#GI Disorders

[eldrai]

Love looking up IBS because it's just like may cause [symptom doctors never mentioned was related] [symptom doctors never mentioned was related] [symptom doctors never mentioned was related] [symptom doctors never mentioned was related] and abdominal pain!

Like wow. Thanks. Glad I spent so much time as a literal child worrying there was something seriously wrong with me because I had other symptoms.

Anyway, here's a few symptoms in case it is ever useful to someone:

The ones you probably know

Constipation

Diarrhoea (including mucus)

Bloating

Abdominal pain/cramping

The ones you might know

Bloating

Nausea

Indigestion

The ones you probably don't

Headaches

Fatigue

Dysmenorrhoea (heavy periods)

Pelvic pain

Back pain

Interstitial cystitis + other bladder problems

Sleep disturbances

Joint pain

[likeawildthing]

I didn’t realize, when I was first diagnosed with a chronic gi disease, the huge “disability tax” owed on any kind of modified diet in money, energy, and time.

The time it takes to look up new recipes, shop at four stores for obscure or specialty ingredients, pay the exorbitant markup, only to bring them home and be too tired to make the thing, or anything. The emotional cost of not eating out, or enjoying holidays, or explaining, yet again, that it’s not a diet to lose weight, it’s to prevent serious illness. The impact to your body when you accidentally eat something you thought was safe. The financial cost of food that goes bad because you did buy it, but it tastes awful. Opportunity costs of making so much from scratch when a standard version could be picked up in a grocery store. The stress when a “safe” food start making you sick.

We are human beings who need food. It’s that simple . Food is not good or bad, or clean or dirty, but for some people it is safe or unsafe. But it’s still necessary for survival. And there is a real cost when you are constantly—multiple times a day—forced to navigate this choice matrix. It’s inescapable.

I’m not sad or depressed about it anymore, but I wasn’t aware of this before diagnosis and thought it might be important for others to hear.

[er-cryptid]

[221bluescarf]

Shout out to people with GI disorders who have comorbid eating disorders 🫂 💕

[cripple-cryptid]

So the surgical center that shoved a camera up my ass called yesterday. I guess the biopsy of whatever they did came back.

Fuck.

I have Barrett's Esophagus. Basically my stomach has sent so much acid into my esophagus that the cells are changing and they can eventually turn into cancer. Right now they aren't worried about it because it's early and we can keep an eye on it so it doesn't become cancerous. Add some extra supplements and I guess I'll be fine?

The kicker for this though is the fact that my maternal grandfather died from esophageal cancer that was caused by Barrett's. I asked if this can be genetic but I guess not. Just the reflux.

They also said that my stomach isn't emptying properly so guess who has to do a gastric emptying study? This guy.

Yaaaaay.

[gidisorders1]

Karen Threlkel

Dr. Karen Threlkel provides her patients with a full range of naturopathic medical services, including naturopathic medical assessment, specialty laboratory testing, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, detoxification, nutritional supplementation, and herbal medicine. She received her degree of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the oldest accredited naturopathic medical college in North America, National College of Naturopathic (now called National University of Natural Medicine) Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland at College Park. She is licensed in Naturopathic Medicine by the Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health.

[gastroenterologist]

Learn about the top 5 common causes of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Dr. Vatsal Mehta, a leading gastroenterologist at Alfa Gastro & Liver Care Hospital in Ahmedabad, explains the symptoms, risks, and treatments.

[vizthedatum]

Gonna try extreme pomodoro method combined with meditation, rest, and tidying this weekend.

My pain level is low. My fatigue is low (relative to most of the month).

I am still exhausted but I am hardcore interviewing and also being on top of my current work.

And I’m taking my meds and T. And my meds are helping. I know I spend a lot on probiotics now, but it’s really worth the investment. I AM TAKING SEVERAL STRAINS I HAVE RESEARCHED.

My appetite has been very slowly getting better, and my GI discomfort has IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY.

Earlier this year, I spent quite some money on trying to figure out the current state of my GI and how to improve it. Honestly the learning process has taken years.

I am slowly figuring out what my body is deficient in. (And I do have a new nutritionist appointment coming up - I miss my old one, sigh.)

And the healing process is… slow with a lot of incremental effort in diet, small changes, exercise (which I’ve worked up to again - I’m gonna be working out pretty intensely again, and it’s taken effort to get here. And I always slide back anyway because of how sick I sometimes get, but I know I can get back up), and the combo of all my meds.

And my spiritual and mental health journey of course.

It is so cyclical: my GI affects my mental health, and my mental health affects my GI.

Reducing my stressors is always an ongoing task, but it is getting better. Understanding my own autism and ADHD is helping a lot.

I still have a long way to go. I have spent so much time, energy, money, and also… suffering in sheer agony of not being able to do something about stuff. Sometimes I just don’t have the energy.

—

But I’m trying new things. I’m accepting slow progress. I’m accepting setbacks. I’m learning to see the beauty in it all.

I’m learning that I don’t have to view setbacks as a zero-sum result.

There are ways to turn it around even if disability persists.

And I’m very creative.

[market-insider]

Gastrointestinal Diagnostics: Navigating Landscape, Market Trends and Analysis

The global gastrointestinal diagnostics market size is expected to reach USD 6.87 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 4.58% from 2022 to 2030. Rising awareness about gastrointestinal disorders and a surge in gastrointestinal disorder testing are the major factors driving the market. Moreover, technological advancements in gastrointestinal infection testing are expected to cater to the market demand. For instance, in May 2022, QIAGEN launched QIAstat-Dx Rise, which is capable of providing results in a span of one hour for multiple diseases.

Gastrointestinal Diagnostics Market Report Highlights

On the basis of test type, the endoscopy segment held the largest share in 2021 owing to rising demand for minimally invasive procedures

Based on technology, the PCR accounted for the second-largest share in 2021 due to the availability of a robust product portfolio and rising product launches

The infection application segment held the largest share in 2021 owing to the higher incidence of GI infections and the surge in awareness

On the basis of test location, the central laboratories segment held the largest share in 2021. The point-of-care segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate throughout the forecast period

Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth rate over the forecast period due to the rising investments by market players and increasing research activities in the region

Gain deeper insights on the market and receive your free copy with TOC now @: Gastrointestinal Diagnostics Market Report

The increasing trend of a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits, and a higher prevalence of obesity are anticipated to fuel GI diagnostics market growth. According to the CDC, the prevalence of obesity among people in the U.S. is between 30-40%. States such as Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona have the highest prevalence of obesity in the U.S. Obesity is associated with GI diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, diarrhea, gastric cancer, and others. Hence, it is expected to impetus market growth.

Technological advancements associated with gastrointestinal diagnostics for early diagnosis and efficient testing are expected to augment market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in March 2022, Luminex Corporation obtained a CE mark for its NxTAGxMAP GI Pathogen Panel. This test is a detailed multiplex test that detects nucleic acids from the 16 most clinically relevant viral, parasitic, and bacterial pathogens in stool samples. Moreover, the test is capable of providing results on the same day and can run 96 samples at a time.

Moreover, the presence of organizations involved in increasing awareness regarding gastrointestinal disorders is expected to facilitate market expansion. For instance, organizations such as the Gastrointestinal Society (Canadian Society of Intestinal Research) and the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders are actively involved in promoting gastrointestinal health and broadening the understanding of GI disorders, thereby augmenting market growth.

Furthermore, various strategic initiatives undertaken by market players to strengthen their product portfolio and expand global footprints are likely to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the market. For instance, in November 2021, The Life Raft Group and Bayer Pharmaceuticals announced a research collaboration for broadening access to genomic testing for GI stromal tumor patients. The aim of this collaboration is to advance precision medicine and improve genetic testing to identify patients in the U.S.

In addition, in June 2021, Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. announced an agreement with MultiPlan for accessing specialized gastrointestinal testing. Prometheus offered its breakthrough testing solutions to improve the outcome of GI disorders. This agreement has allowed the testing service of Prometheus to reach the maximum number of customers.

[were-my-demons-hide]

Most people don't get what it's like to have a chronical illness. And I am sick of it. Why do I need to explain myself over and over again? On top of everything else. I am tired.

[ottitty]

Talking about gastroparesis so obligatory weight/body talk warning-

I've gone from a size 14 to barely fitting in an 8 in a matter of maybe 2-3 months. I'm trying to take in clothes where I can but theres only so far I can go with it being functional. For people who lost a lot of weight due to gp... how did you shop/account for that?

[eldrai]

Actually it should not be OK to joke about a disability even if it's a "funny" "gross" one

[mnemonicpneumaticknife]

It's real gastric distress hours today, girls.

[justsomerandomgay]

i remember being ten years old and wishing to die rather than experience the pain i was in yet still my parents and my doctors didn’t believe me. sometimes it just hits me. that wasn’t a normal experience for a ten year old, was it?

[thebibliosphere]

Hey! I know that this isn't something you struggle with but since a lot of your other followers are disabled as well, it would mean a lot to me if you could publish this ask since I'd like to see if anyone else experiences anything similar to what I'm going through. I'm not asking for anyone to armchair diagnose me, I'd just appreciate not feeling so alone and scared and confused. My general physician is claiming that my anxiety is causing the issues I'll describe but I call bullshit on that:

About two years ago, cca 4 months after my top surgery, my body stopped being able to process oil. Whenever I'd eat anything that was made with oil of any kind, I'd get cramps in the abdomen after a while and I'd get diarrhea. Caffeine started to do this also but in a smaller intensity. I had a hysterectomy a bit after that and they checked my kidneys and liver so I know that those are both ok and not the cause. I also got checked for Celiac since it runs in the family. Because the issue wasn't getting worse and my then general physician was always dismissive, I let it be. When I wasn't having diarrhea, I was constipated, though I did have a bowel movement like once or twice a week. Fast forward to now. In August, it suddenly got a lot worse. At first, even a single drop of oil would make me feel ill. Then, the time period got longer - currently the cramps and the pain last for 48 hours afterwards. I also became unable to digest animal fats, the only meat I can eat is lean chicken and fish. Afterwards, gluten became an issue (Celiac is still negative), and then nuts as well.

My new GP, even though she believes it to be anxiety, gave me Itopride, and it worked for about 3 weeks - I had no cramps, pain, exhaustion, gas or bloating after eating, and I had a bowel movement once a day. But it stopped working two days ago, again without a reason, and the effects started being less effective about a week ago. Even when taking the meds, I have a movement only once in about 8 days, and laxatives make me gassy but nothing happens. I'm also not sure about this, but it seems that chicken is no longer safe either.

I think it's important that if I don't take Itopride, I never even feel the urge to go, so when I say that I've always been constipated, I mean that I don't even feel the need to have a movement. Lately, when I take Itopride, I do get the urge that I do always get when taking it, but it's like I can't go, so I always feel full.

I just feel super scared and I have no idea what's going on. I admit that I have a history of eating disorders (in recovery since May) and I did abuse laxatives about a year ago, but I don't think it was enough to cause such serious issues? I used to take them like once a week and for about 3-4 months.

I'd really appreciate knowing if anyone has ever experienced anything similar or knows about anything like this because I feel like my life is in shambles - can't go outside for long because I might need the toilet suddenly, or I'm in too much pain to walk, I'm afraid to eat, I often feel repulsive, I don't know what might happen in a month, I am becoming incapable of taking care of myself and my flat because I'm just so goddamn tired.

Ooft, I’m sorry. It sounds like you’ll need a colonoscopy to figure this one out, so if you haven’t had one yet, really push for a referral.

Fwiw, I do experience something like this, but it’s from mast cell inflammation in my GI tract. The doc prescribed me bentyl for when things flare up but I’m also on a fiber supplement (citrucel. It’s a lot gentler than other types) to try and keep that from happening. Also if you’re low on b vitamins, your stomach sometimes stops digesting food, so maybe also ask about getting your levels checked. Taking an additional b2 supplement means I can process fats and oils again which I couldn’t before.

I’m not saying this to be like “this is what you have” just throwing them out there as suggestions that might help you piece together what might be wrong.

I hope you get more helpful comments in the notes 💖

[cripple-cryptid]

You would think that because of how little I ate before the GI issues started, I'd be really good at having snacks throughout the day.

And that's actually what I should be doing now, after discovering I have GI problems.

I am terrible at it, even with reminders. Because I'll just go, "ehh I'm not hungry." And then forget to eat literally anything until the end of the day. Like a dumbass.

Also it's not like I don't have safe foods. I have plenty. But I'm just. Terrible. I even forget my meal replacement shakes. Which I don't have many of because they're expensive as fuuuuuuuuuuck.

Does anyone have any other tips besides "set reminders" and "force yourself to eat" that they would like to share with me? I'm at my limit and I need to get this figured out.