Update: I survived the weekend though not as well as I'd hoped. Forced myself to be active even though fatigue and headaches made me want to stay in bed all day.
As of this morning I'm still dealing with dry mouth, brain fog, nausea and headaches but at least the nausea has stayed pretty mild. I've started a food diary/BM log (lol) and upon your suggestions have added digestive enzyme caps to my supplement intake. I find that they helped make my experience with the probiotic less "bubbly" and gassy so thanks for that tip!
I also will be adding drops of astralagus to my water--which is a flavorless immune boosting/stress fighting root herb that I read about recently.
I've introduced a few new things into my diet:
-chicken ramen noodles (not that great nutritionally speaking but sick of only eating brown rice)
-challah bread toast (with vegan butter...god I've missed the taste!)
I'm going to try introduce these things over the next few days and see how it goes:
-apples
-avocado
-hard boiled egg (tried before but trying again to make sure I don't have a reaction)
-salmon
-kombucha (I'm honestly hesitant on this one but it's a great probiotic and I found one made with elderberry...antioxidant, immune booster and viral suppressant)
Has anyone had any luck with plant based proteins while try to recover/manage with these symptoms? Prior to this I ate a mostly plant based diet but I'm not sure my stomach can handle things like seitan and nut products or krauts and leafy greens (despite hearing how good they are for gut re-balancing).
In other news it's the first day of spring and I'm trying to focus on new beginnings and positive vibes! Sending healing vibes to all those still following the thread <3
Update: My symptoms are a lot better before but I'm still not completely functional. I'm so very thankful that the nausea has subsided, I haven't vomited in a week and I've been able to eat most foods without severe reactions. However, I'm still dealing with headaches, occasional brain fog (which just started back up today -_-), gas, dry mouth, hearing loss and occasional stomach upset after eating dairy/greasy foods in particular. The hearing loss and headaches are the worst--this morning I have pretty intense gas (also very noxious smelling!), brain fog and now suddenly I can't hear out of my right ear. I mean nothing. It's quite disconcerting and I can't find that particular symptom anywhere on the internet.
So I'm hoping for the best and also hoping that this will resolve itself completely instead of having to deal with strange, uncomfortable and incapable of being diagnosed symptoms for the foreseeable future.
Hi lacura:
You should get tested for SIBO. I read an account of someone that shared some of your symptoms. Google "SIBO sufferers list your symptoms for me" and look for a comment from FloridaJana.
I went to a GI doctor that diagnosed me with post-viral gastropresis. However, this diagnosis does not address the brain fog and insomnia. I plan to get tested for SIBO.
Hi lov4k9s,
I looked over the symptoms for SIBO and while I've experienced some of those symptoms it doesn't seem like a match for me. I haven't been to a GI doctor yet--can't afford it--but I will definitely add that to the list when I am able to bring up some questions. The post-viral gastropresis sounds compelling for me personally. I'm at the point where I can digest most things but with other things it's like my stomach forgot how to break them down and thus, thoroughly rejects them.
My friend told me about the MTHFR gene which is something I also plan to get tested for. It's a common gene mutation that causes you to not break down toxins efficiently and while reading up on it I discovered "[because] unaddressed MTHFR gene mutations can stall the body’s detoxification and elimination process, gut issues are prone to follow".
Best of luck to you in your healing journey and figuring out your correct diagnosis.
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Back with another update! It's been about 2 months since I started this hellish train ride and I finally thought I'd come to my last stop until yesterday afternoon. But I'll start with the good news. Something that I would like to recommend as a possible treatment for digestive discomfort is acupuncture. It's not always the most affordable option but if you can find the right set up--like I was thankful to be able to--it's totally worth a try! I live in DC and there's a community acupuncture center where you pay on a sliding scale and don't have to deal with insurance (yay!)
I had been tolerating headaches, a bout of brain fog and hearing loss for weeks (nausea and abdominal pain had mostly subsided after a trigger relapse) but after my first acupuncture appointment, the pain was substantially reduced and over the next day or two disappeared completely. It was amazing to feel the headache shift from one part of my head to another during the practice. Eventually it disintegrated completely and I slept the best that I had in weeks right there on the table! Though I've been watching what I eat (nothing too spicy, not a lot of dairy) I have been able to eat "normal" amounts of food and haven't experienced any discomfort--that is until two days ago when I fell off my vigilance.
I've learned the key for my healing process is to stay FAR away from dairy. I may have other unknown triggers but dairy ALWAYS brings symptoms back for me. Not instantly like before, but with time it comes back to haunt me in the form of headaches, brain fog, nausea and vomiting. As a result I've had a relapse of my symptoms at least three times over the past 4 weeks. Alas, it would appear that I'm a glutton for punishment -_-
Monday night I felt brave enough to celebrate a birthday with a dear friend. I had champagne, hummus and pita chips and a slice of delicious cake that I wouldn't find out until later featured dulce de leche (= rich caramel). I was in the clear that night and hopeful I wouldn't have a reaction but by the next afternoon (aka yesterday), I was at work kneeling once again to the porcelain throne. Now I have a low, persistent headache and nausea and just threw up at work again--who knows what it was considering I haven't eaten anything since last night and only drank tea this morning. Also the dreaded phlegm/excess saliva is back...I keep having to spit at work...gross :(
My immediate steps for getting back to relatively normal:
Digestive enzyme caps
Probiotics (ran out and have to buy more!)
Weekly acupuncture visits
Absolutely NO dairy under ANY circumstance!
As mentioned in a prior comment I haven't been diagnosed with anything as I have not been able to afford a doctor visit but I know that gut healing requires patience, time, awareness and careful consideration. I don't think I'm carrying a virus but my gut has been deeply affected by what may have been initially a viral experience and likely I will have to permanently change my diet as a result. For me personally I feel like it's really important to conceptualize this as a holistic approach to wellness other than seeking out any one localized "disease" or disorder to treat. The gut is the root of SO many other illnesses, it is an indicator for all sorts of imbalance in the body. The closer we get to addressing and eventually healing the root, the more likely various other symptoms of imbalance will rectify themselves.
I do hope you got well and back to normal in the end?
I AM GOING THRU THIS NOW FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS...