members of your family has passed viral infection more easily than you may be associated with the fact that you have been tired or low immunity due to tiredness and taking care of them.
So to my opinion I can't see nothing more serious than a viral infection with bacterial gut misbalance.
This is why at your case I would recommend to :
- use probiotics for more than 3 weeks
- use antacids
- use antispasmodic drugs like mebeverine
- use simethicone to improve gas forming in gut
- take plenty of water and fresh juice fruits
- take rest (is too important )
If you symptoms will continue after a couple of days than you can do culture stools test to definitely rule out /confirm any confection with bacterial infection on GI tract.
Hope.it is helpful to you!
If you have other queries or concerns I would be glad to assist you further.
Dr. Klerida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor
Thanks for the response. My virus infection had the abdominal discomfort/gas and low grade fever. My low grade fever that I had is ok now ( I might still be like 98.7) but my abdominal discomfort and gas is still there and its been there for more than three weeks now. I am already taking probiotics for the last week or so. Not sure if it made any difference. My abdominal discomfort and gas is mainly in the evenings and stomach is tender. What could it be?
If it is bacterial, what kind of bacterial infection are you referring to?
Can it be more serious? I am very scared.
Should I take castor oil and some ayurveda herbs to resolve it? Any advise would be great. Thanks
Thanks for the response. My virus infection had the abdominal discomfort/gas and low grade fever. My low grade fever that I had is ok now ( I might still be like 98.7) but my abdominal discomfort and gas is still there and its been there for more than three weeks now. I am already taking probiotics for the last week or so. Not sure if it made any difference. My abdominal discomfort and gas is mainly in the evenings and stomach is tender. What could it be?
If it is bacterial, what kind of bacterial infection are you referring to?
Can it be more serious? I am very scared.
Should I take castor oil and some ayurveda herbs to resolve it? Any advise would be great. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Please follow...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back and sorry for my late.
With regards to the fact that you don't have fever any more indicates that the infection has passed.
On the other hand the damage that this infection has causes to gut mucosa need more time to completely recover.
The recovery time may be from 2-6 weeks.
You are asking about bacterial infection. Sometimes may happens a coinfection between viral and bacterial infection.
One of them maybe C.difficile, campylobacter etc..
Otherwise to my opinion your symptoms are mostly related with viral infection.
Continue with recommendations that I gave you above.
With regards to castor oil and Ayurveda herbs if you feel better with them than you can use , there is no side effects.
Hope it was helpful to you!
Dr.Klerida
Please follow...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back and sorry for my late.
With regards to the fact that you don't have fever any more indicates that the infection has passed.
On the other hand the damage that this infection has causes to gut mucosa need more time to completely recover.
The recovery time may be from 2-6 weeks.
You are asking about bacterial infection. Sometimes may happens a coinfection between viral and bacterial infection.
One of them maybe C.difficile, campylobacter etc..
Otherwise to my opinion your symptoms are mostly related with viral infection.
Continue with recommendations that I gave you above.
With regards to castor oil and Ayurveda herbs if you feel better with them than you can use , there is no side effects.
Hope it was helpful to you!
Dr.Klerida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
http://www.healthcaremagic.com/AskDoctorInboxServlet?page=viewQuery&queryId=260366
Hi Doc
Please see and review the history above again as you had answered it.
Just to update my condition, I started feeling a bit better with the probiotics from last couple of weeks. Few things happened in between. Went to see couple of Gastros in between .
The reason I went to see the gastros was because even though my gas symptoms were getting better , my stools were flat and a bit thin. Although I tried metamucil, that did bulk them but sort of flattishness was still there.
One Gastro said almost the same thing as yours that there might be a gut flora imbalanace. Wanted to test me for Sibo. So I have to stop my probiotics so that SIBO test could be done. The symptoms of gas were a bit control with probiotics before but they are a bit more prominent after I have stopped probiotics from the last couple of days And the stools are sort of flat thin too.
The second gastro also gave me stool culture tests.
Component Your Value Standard Range Flag
SPECIAL REQUESTS None
GRAM STAIN Many Gram Negative Rods
GRAM STAIN ManyGram Positive Rods
GRAM STAIN Moderate Gram Positive Cocci
GRAM STAIN No PMNs seen
----------------------------
Giarda and Clostridium tests were negative
--------------------------------------
The reason was that I was having thin and flat stools. He said it might be colon spasm. He also re ordered my blood tests (CBC, ESR, FOBT).
My last hemoglobin that was taken 5 weeks ago was 12.6 but now it dropped to 11.6 in 5 weeks. My MCV remained the same as 94. But when I got the tests , I was having a very light period. Not sure if that skewed the hemoglobin.
FOBT test came negative.
My ESR decreased from the last test of 66 to 40 this time.
What am I worried of is the following:
1) My hemoglobin gone down from 12.6 to 11.6 in 5 weeks. ( Even though I did this test when I was having this period). What could e the reason. My FOBT test is negative. No celiac also.
2) My ESR is 40 now even though decreased? Why is still a bit high?
3) Why symptoms of gas still there even though they decreased with Probiotics. i will try to do SIBO test in couple of weeks. So I had to stop probiotics. But why am I still having flattish stool. It is soft, a bit thin and flattish. Even though as I said above, Metamucil helped to bulk it but it was bulky and intermittently flattish after taking metamucil.
4) I am worried that if it is something serious going on. Kindly help
Hi Doc
Please see and review the history above again as you had answered it.
Just to update my condition, I started feeling a bit better with the probiotics from last couple of weeks. Few things happened in between. Went to see couple of Gastros in between .
The reason I went to see the gastros was because even though my gas symptoms were getting better , my stools were flat and a bit thin. Although I tried metamucil, that did bulk them but sort of flattishness was still there.
One Gastro said almost the same thing as yours that there might be a gut flora imbalanace. Wanted to test me for Sibo. So I have to stop my probiotics so that SIBO test could be done. The symptoms of gas were a bit control with probiotics before but they are a bit more prominent after I have stopped probiotics from the last couple of days And the stools are sort of flat thin too.
The second gastro also gave me stool culture tests.
Component Your Value Standard Range Flag
SPECIAL REQUESTS None
GRAM STAIN Many Gram Negative Rods
GRAM STAIN ManyGram Positive Rods
GRAM STAIN Moderate Gram Positive Cocci
GRAM STAIN No PMNs seen
----------------------------
Giarda and Clostridium tests were negative
--------------------------------------
The reason was that I was having thin and flat stools. He said it might be colon spasm. He also re ordered my blood tests (CBC, ESR, FOBT).
My last hemoglobin that was taken 5 weeks ago was 12.6 but now it dropped to 11.6 in 5 weeks. My MCV remained the same as 94. But when I got the tests , I was having a very light period. Not sure if that skewed the hemoglobin.
FOBT test came negative.
My ESR decreased from the last test of 66 to 40 this time.
What am I worried of is the following:
1) My hemoglobin gone down from 12.6 to 11.6 in 5 weeks. ( Even though I did this test when I was having this period). What could e the reason. My FOBT test is negative. No celiac also.
2) My ESR is 40 now even though decreased? Why is still a bit high?
3) Why symptoms of gas still there even though they decreased with Probiotics. i will try to do SIBO test in couple of weeks. So I had to stop probiotics. But why am I still having flattish stool. It is soft, a bit thin and flattish. Even though as I said above, Metamucil helped to bulk it but it was bulky and intermittently flattish after taking metamucil.
4) I am worried that if it is something serious going on. Kindly help
Brief Answer:
Please follow...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for follow up.
1. With regards to ER 40 , it is indicative for an inflamacion in your. The fact that it has been decreased shows that the inflamacion is recovered.
2. The hemoglobin has decreased from 12.5 to 11.5 from some reasons like:
- you have not been feeding properly these time
- tiredness
- infection ( probably?)
3. With regards to the fact that you still have gas and thin, flattish stools to my opinion it may be related with:
- IBS
- bacterial misbalance since it has been improved from probiotics use
-SIBO
It doesn't seem to be something more serious. It is well known to start an IBS after a common bowel infection like at your case.
I am waiting to write me again after SIBO test results.
Wish you health
Dr.Klerida
Please follow...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for follow up.
1. With regards to ER 40 , it is indicative for an inflamacion in your. The fact that it has been decreased shows that the inflamacion is recovered.
2. The hemoglobin has decreased from 12.5 to 11.5 from some reasons like:
- you have not been feeding properly these time
- tiredness
- infection ( probably?)
3. With regards to the fact that you still have gas and thin, flattish stools to my opinion it may be related with:
- IBS
- bacterial misbalance since it has been improved from probiotics use
-SIBO
It doesn't seem to be something more serious. It is well known to start an IBS after a common bowel infection like at your case.
I am waiting to write me again after SIBO test results.
Wish you health
Dr.Klerida
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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