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cameronfrye666 · 5 months ago

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How I Unf*cked Myself (a digestive health story)

TLDR (yes a very long TLDR, but this post is proportionally long)

Chronically fatigued and sick as a kid

Repeated courses of antibiotics (probably 20+) and 2x Epstein-barr infection between age 8 and 17

Around age 18 started noticing really weird food intolerances

Couldn’t drink alcohol without insane hangovers lasting 2 weeks+

Couldn’t consume foods high in refined sugar without going into days-to-weeks long episodes of hyperactivity, insomnia & extreme stress

Felt relatively shit eating most carbs

Tried fixing with diet change and vitamin / mineral supplements. Helped some symptoms but didn’t fix the issue.

Tried fixing with various probiotics. Incredibly mixed results - eventually found a regimen that worked for a period of time but, again, didn’t fix the issue.

After a hellish reaction to prebiotic fibre supplements, consulted a gastroenterologist and was diagnosed with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, Gut Dysbiosis and an active H. Pylori Infection. Significant Improvement of symptoms following:

10x 14 days Rifaximin (550 mg 3x daily)

H. Pylori Eradication Regimen (one week amoxicillin, clarythromycin, metrodinazole and omeprazole)

2 years of:

Keto / SCD Diet

Either Candibactin AR&BR, FC-Cidal, Dysbiocide & ADP supplements, or Allimed Neem & Cinnamon, alternating every 2 months between them (two caps of each product 3x daily).

Occasional use of natural motility agents depending on symptoms (ginger / artichoke formulations and iberogast).

This whole process sucked beyond description, if you have gut / digestive issues it is probably affecting your general health & wellbeing more than you realize.

Intro

I don’t really have anything left to say other than that it was a more painful experience than I think I could ever accurately describe. Gut health seems to be one of the last remaining big frontiers of human health, and I hope they figure it out so no one has to experience this again. I am still moderately lost in the issue but it has at least gotten a lot better recently.

Story

The Descent

February 4th 2012 is a day that I will likely never forget for the rest of my life. I woke up from a relatively short and disrupted sleep around 10am. A close friend of mine who had slept over the night before was sitting on the living room couch watching The Social Network with my dad. It seemed a sensible, logical thing to join them. So I sat down on the couch, and all of a sudden, I couldn’t. It's hard to explain exactly why I couldn't, but I just felt this immense inability to relax and settle down. Every bone in my body was vibrating, like this immense persistent energy rush.

I had also had a fair amount of red bull and other sugary soft drinks as mixer the night before, so I chalked this feeling up to a sugar / caffeine spike and decided to try and get on with the day. I had some breakfast, got showered etc., attempted to do some school work and participated in a family Sunday dinner. By about 10pm it began to become clear that this feeling of immense overpowering stress was not dissipating; if anything, it had gotten worse.

The next two weeks were an incredibly disorienting, painful and confusing experience. Rather than alleviate, the symptoms more or less persisted, although they would ebb and flow throughout the day. I started to notice that I felt the best first thing in the morning (important to note that "best" is a very relative term here) and worst from the late afternoon into evening, with a notable spike directly after dinner hour. I was living in a complete fog. I lost all emotional contact with the world around me. All I felt all day was this persistent restlessness and stress and a complete inability to get rid of it no matter what I did (showering, watching movies, lying down in bed etc.). I just felt like someone had mainlined adrenaline into one of my veins and wouldn’t turn off the tap. It is the most excruciatingly painful thing I have ever experienced, or think I am ever likely to experience. In some way, it is almost impossible to explain in normal words.

It was at the end of these two weeks that I finally decided to consult a doctor. Everyone here will likely be unsurprised to hear that he suggested I was suffering from a temporary bout of anxiety. Although I have certainly been anxious about my fair share of things in the past (studies, personal relationships etc.), I could feel that this was something quite different. On top of that, there was just nothing in my life bothering me at that time. I had great friends, had already been accepted to the University of my choice and was staring down the barrel of four months of school where my academic results didn’t matter anymore and then a three month summer break. I was offered some tranquilizers or anti-anxiety meds for my symptoms, but I wasn’t really interested in trying them as I wanted to get to the root of whatever the issue was.

The only other suggestion he had for me was to maybe take a look at my diet. He noticed I was twitching a lot and I offered that I had recently suffered some bad muscle cramps as well, so he suggested that after a bout of mononucleosis earlier in the year and a long winter with little sun, I may be deficient in a few things. He prescribed me a short course of magnesium and vitamin b-12 supplements and sent me on my way.

Over the next month, with the supplements only sort of helping and with me still watching my life essentially completely fall apart around me (barely able to attend school, permanently unwell, chronically stressed, insomniac etc., almost complete loss of social life) I consulted a few more doctors. They more or less all had the same response: you can try antidepressants and/or tranquilizers, but otherwise, sorry, we can't help you. A few also questioned the nutritional supplement prescription.

It was at this point that I started to feel I was more or less on my own in whatever this was.

Part II: Ascent #1

The three months following the initial onset of my symptoms were probably some of the worst of my life, which, considering everything I’ve experienced over the last decade+, is really saying something. I was in a completely emotionally disconnected state, basically felt only stress on a daily basis, and had no idea what was going on.

The only real nuggets of information I had that I trusted were that (i) it might be nutrition-related and (ii) caffeine and/or alcohol were clearly bad for me. I started doing a load of research into what causes nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, how to correct them, and what a healthy diet looks like. Prior to this I had been more or less unconcerned about what I ate or drank in a day, although my diet was reasonably healthy mostly just due to my mother's cooking.

My readings on diet led me to make a few changes. First, I changed from a magnesium oxide supplement to magnesium bisglycinate, for better absorption. Then, I switched to an entirely refined-sugar free, whole grain diet high in unprocessed meats and vegetables. Lastly, I started taking almost nightly electrolyte salt baths (either epsom salt or dead-sea salt).

Although none of these changes cured me by any means, very slowly, I started to feel somewhat better. I could feel moderate improvements on a daily basis. Some days were better than others, but overall things were on an upwards trend. From this point onwards I became almost completely convinced that my symptoms were the result of a nutritional imbalance and that I would cure them through diet and supplementation.

Then, something very strange happened, which, in retrospect, should have pointed me in the direction of my ultimate diagnosis. I went into hospital to have my tonsils removed (as mentioned I had been very sick as a kid), and when I came out later the next day I had a very strange level of emotional clarity. Somehow everything was less painful, and although the crazy stress symptoms weren't totally gone, the improvement in just 36 hours felt drastic. At the time I thought maybe it was painkillers I had been given, perhaps the IV drip they put me on post-op? In retrospect, it was most definitely the high-dose amoxicillin I had been taking since the operation for reasons I can explain later on.

Part III: Stasis #1

That summer things more or less stabilized. Nothing was ever quite as good as the days and week following the tonsillectomy, but the insane debilitating stress didn't come back either, so overall I couldn't complain. From a mental point-of-view I was sort of able to return to normal life other than having to watch my diet and avoid substance. I started university in the fall and was successful despite the obvious social constraints that came along with my new health regimen.

The years following this were pretty up and down. I was able to get through my university courses, have some semblance of a social life, and never returned to the manic stress state of my initial descent. That being said, I never felt "quite right" again. It is hard to place, but my health just still felt very poor. I had low energy, slept a lot, often felt quite irritable, and had very poor performance in sporting activities despite previously being a strong athlete.

The main salient point that came out of this period was that I started to notice that high-sugar foods could bring on shorter-term episodes that mimicked the time period of the original onset of my symptoms. In one instance, I almost failed a university exam after consuming a jelly-filled donut the day before and becoming almost literally incapable of processing information for a few days afterwards. Suffice to say, I completely cut sugar from my diet from this point onwards.

I also tried a few Myers' cocktail IV drips (basically a mix of magnesium, calcium and b-vitamins) during this time period as part of my thinking on the issue being caused by nutritional deficiency. I would feel pretty great for a few days following them (improved sleep, able to focus while studying, good energy for exercise) but then go back to my same poor-health state afterwards. This only compounded my belief that the issue was purely nutritional in nature. Alongside this I consulted some nutritionists and diet specialists, and they recommended me some further supplements and dietary changes, but none of it made that overwhelming of a difference compared to the changes I’d already made.

Part IV: Descent #2

For four years life went on in the position described above, at least from a health point-of-view. I had found a regimen that kept me functional and stable, and for the most part stuck to it and tried to forget about it all and get on with life. It was great to find some stability, but at the same time as an early twenty-something in University, having to stick to a pretty strict diet and lifestyle just wasn’t all that much fun.

So somehow I got the idea in my head that having found this stability, I must actually be cured of whatever it was and could go back to eating & drinking whatever I wanted. I got an 8-month research placement in France in 2016 and decided that I would just let loose and enjoy myself during that time. Upon arriving I quite quickly returned to being totally free with what I consumed, although perhaps still went light on very sugary foods. For the first few weeks, I felt great. I mean maybe not totally physical well, but it was just so mentally liberating to not think about this stuff anymore. I had a lot of fun going out with my new roommate, going on dates and just living life in a more free way.

Around the second month of being there I started to notice some chronic unwelness creeping back in. My sleep was starting to become quite poor, I had terrible focus at work and wasn’t accomplishing much, and would feel really unwell after most meals. I ignored it for a while.

By the third month, it was almost panic stations again. I don’t know why I didn’t react to this sooner, probably I was just trying to deny how bad it was getting again, but by mid-March (I had started worked in January), I was bordering on being physically non-functional again. I couldn’t do much other than spend most days in bed when I wasn’t at work, felt constantly agitated, was achieving essentially nothing on a daily basis (thankfully I was working in a French R&D centre where very little was happening at the best of times), and just felt constantly ill. It was not quite the return to the extreme stress of the first episode but I was still really unwell and uncomfortable most of the time.

I wasn’t really sure what to do, but I knew I really didn’t want to do another 6-months of diet control just to get back to a sort-of sufferable health state, so I started coming up with ideas for a quick fix. The only thing I really had was that those IV cocktails had made me feel pretty great, and since I was still in this mode of thinking it was all due to nutritional deficiency, I hoped that might be an easy solution (the logic being that alcohol and poor diet had lowered my micronutrient levels and I could just reverse it). It seemed this wasn’t available privately in Paris, so I went to London for the weekend just to get one.

What happened after that infusion is one part of this story that I still do not understand whatsoever. Within hours of getting the Myers drip, rather than feeling great, I felt catastrophically unwell. I did not sleep that whole night and for most of the rest of the weekend, and returned to Paris in a complete fog. The feeling persisted for some weeks. I have a few ideas of what it could have been - too much B-complex which can give you energy rushes, some kind of micronutrient overdose / toxicity since I was still taking lots of supplements on top of the IV at that time, or some kind of immune reaction - but really I don’t know. Suffice to say I never took one again.

Part V: Ascent #2

The terrible reaction to that IV drip started to put the idea in my head that maybe this whole thing wasn’t just related to nutrition and / or a micronutrient deficiency. So I started doing a lot of searching online about what else can affect digestion, intolerance to certain foods, and associated unexplained chronic health symptoms. The thing that kept on coming up was the gut microbiome. I had heard of probiotics before, and knew that yoghurt was supposed to help your digestion, but outside of that I was pretty uneducated. All I could really tell was that it might be worth a shot trying a probiotic supplement to see if it would help.

So, being me, I went online and found the strongest, highest-dose probiotic supplement I could find, or at least on amazon.fr . It was the Renew Life Ultimate Care probiotic with a dose of 200 Billion live cultures (I didn’t know about vivomixx and other 400Bn+ clinical products at the time). The night it arrived, I popped a dose and went to bed, and then another first thing in the morning. By the time I had eaten breakfast and arrived at work around 9am, I felt violently ill. I was sweating, had a pounding headache and felt like I was going to vomit at any moment. I managed to hold it together for the morning, barely managed to stomach lunch and then went home as soon as people started to leave (around 4pm).

I immediately went to google and started searching for what could cause this, and the main thing that came up was something called the Jarrisch-Herxheimmer reaction. I’m not sure what the clinical validation for this is, but the general understanding is that when something starts killing off pathogens in your body (which probiotics will do when they enter a pathogenic environment), they release toxins and inflammatory cytokines (can do a search yourself) into the body / bloodstream and you feel really unwell. Basically you are starting a fight between good & bad bacteria in your body and you feel the effects of it.

In some sense I was kind of excited that this had happened. The fact that I felt so violently unwell from taking probiotics perhaps pointed to the fact that I did have some kind of gut issue, which was a potentially useful revelation, although in the meantime I still felt horrendously ill. Most advice indicated that the reaction was temporary until you got “over the hump” but by day 7 I was still sick and things were only getting worse, so I stopped taking the pills altogether.

After looking into how I could manage this better, it seemed like low-dose pills or small amounts of probiotic foods could be a way to manage the reaction while still improving, and as there was a health food store on my street, I decided to start experimenting with Kefir. The first night just to see I drank 2 cups of the stuff and of course felt violently ill again. I then embarked on a months-long journey of upping my dose from just tea-spoons to being able to tolerate about 1/2 to 1 cup per night.

Within about six months I was able to dose freely with Kefir, and was eating other probiotic foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, all to positive effect. I managed to return to school following the end of my research placement, and although I still didn’t feel great, I would say I had made it back to another “stasis period”.

My next hypothesis for improvement was to switch from probiotic foods to a supplement again, although just because it was simpler to take than cups of kefir and / or plates of sauerkraut every night. I experimented with quite a few that I found online. I tolerated most of them that had a dose of 100Bn bacteria or less, although somehow still felt better eating the fermented food. Eventually, I tried the Renew Life Mood & Stress probiotic (no longer in production) because it had some strains that were clinically proven to reduce stress levels, which had been one of my main symptoms in bad periods, and it seems to work quite well. I wouldn’t say it completely changed how I felt on a daily basis but it kept me stable to the point that I could stop having to drink Kefir all the time and things felt mostly alright. I felt as if I had found the answer at least for a little while.

Part VI: Stasis #2

This period was the longest in this whole mess. For six years from 2016 to 2022 I just took my daily probiotic supplement, kept a fairly clean diet, and once again got on with life. In this time I graduated from University, moved cities within Canada, and then moved to London to found a start-up which I am still a director of (it has nothing to do with gut health). Until 2018 I would occasionally drink when social engagements came up, but I still always felt somewhat sick after. After feeling ill for almost two weeks after drinking heavily at a company Christmas party, I gave up alcohol entirely. I also never really returned to high-sugar foods for how unwell they had made me feel in the past and also just lack of need (I always found not drinking much more socially inhibiting that not eating deserts and the like).

It was in the spring of 2022 that, after 5-6 years of stasis, I once again became fed up with the whole thing. I was a young professional in my late twenties at this point and just didn’t understand why I had to take a probiotic supplement (of which I could only tolerate doses on the lower end) and eat a strict diet just to feel somewhat normal. I had considered longer-term solutions like getting a Fecal Microbiota Transplant to try and solve the issue once and for all, but most things like that were only offered privately, were expensive and the providers that did exist seemed a bit suspect (most FMT-type treatments are only available in clinical trials or for C-dificile infections at the moment).

Somewhere in here a nurse I spoke to at an FMT clinic I had called told me to try going keto and see if it helped. I did it and felt pretty awesome for four months but lost a ton of weight (I was already very skinny) and found it very hard to maintain (especially socially). I eventually gave it up returned to a whole-grain high-protein diet.

Part VII: Descent #3

After considering various options of how I reasonably could take action to improve my health and general life condition, I came up with the solution of finding a Nutritionist experienced in gut health issues. I had spent a lot of time avoiding medical professionals after my initial bad experiences with doctors and nutritionists either not being able to help or actually being actively unhelpful by questioning all of the symptoms and whether my reactions to foods were just psychosomatic, but I decided it was time to try again. I found a registered dietician in London who also had a PhD in gut microbiome research, which seemed like a great fit.

I shared my whole story with all of my symptoms and current condition, and although she had some questions about my sugar reaction and some of the weirder extended stress symptoms, she mostly accepted the story and that I clearly had some kind of untreated gut health issue. Her recommendation was that my diet was already positive (although could try introducing a few more carbs) and that the probiotic I was taking was as good as could be recommended by current knowledge in the field (noted that it is generally quite personal which ones work for some people and others not, and they don’t really know why).

In terms of path forward, she recommended that I try introducing some more prebiotic foods and potentially a prebiotic supplement. Going down the list of my daily diet, it was already quite prebiotic / fibre-heavy, so we decided to try a supplement. The idea is that the prebiotic fibre helps feed and grow more of the probiotics you are taking in the supplement, and will improve your gut health.

I started taking a daily dose (12g) of inulin, the best-validated prebiotic supplement available. The first few days I didn’t feel great and had pretty upset digestion, but nothing crazy. After about 3-4 days, I started having a reaction similar to the first time I ever tried high-dose probiotics. I felt pretty spaced out, generally ill, and hadn’t much appetite or desire for food. I interpreted this as being another Herxheimer reaction, so decided to stick with the supplementation. After about 1 month I still felt really unwell. Most days were a struggle to get through, I was in a total fog, and felt a lot of the extreme stress sensitivity of my initial low-points creeping back in. I spoke to the nutritionist and we decided that I would reduce my inulin dose or stop taking it all together. I reduced my dose by 1/2 and then by 1/3 but still felt increasingly unwell, so two weeks later stopped taking it all together.

The next month was very uncomfortable. I felt quite ill most days, had general nausea / feelings of disorientation, wasn’t really tolerating most foods, and wasn’t sure what was going on again. In a last ditch, I decided to stop taking all supplements (at this point just my daily probiotic). For about two weeks after stopping the probiotics I didn’t feel all that different, but then somewhere around 12-14 days in, things started to go seriously south. Day by day, or even hour by hour at one point, I started to feel things degrading at first back to the all-day stress symptoms I had in the very beginning of this whole journey, and then to a version like 100x worse than that.

At one point I didn’t sleep for almost five days. My heart was permanently bounding out of my chest, and I was just in excruciating pain every single minute of the waking hours. I had to quit my job for a period of time, and my life was otherwise completely turned upside down. Without going into too many specifics, as I have tried to focus at first on the health aspect here, this is also the closest I came to thinking that perhaps life had just not really worked out for me and it was time to consider giving up on it. For whatever reason I still don’t completely understand, I stuck with it and suffered through the worst.

The greatest intensity of these symptoms lasted for about a month. I went back on the keto diet just because I had felt well on it in the past and didn’t really know what else to do, and after 5-6 weeks I was able to return to work, although only part-time, and somewhat get a handle on my life. I still felt pretty unwell most of the time, and had become quite isolated personally and socially because of it, but at least it felt like the adrenaline tap had lowered a bit and I could mostly suffer through each day.

From a health-hypothesis point of view, I was a bit at wits end. I had contacted the nutritionist again and although she agreed the prebiotics can cause an adverse health reaction in some individuals for reasons not well understood, she didn’t really accept most of what I was saying around the extreme stress symptoms returning, and seemed a bit doubtful of me and what I was presenting. I decided that was about as far as we could continue together. Although I don’t deny I was in a terrible mental state at that time (which would be the case for anyone given the circumstances), I was completely convinced, and am unwavering to this day about the fact that the principal source of my issue was a serious, unadressed physical condition.

Part VIII: Ascent #3

All I felt I really had left was to go to a hospital and just accept whatever treatment they proposed (whether tranquilizers, sedation, some other drug or therapy I wasn’t aware of) or lay it all out for an experienced gastroenterologist / digestive specialist and just see what happened. I had often thought of seeking a specialist doctor, but was wary as pretty much all GPs and other doctors had been quite dismissive of my symptoms and assumed condition in the past. Here, however, we were quite literally in the “nothing to lose” position. With how things had gone the last months and my current life situation, I felt that if I didn’t fix this once and for all there was quite little point in continuing to live.

Luckily, I am at least somewhat a person of means, and in the UK there is quite an availability of private medical specialists who will see you for a cash fee. I went to one I had found from a private doctor review website who seemed to have some experience in chronic digestive and gut health issues. I explained to him this entire story, perhaps not quite in such detail and with such emotional weight around specifics of how bad it felt, but largely my reaction to certain foods, how I had tried to manage it over the years, and my current situation.

Firstly, he broadly accepted most of what I was saying, which was quite relieving in the first instance. His answer, although inconcrete, was that digestive health is, even for him and other experts, a very poorly understood area. He couldn’t say exactly why this was happening to me, but if I had the time and money he was willing to start looking into it with me and see if there were any potential solutions. For the first time, I felt as if an established member of the medical community was accepting their own blind spots in whatever this issue was , and willing to try and help.

His first suggestion was to run some tests to rule out more common and well-understood digestive disorders like Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These all came back negative. Upon these results, he suggested that given my reaction to the prebiotic fibre and previous reaction to carbs and high-sugar foods, the most likely explanation was a chronic case of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth or SIBO. The way to diagnose would be a sugar or lactulose (another prebiotic) breath-test, and the treatment being a course of a choice of antibiotics to wipe out the overgrowth and try to correct the dysbiosis (gut microbiota imbalance).

I was quite open that I didn’t really feel comfortable trying a sugar or prebiotic-fuelled test at that time, given how precarious my health and life position was and my previous reaction to both of those substances. He suggested that since the point of the test is to see if either the sugar or lactulose cook up any bad bacteria and produce gas, and I had already shown a very negative anecdotal reaction to both with associated gas production, he was happy to just prescribe an empirical dose of the antibiotics.

This is now going back a bit, but as a child I was given a tremendous amount of antibiotics. I am fairly convinced that that is what caused all these issues for me, or was at least the main contributor. So naturally I was a bit wary of another doctor giving me more antibiotics, although I trusted this new one quite a lot. I eventually found online that there is some validation of natural antimicrobial and anti fungal substances being helpful in treating overgrowths and gut dysbiosis, so I decided to explore those options first. They are mostly all formulations of herbal oils and concentrates. It’s the sort of thing I would have been quite skeptical of before all of this started, but at this point I had had so many unexpected negative and positive reactions to different foods, supplements and treatments that I was more or less willing to try anything.

The best validated one is called Candibactin. It’s a combined treatment of mostly Oregano Oil and a Chinese Herb called berberine. I ordered some online and decided to give it a whirl. By my third dose, I was having an extremely intense version of what I experienced when I first took probiotics. Persistent headaches, sweating, lack of appetite, general unwellness and pain. It felt like an extremely intense flu and at some point I felt like I was spiking a fever. I chalked this up to the Herxheimmer reaction again and stuck with it. Once again, by about day 7, the symptoms were still extremely intense and I had to give up on the treatment. Interestingly, although I was in extreme discomfort, my digestion had normalized in this time (I will spare you the description). I didn’t really know what to make of this but it is interesting that the supplements had at least done something.

Following the experience on the herbal supplement which I had no desire to repeat for the moment, my symptoms somewhat stabilized although didn’t return to what they were prior to starting them. I wouldn’t say I felt notably better or worse but just “different”. I decided it was time to give the pharmaceuticals a go and see if I could tolerate them or if they were helpful in some other way, so I took a two week course of Rifaximin (the drug they give for SIBO). Being on Rifaximin was an extremely painful experience, but not quite as bad as the herbal supplements so I managed to push through it and by the end it had had quite a positive effect on me. I still didn’t feel great after the Rifaximin, and continued to work only part-time, but it had definitely done something.

Somewhere in here I also commissioned a microbiome stool test, which showed I had a quite significant dysbiosis (low levels of lactobacilli with almost undetectable levels of bifidobacterium, and a strong overgrowth of H2S-producing pathogens). It also showed I had an active H-Pylori infection and extremely poor absorption of fat and other macronutrients. Off the back of it the gastro prescribed me a triple-course of antibiotics to clear the H-Pylori and attributed the poor absorption to persistent SIBO. The triple-therapy for H. Pylori was a horrible experience and I actually ended up in hospital and was told to stop taking one of the drugs (Flagyl / Metronidazole) because it was giving me tinnitus, insomnia and general disorientation, which apparently can be a side effect, but the treatment otherwise worked.

After this latest course of antibiotics, I was, as before, not in a life-ending position, but my health was still quite bad. I was not accomplishing much at work, and I had essentially no social life. I decided something had to change, so I told my work I would take two months off after Christmas and do whatever I needed to do to solve this thing. The two remaining options I had before me were to try the herbal formulations again, or eat a completely liquid diet for 2-3 weeks to try and starve the pathogenic overgrowth (actually a clinically validated method of treating SIBO).

I first tried a fat-based version of the elemental diet first (most are sugar-based and I didn’t want to test that again), but it caused extremely painful stomach-burning feelings, which apparently can be caused by caprylic acid in the MCT oil it is primarily composed of, and I stopped after two days. After meditating on it for about five days I decided to just re-start the herbal formulations and endure whatever pain it caused me until this thing was hopefully cured.

So began two years of varied supplementation and antibiotics. I switched off the Candibactin formulation at one point to another called FC-cidal & Dysbiocide, as is recommended to avoid building resistance, although this is less common with the natural products, and also took multiple further courses of Rifaximin as things weren’t progressing as quickly as I’d hoped. The experience was painful but in different ways than it had been the first time around, and also took a lot longer than I expected, although I suppose after 10 years at it that shouldn’t have been surprising. I am not entirely sure why being on the herbals the second time around was less extreme than the first. I don’t know if they were less effective than at the first exposure, or that something about my situation had changed, but it was different in some way. It’s also worth noting that pretty much the whole time I was taking the herbal supplements & Rifaximin I stayed on a Keto or SCD diet (specific carbohydrate diet, basically no starches and reduced carb), although I’ve moved off this in recent months as I’ve started to feel better.

Part IX: Today

Something seems to have worked. I can’t point to it concretely or specifically, I am not a microbiologist or a gastroenterologist, but my life feels so much better now than it did when all this kicked off, and I feel very positive about the future. I am actually back on a 3-month course of Rifaximin that my gastro has prescribed me at the moment to see if we can totally kick the issue, and will probably follow-up with some kind of diet / supplement regimen for some time after that, but either way my symptoms are so much improved by what I've done in the last two years that that feels like a success. I can't say that the problem is gone forever or would never come back but I definitely understand it a lot better and have a lot of tools to make sure that my life doesn't fall apart again like it did those last three times.

I still don’t really know what this all means to me personally. The process of getting better (trying the prebiotic, having my health collapse, taking the various pharmaceutical & herbal antibiotics) almost destroyed me as a person. At some point I had distanced myself almost completely from my job, my girlfriend at the time, most friends and pretty much any semblance of a normal social life or any life at all. For the better part of a year life was really just an existence of suffering every day and hoping to make it to the next one. Despite that, and that of course things always can or could have gone differently, I unfortunately feel as if at a high level I had no other choice. I was completely unwilling to spend the rest of my life living below my full potential of enjoyment, and was always going to do whatever it took to get there. I am sometimes shocked that I managed to survive all of this, but I am here, still living and will try to deal with whatever the experience has done to me in the same way I dealt with the issue itself: by living it, experiencing it day by day, not turning away from it, and knowing that no matter how dark the world can become, so long as you are still here, it is not really over.

Although the physical symptoms were and have been excruciatingly painful, one of the most difficult things about this whole experience has been the level of misunderstanding and invalidation, both from the medical community and from some friends, family, other personal acquaintances and the general public, around what happened to me. I understand that it is a difficult story to follow, but unfortunately it was all very real and somehow I managed to find a route out of it for now. One day the medical community will figure this out and understand what happened to me and others like me (because they are also out there in very sad corners of the internet - links below), and share it with the world to build our collective understanding and compassion. Until then it is strange to be one of the few people to know all of this and what this experience feels like and has felt like, but I am trying day by day to come closer to people and understand why we aren’t yet equipped as a society to address these kinds issues on multiple fronts. I don’t blame anyone for not understanding what was happening to me, but the few who did and were willing to listen at the time are angels and I’m not sure I would have gotten through it without them.

Eventually I hope I will fully recover from all of this. Physically, mentally, emotionally, because it has touched every aspect of my life over the last twelve years. Until then I am just here living every day in this strange situation of being a survivor of such a horrible, confusing and largely misunderstood problem.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ibs/comments/jpkol3/how_probiotics_destroyed_my_health_long_storyrant/

youtube

#SIBO #guthealth #Youtube

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chronicbeans · 2 years ago

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1000 Follower Special! Checking into the Iolite Hospital!

I didn't know what to do and someone mentioned liking my story, so here you go! It has a little twist at the end, tying into one of my other stories. Yippee!

TW: Hospital Setting/Doctors, Chronic Illness, Mentions of Death/Nihilism, Derealization, Escapism

You open your eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness and vertigo hit you. The world seems to be moving and spinning as you sit up. Looking beneath you, you realize that the grass, which used to be an unnatural green tone, is now a crimson red. Before you sits a large mansion or manor, that says "Iolite Hospital" on the front. You can even see what looks to be the edge of a large playground in the backyard...

Since it seems to be the only place nearby, you decide to approach and enter it, intending to ask for help. You don't know how to got here, but you were not in the... Best situation beforehand. You want directions to get home. To be free.

Entering, you see a large waiting room, filled with the strangest of people. People with floating eyes for heads, people with no eyes, and even people with animal features. The person at the front desk has a red, rotary phone for a head, which they are currently using to talk to someone.

"No, Jessie! I am NOT free this Saturday! I am, in fact, very busy-!" They cut themselves off, their phone head turning a bit more towards you. "Jessie... I need to call you later... Something has happened." They place the handset on the place where it rests, asking "Are you... A human...?"

You look around, seeing that everyone is staring at you. You slowly say "Umm... yes?" The phone headed person stands up, saying "Oh... oh my stars... I need to call someone. Sit right over there! Dr. Cogsworth will come get you!" They then dial something on their head, speaking on the phone with someone.

Sitting down in the waiting room, a large portrait catches your eye. A person, almost human looking, stares at you. They look completely white, with long white hair that reaches their knees, paper white skin and eyebrows... even their clothes are white. The only color seems to be their eyes, which are a glittering purple, and a crack in their face, revealing iolite inside of them. Almost like a human geode. The plaque at the bottom reads "Our Founder, Dr. Pierce Iolite".

This place seems like a dream. Everything... looks fuzzy in a sense. Like a foggy television screen, or trying to remember a dream, but failing. It all just seems fake. From the strange creatures around you, to the strange aura the hospital gives off.

The sounds of robotic clicks and the chiming of a music box approach, before a door opens. A most peculiar man enters the room, asking "I heard there is a human? I am here to help you. Where are you?" He looks around, before his glowing green eyes spot you. "Human."

You swallow thickly, staring at the large, winding key on his back, subconsciously saying "Yes... I am a human." Then, you stand and follow him. There isn't much else to do and he seems like a doctor. He can help, maybe. Doctors are smart!

As the both of you walk down the hallway, you hear the sounds of singing from down one of the halls, followed by a loud "Nothing matters, so who cares if your life is a waste!" then, the crashing of a bunch of items to the floor. As if reading your mind, the music box man says "That is the mortuary ward. Baxter, to be specific. He is... eccentric."

Ascending through an elevator, you finally ask "Where are you taking me? Can you help me?" He is silent, looking down at you. He then speaks, in the most monotonous voice ever "You wish to get away from the neighborhood, don't you?"

You let out a soft gasp from shock. Looking around, you see that you have made it to a floor called "C-Floor". The man continues "I am Dr. Cogsworth. I have been created to replicate humans. You are a human. I am meant to replicate you. There is no need to be afraid. I am, specifically, the head gastroenterologist of this hospital. I am helping you, simply because I have the most knowledge of humans."

Then, his cold, cold hand takes your own. Leading you into a room labeled "Playroom", you see a place right out of a nostalgic, eerie, and childish dream. There are those colorful play place tubes, slides, and even a ball pit. At the edge of the room, you see a man with curly bright orange hair staring at a television set. His patient gown has numerous eyes scribbled on with black marker. A pair of white wings flutter about his head.

He turns, his pale, eyeless face covered in blue freckles and a pink pacifier in his mouth. He takes it out, chirping in a childish tone of voice, despite the fact that his voice not sounding like a child's, at all. "New friend! Come on! The show is about to start! I haven't had a watch buddy in a while! I can share my chikin nuggies with you! They are dino nuggies!!"

Looking up to Dr. Cogsworth, he nods, gesturing for you to apporach. "You will know how I know your situation. Just watch." With no other choice, you approach the TV. The man hands you a plate of dino nuggets, alongside a carton of strawberry milk.

The show starts. The words "WELCOME HOME" flash onscreen.

Then, HE shows up. Wally Darling.

He quickly begins pounding his fist against the screen, crying out "(Y/N)!!! MY PUPPETEER!!! COME BACK!!! I LOVE YOU!!!"

The eyeless man laughs, pointing at you "He thinks you're (Y/N)! How cute! I love this show! Wally is so strange! Hehehe!"

The clicking of Dr. Cogsworth's gears approaches, before he says "Come with me to my office. We must speak of your care plan. You will be staying here for a long, long time." "I want to go home..." "There is no way home. The hospital has chosen you as a patient." "I want to go home..." "This place is better than being with him, right?"

You look back to the screen, seeing Wally looking at you with desperation in his eyes. His permanent smile seems to be straining, as if trying to frown but not being able to. He has caused you such misery... when the show stopped airing, and you weren't able to see Henry or Angela again, it became so much worse. To think, the show actually survived in this little... world? Dimension? Reality?

You look back up to the doctor, tears flowing down your face. "I guess so..."

"Then I am proud to welcome you to the Iolite Hospital, where you shall stay for as long as you are sick. In your case, I guess, you are staying here for a sense of escapism from your reality. I hope our services can provide that for you."

#Tales from the Iolite Hospital #1000 follower special #Welcome Home #My OCs #my ocs are my babies

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darthhope999 · 2 years ago

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OC intro pt four!

Feel free to send me story or headcannon asks!

Check out the rest right here

William Stephens

Will is a gastroenterologist working at a hospital. He is caring and very competent, one of the best in his department. Although, he can be blunt and slightly ignorant to the feelings of those around him, especially those he is close to, he can be very empathetic. Will has pale blue eyes and light blonde hair, he wears black rimmed glasses and normally a white lab coat at work. He tends to get very nervous when he cannot control something, maybe one of the reasons he became a doctor.

Mason Stephens

Mason is a freelance artist specializing in fantasy-realism. They are introverted and very slow to open up, but once they do they are very protective and caring. Mason loves learning about and talking about art history and a multitude of different movies. Otherwise, they are very professional and to the point. They own a rabbit name Raven and a puppy named Scout. They have blue-green eyes and very light blonde hair, and, like their brother, wear glasses. They have some form of IBS (or just a chronic pain illness) but can’t afford much to help it.

Moodboard

Picrew

Nathan Scarlett

Nate works as a police detective with his partner Natalie. He is enthusiastic and friendly, making him a good communicator, and logical when he needs to be, making him good at working under pressure. Nate is extremely extroverted and loves partying, he is also amazing at annoying the heck out of Will. He has hazel eyes and dark brown hair, and his face is almost always set in a smile. He normally wears shorts and a leather jacket when not a work.

Alex & Rosie Scarlett

The sisters of Nathan, they were separated from him at a very young age. The two live in an orphanage (not a good one either) and only get to see Nate once every six months. Alex is snarky and rebellious, luckily being very smart to back up her snide comments. She has green eyes and red hair with freckles spotting her cheeks. Rosie is about two years old and very obnoxious, she absolutely loves monkeys and the color blue. Like her sister, she has red hair, and like her brother, hazel eyes.

Raven

Scout

#OC #ocs #oc lore #lore #oc backstory #oc background #backstory #background #ref sheet #oc ref sheet #feel free to send asks #word building #defender tales world building #defender tales #monsters within us

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drsamratjankar12 · 7 days ago

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Colon polyps and colon cancer are both diseases that affect the colon, but they differ significantly in their nature, potential risks, and treatment options. Dr. Samrat Jankar, a leading gastroenterologist and gastrointestinal surgeon in Pune, explains the key differences between these two conditions, which are essential for prevention, early detection, and effective management.

What Are Colon Polyps?

Colon polyps are growths that form on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. While most polyps are benign (non-cancerous), some have the potential to develop into colon cancer over time. Polyps vary in size, shape, and type, and there are different types, containing:

Adenomatous Polyps (Adenomas): These are the most common type and are considered pre-cancerous. If left untreated, adenomatous polyps may eventually turn into colon cancer.

Hyperplastic Polyps: Normally small and considered low-risk for cancer.

Inflammatory Polyps: Often associated with inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Serrated Polyps: These may also have cancerous potential, specifically when located on the right side of the colon.

What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, is a malignancy that forms in the colon or rectum. It usually starts as small, benign clumps of cells known as polyps that may develop into cancerous growths over time. Colon cancer can be aggressive and spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early.

Key Differences Between Colon Polyps and Colon Cancer:

Nature of Growth:

Polyps: These are typically benign growths with the potential to become cancerous over time, but they are not cancerous in themselves.

Colon Cancer: Colon cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that can invade surrounding tissues and spread to other organs.

Risk Factors:

Polyps: Certain types of polyps (especially adenomatous) increase the risk of developing colon cancer. Risk factors for polyps include age, family history, inflammatory bowel disease, and a diet high in fat.

Colon Cancer: Risk factors for colon cancer include a family history of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet, particularly one low in fiber and high in red or processed meats.

Symptoms:

Polyps: Early-stage polyps may not show any symptoms. As they grow, they may cause rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, or abdominal pain. However, these signs are often not noticeable until the polyp has become larger or cancerous.

Colon Cancer: Symptoms of colon cancer can include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, ongoing abdominal pain, blood in the stool, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation.

Detection:

Polyps: The best way to detect colon polyps is through routine screening methods such as colonoscopy, which can identify polyps before they turn into cancer. Other screening tests include flexible sigmoidoscopy, stool tests, and virtual colonoscopy.

Colon Cancer: Like polyps, colon cancer is typically detected through colonoscopy or imaging studies if signs develop. Early-stage colon cancer may be found incidentally during routine screening for polyps.

Treatment:

Polyps: Most polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy, preventing them from progressing into colon cancer. Regular monitoring is needed to ensure that new polyps do not develop.

Colon Cancer: Treatment for colon cancer relies on the stage and may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these. Early-stage cancer has a high cure rate, specifically when detected before it spreads.

Why Early Detection is Key?

The good news is that colon polyps can be detected and removed before they have a chance to develop into colon cancer. Regular screenings, starting at age 45 or earlier if there’s a family history of colorectal cancer, are essential in preventing colon cancer. If colon cancer is diagnosed early, the chances of successful treatment and recovery are significantly improved.

Dr. Samrat Jankar emphasizes the importance of preventive care and early detection. Routine screenings can save lives by recognizing problems early when they are most treatable. For individuals at higher risk, earlier or more frequent screening may be required.

Conclusion:

While colon polyps and colon cancer are related, they are distinct in their nature, risk, and treatment. Colon polyps, especially the adenomatous type, have the possibility to turn into cancer if not managed. On the other hand, colon cancer is a malignant condition that requires more intensive treatment. Regular screenings and early intervention are crucial in preventing the progression of colon polyps to cancer.

If you are due for a screening or have concerns about your colon health, consult with a qualified colorectal surgeon in Pune like Dr. Samrat Jankar. With early detection and proactive management, colon cancer is a highly preventable condition.

#Colon Polyps Treatment #Colon Cancer Treatment #Colorectal Specialist #Colorectal Surgeon #Gastroenterologist

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thearcgut · 9 days ago

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Best Doctor for Fistula Treatment in Chennai

Best Doctor for Fistula Treatment in Chennai is a painful condition that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. It refers to an abnormal connection or passage between two organs or vessels that do not normally communicate. One of the most common types of fistulas occurs in the anal region, known as anal fistulas, which can cause severe discomfort and complications if left untreated. In Chennai, The Arc Gut stands out as a leading medical center offering advanced diagnostic and treatment options for fistulas, including anal fistulas.

This article delves into the causes, symptoms, and treatments for fistulas, with a special focus on The Arc Gut and its expertise in providing effective care for fistula patients.

Understanding Fistula and Its Types

A fistula is an abnormal connection or tunnel that forms between two organs or tissues. Fistulas can develop in various parts of the body, but some of the most common types include:

Anal Fistula: This occurs between the skin near the anus and the inside of the anal canal, usually as a result of an infection in the anal glands.

Gastrointestinal Fistula: This type forms between the stomach and other organs like the intestines, often due to conditions like Crohn’s disease or complications from surgery.

Rectovaginal Fistula: This is an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina, typically caused by childbirth or inflammatory bowel disease.

Urinary Fistula: A condition where there is an abnormal passage between the urinary bladder and the vagina or rectum, often caused by surgeries or childbirth.

Symptoms of Fistula

The symptoms of a fistula depend on its location and type, but common signs include:

Pain or discomfort: Especially when sitting or during bowel movements (for anal fistulas).

Swelling or redness: Around the fistula site, which can become inflamed or infected.

Pus or blood discharge: Leakage from the fistula tract, often with a foul odor.

Fever: If the fistula becomes infected, it may cause a low-grade fever.

Difficulty passing stool: In cases of anal fistulas, there may be pain or obstruction during bowel movements.

Changes in urination: For urinary fistulas, symptoms may include pain or unusual discharge during urination.

Why Choose The Arc Gut for Fistula Treatment in Chennai?

The Arc Gut in Chennai has established itself as a premier medical center specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal and anorectal conditions, including fistulas. The hospital is known for its team of experienced surgeons, advanced diagnostic facilities, and comprehensive approach to treating fistula-related disorders.

1. Expertise of Surgeons at The Arc Gut

One of the key reasons The Arc Gut is a top choice for fistula treatment is the expertise of its surgeons, particularly in managing complex anorectal and gastrointestinal fistulas. The center’s team includes some of the best colorectal surgeons and gastroenterologists in Chennai, who specialize in minimally invasive and advanced techniques for fistula treatment.

Dr. K. Subramaniam: A leading colorectal surgeon, Dr. Subramaniam has over 20 years of experience in treating complex anorectal conditions, including fistulas. He is known for his patient-centric approach and precision in performing surgeries like fistulotomies and flap procedures.

Dr. R. Pradeep: A highly skilled gastroenterologist specializing in gastrointestinal fistulas, Dr. Pradeep has vast experience in treating fistulas resulting from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease. He is known for his expertise in medical management and his ability to handle complicated fistula cases effectively.

2. Advanced Fistula Treatment Techniques

At The Arc Gut, the approach to fistula treatment combines the latest medical technology with minimally invasive surgical techniques to ensure the best outcomes for patients. Some of the advanced treatment methods available include:

Fistulotomy: This traditional surgical procedure involves cutting open the fistula to allow it to heal from the inside out. It is most commonly used for simple anal fistulas.

Seton Placement: For more complex or high-risk anal fistulas, a seton (a flexible thread or wire) is placed in the fistula tract to allow drainage and promote healing. This method is often used when the fistula involves significant muscle tissue, such as the anal sphincter.

Flap Surgery: In cases of complex anal fistulas, flap surgery is performed to close the fistula by using a piece of healthy tissue from the surrounding area.

LIFT Procedure (Ligation of Intersphincteric Fistula Tract): This minimally invasive technique is used to treat anal fistulas without cutting through the anal sphincter muscles, which helps preserve bowel control.

Fibrin Glue: For certain types of fistulas, fibrin glue, a biological adhesive, may be used to seal the fistula tract and promote healing without the need for a large incision.

Laser Surgery: Laser therapy is sometimes used to treat anal fistulas with high precision, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

The combination of these advanced techniques allows the surgeons at The Arc Gut to treat fistulas effectively while minimizing complications and recovery time.

Diagnosis of Fistula at The Arc Gut

Accurate diagnosis is essential for determining the most appropriate treatment for fistulas. At The Arc Gut, the diagnostic process typically includes:

Physical Examination: The doctor will inspect the affected area and check for visible signs of a fistula, such as swelling, redness, or pus discharge.

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): For anal fistulas, a digital rectal examination is performed to assess the extent of the fistula and its relation to the anal sphincter muscles.

Endoscopy: In some cases, an endoscopic examination (such as a colonoscopy) is used to visualize the internal part of the fistula, especially for gastrointestinal or rectovaginal fistulas.

Imaging Tests: Advanced imaging techniques like MRI or ultrasound are used to evaluate the fistula tract, especially in complex cases, to determine its depth, size, and location.

Fistulogram: This specialized X-ray test is used to trace the exact path of an anal fistula and assess its extent.

Post-Treatment Care at The Arc Gut

After fistula treatment, recovery and proper post-operative care are crucial to prevent recurrence and ensure full recovery. The Arc Gut provides a comprehensive follow-up program, including:

Wound Care: Proper wound care is emphasized to prevent infection and promote healing. Patients are educated on how to keep the treated area clean and dry.

Pain Management: Pain relief is a key aspect of recovery. The hospital provides adequate pain management strategies to help ease discomfort during the recovery process.

Dietary Guidance: A healthy diet rich in fiber is recommended to promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation, which can strain the healing fistula.

Regular Check-ups: Patients are scheduled for follow-up appointments to monitor their progress, ensure proper healing, and detect any signs of recurrence.

Physical Therapy: For patients who have undergone complex surgeries involving the anal sphincter muscles, pelvic floor physical therapy may be recommended to restore muscle strength and prevent incontinence.

Why The Arc Gut is the Best Choice for Fistula Treatment in Chennai

Experienced Surgeons: With leading experts in colorectal and gastrointestinal surgery, The Arc Gut offers some of the best surgical care for fistula treatment in Chennai.

Comprehensive Care: From diagnosis to post-treatment rehabilitation, the center provides holistic care tailored to each patient’s needs.

Minimally Invasive Options: The hospital utilizes the latest minimally invasive techniques to ensure faster recovery, reduced pain, and minimal scarring.

Patient-Centered Approach: The team at The Arc Gut takes a personalized approach to treatment, ensuring that every patient receives the best care based on their specific condition.

Conclusion

Fistulas, whether anal, gastrointestinal, or rectovaginal, can be challenging to treat, but with the right medical intervention, the outlook is very positive. The Arc Gut in Chennai offers cutting-edge treatments and expert care for patients suffering from fistulas. With experienced surgeons, advanced diagnostic techniques, and a range of minimally invasive treatment options, The Arc Gut stands out as one of the best centers for fistula treatment in Chennai. If you're looking for expert care and a high success rate in fistula management, The Arc Gut is a trusted choice. For more details visit https://thearcgut.clinic/colorectal-cancer-treatment-in-chennai/

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cardiachospitalwellsunmedicity · 12 days ago

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Best Gastroenterology Hospital in Lucknow

When Should You See a Gastroenterologist? 🩺 A Gastroenterologist specializes in diagnosing and treating issues related to your digestive system. You should consult one if you experience the following symptoms:

🍴 Digestion Issues:

Experiencing frequent indigestion (e.g., bloating, acid reflux, or nausea)? It might signal a problem with your stomach or intestines. 🤕 Abdominal Pain: Persistent or severe pain in your stomach area could indicate underlying conditions like ulcers, gallstones, or liver issues.

🩸 Blood in Your Stool: Seeing red streaks or dark, tarry stool? This may be a sign of bleeding in your digestive tract and requires immediate attention.

😣 Difficulty Swallowing: Trouble swallowing food or liquids (called dysphagia) could be related to your esophagus and needs investigation.

Pro Tip: Don’t ignore these symptoms Call 18008891200/8810787432

🕒 Early consultation 🕒 can help prevent more serious issues and lead to effective treatment! 🌟

Wellsun Medicity Super-Specialty Hospital

8-B/NH-5, Vrindavan Yojna, Shaheed Path,Lucknow-226029 +91-6389010203/ 18008891200/8810787432

#best hospital for respiratory diseases in gonda #best open heart surgeory in lucknow #best neuro hospital in lucknow #best mics surgeon in lucknow #best hospital for heart surgery in lucknow #best cardiology hospital in lucknow #best cardiac surgeon in lucknow #best cardiac hospital in lucknow #best angioplasty in lucknow #best cardiologist in lucknow

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drchintamanigodbole · 14 days ago

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Which Specialists Are Needed for Colon Cancer Treatment in India?

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Early detection is key to improving survival rates, and effective treatment requires a team of specialists. In India, a multidisciplinary approach is essential for managing colon cancer, with each expert contributing to diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment care.

What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer begins when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the colon or rectum, often forming polyps that may turn cancerous over time. Key risk factors include age (typically after 50), a family history of colorectal cancer, a low-fiber diet, and high consumption of red and processed meats. Symptoms often include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss. Early detection is vital as colon cancer often develops without noticeable symptoms.

Key Specialists for Colon Cancer Treatment

Colon cancer treatment requires a team of experts who collaborate to ensure optimal care. These specialists include:

1. Gastroenterologist

Gastroenterologists are often the first specialists patients consult. They perform colonoscopies to detect potential cancer and take biopsies for further analysis. Early screening plays a critical role in detecting colon cancer before symptoms appear.

2. Medical Oncologist

A medical oncologist coordinates chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy to treat cancer cells. They collaborate with other specialists to determine the best treatment plan based on the cancer’s stage and location.

3. Colorectal Surgeon

Surgical intervention is often necessary for colon cancer. A colorectal surgeon removes the tumor or affected part of the colon. Minimally invasive surgeries, such as robotic or laparoscopic surgery, reduce recovery time and improve outcomes. Dr. Chintamani Godbole, a renowned colorectal surgeon, specializes in these advanced techniques.

4. Radiation Oncologist

Radiation therapy may be required, particularly for rectal cancer or advanced stages of colon cancer. A radiation oncologist targets the cancer cells with high-energy rays to shrink tumors or eliminate residual cancer after surgery.

5. Pathologist and Radiologist

Pathologists analyze biopsy samples to confirm cancer diagnosis and assess its aggressiveness. Radiologists use imaging techniques like CT scans and MRIs to monitor tumor spread and guide treatment decisions.

6. Palliative Care Specialist

For advanced cases, a palliative care specialist focuses on pain management and improving the quality of life by managing symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and emotional distress.

7. Nutritionist/Dietitian

Nutrition is crucial for supporting patients during treatment. Dietitians help manage side effects like loss of appetite or digestive issues, ensuring patients receive essential nutrients for recovery.

8. Psychologist or Psychiatrist

Psychological support is essential for managing the emotional and mental strain of cancer treatment. Psychologists and psychiatrists help patients cope with anxiety, depression, and stress associated with their diagnosis and treatment.

Why Choose Dr. Chintamani Godbole for Colon Cancer Treatment?

Dr. Chintamani Godbole is a leading colorectal surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and robotic surgeries for colon cancer. With extensive training in India and internationally, including at the renowned Basingstoke Peritoneal Malignancy Institute, Dr. Godbole is recognized for his expertise in advanced procedures like Peritoneal Cytoreductive Surgery (HIPEC) for complex cases.

Dr. Godbole’s approach emphasizes personalized care, clear communication, and comprehensive support throughout the treatment process, making him a top choice for patients seeking expert care in colon cancer treatment.

Location and How to Reach Gadre Hospital

Gadre Hospital, near Hindmata Cinema, Dadar East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400014, is easily accessible by various transport options:

Western Line: Alight at Dadar Station and take a 5-10 minute rickshaw or cab ride to the hospital.

Central Line: Alight at Dadar Station and take a short cab or rickshaw ride.

Out of Mumbai:

By Train: Reach Dadar Station from other parts of Mumbai.

By Flight: From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, take a 20-30 minute taxi to the hospital.

The hospital is centrally located, making it convenient for both local and out-of-town patients.

#gastrointestinal surgeon in mumbai #colon cancer treatment in mumbai #drchintamanigodbole #colorectal surgeon in mumbai.#colorectalsurgery #colorectalsurgeon #gastrointestinal doctor in mumbai #colorectalcancer #colorectal surgeon in mumbai #dr. chintamani godbole

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drnishargpatel · 25 days ago

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Addressing Hemorrhoids: When to See a Doctor

Introduction

Hemorrhoids are a common medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Often caused by increased pressure in the rectal area due to constipation, pregnancy, or prolonged sitting, hemorrhoids can range from mildly uncomfortable to severely painful. Understanding when to treat hemorrhoids at home and when to seek medical help is vital for proper care and recovery. If you’re searching for the best guidance, consulting one of the top 10 gastroenterologists in Surat can help you address the condition effectively.

What Are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen blood vessels in the rectal or anal area. They can develop internally (inside the rectum) or externally (under the skin around the anus).

Internal Hemorrhoids: These are located inside the rectum and may not cause noticeable symptoms unless they prolapse (protrude) or bleed.

External Hemorrhoids: These occur under the skin around the anus and can be more painful, especially if a blood clot forms.

While hemorrhoids are generally not life-threatening, untreated or severe cases can lead to complications, including persistent bleeding, infection, and severe discomfort.

Common Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Recognizing the symptoms is the first step in addressing the condition. Common signs include:

Itching, irritation, or swelling around the anus.

Pain or discomfort during bowel movements.

Bright red blood on toilet paper or in the stool.

A lump near the anus that may feel tender or sensitive.

If these symptoms persist or worsen despite home remedies, it’s time to consider professional medical care.

When to See a Doctor

Knowing when to see a doctor for hemorrhoids is essential for preventing complications and ensuring timely treatment. Here are some scenarios where medical consultation is advised:

1. Persistent Bleeding

If you notice ongoing bleeding during bowel movements, especially if it's accompanied by dizziness or weakness, it’s crucial to consult a doctor. Bleeding could also signal other underlying conditions like colorectal cancer or anal fissures.

2. Severe Pain or Swelling

Hemorrhoids that cause intense pain, swelling, or discomfort during daily activities need professional attention. These symptoms might indicate a thrombosed hemorrhoid (a clot in an external hemorrhoid), which requires medical intervention.

3. No Improvement with Home Remedies

If lifestyle changes and over-the-counter treatments, such as creams and sitz baths, fail to provide relief after a week, it’s time to seek expert care. Chronic or recurring hemorrhoids often require more advanced treatments.

4. Prolapsed Hemorrhoids

When internal hemorrhoids protrude outside the anus and do not retract naturally, they are referred to as prolapsed hemorrhoids. These can be painful and may require treatment such as rubber band ligation or surgical intervention.

Treatment Options for Hemorrhoids

Depending on the severity of the condition, doctors can recommend various treatments ranging from non-invasive procedures to surgery.

1. Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies

For mild hemorrhoids, the following steps can provide relief:

Dietary Changes: Increase fiber intake with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Staying hydrated can also soften stools and prevent straining during bowel movements.

Hygiene: Gently clean the anal area with warm water and avoid using rough toilet paper.

Sitz Baths: Soaking the affected area in warm water for 15–20 minutes several times a day can reduce swelling and pain.

2. Medical Procedures

For more severe cases, a gastroenterologist might recommend:

Rubber Band Ligation: A small band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off blood supply, causing it to shrink and fall off.

Sclerotherapy: A chemical solution is injected to shrink the hemorrhoid.

Infrared Coagulation (IRC): Heat is used to cut off blood supply to the hemorrhoid.

3. Surgical Treatments

For large, prolapsed, or thrombosed hemorrhoids, surgery might be necessary:

Hemorrhoidectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the hemorrhoid.

Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy: Used for prolapsed hemorrhoids, this technique staples the tissue to reduce blood flow and reposition the hemorrhoid.

How a Gastroenterologist Can Help

Visiting a gastroenterologist in Surat is the best way to receive a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan. A specialist can accurately assess the severity of your condition, rule out other potential causes of your symptoms, and recommend the most effective treatment. Whether you need dietary advice or advanced procedures, a skilled gastroenterologist ensures that your recovery journey is smooth and effective.

Preventing Hemorrhoids

Preventing hemorrhoids starts with making healthy lifestyle choices. Follow these tips to reduce your risk:

Maintain a Fiber-Rich Diet: Eating plenty of fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains helps prevent constipation.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water keeps stools soft and easier to pass.

Exercise Regularly: Physical activity improves circulation and promotes healthy bowel movements.

Avoid Straining: Don’t force bowel movements, as this increases pressure on the rectal area.

Limit Sitting Time: Take breaks from prolonged sitting, especially on hard surfaces.

When Hemorrhoids Indicate Larger Issues

In rare cases, symptoms similar to hemorrhoids can indicate more severe conditions like colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or anal fissures. If your symptoms deviate from typical hemorrhoids or worsen significantly, seeking immediate medical care is crucial.

Conclusion

Hemorrhoids are common and manageable with the right approach. From home remedies to medical treatments, many options are available to alleviate discomfort and address the condition. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, consulting one of the top 10 gastroenterologists in Surat is essential for expert care. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can regain your comfort and maintain long-term rectal health. Remember, early intervention is key to preventing complications and ensuring effective recovery.

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reddinggastroocare · 2 months ago

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Looking for expert gastroenterology services in Redding?

Our clinic offers comprehensive care for digestive health, including screenings, diagnostics, and treatment for conditions like acid reflux, IBS, Crohn's disease, and more. With experienced specialists and advanced technology, we provide personalized care to help you feel your best. Schedule an appointment today!

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reddinggastroenterology · 1 year ago

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Dr. Paramvir Singh, the Best Gastroenterologist in Redding, is renowned for expert care in digestive health. With years of experience and cutting-edge techniques, Dr. Singh offers personalized treatments, compassionate care, and exceptional outcomes, making him the top choice for gastrointestinal concerns in Redding. Trust your digestive health to the best.

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drmanishkumargupta · 3 months ago

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Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a serious condition that can lead to significant health complications if not treated promptly. It refers to any form of bleeding that originates from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). If you are experiencing any symptoms of upper GI bleeding, it's crucial to seek medical attention immediately.

At Gastro, Liver & Endoscopy Center, under the expert care of Dr. Manish Gupta, one of the Best Gastro Specialists in Ghaziabad, we offer comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for GI-related conditions, including upper GI bleeding. This blog will help you understand the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of upper GI bleeding, so you can make informed decisions about your health.

Symptoms of Upper GI Bleeding:

The symptoms of upper GI bleeding can vary depending on the severity of the bleeding, but common signs include:

Hematemesis (Vomiting Blood): Vomiting blood, which may appear red or look like coffee grounds, is one of the most noticeable signs of upper GI bleeding. The darker appearance occurs when blood is partially digested.

Melena (Black, Tarry Stools): Black, sticky stools that have a foul odor are a sign of digested blood. This occurs when blood from the upper GI tract mixes with digestive enzymes and acids before being excreted.

Hematochesia (Bright Red Blood in Stool): In some cases, blood may pass through the stool in a bright red form, indicating that the bleeding is more recent.

Abdominal Pain: Patients may experience discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, particularly after eating.

Weakness and Fatigue: Chronic or severe bleeding can lead to anemia, causing symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and weakness.

Paleness: A pale appearance, especially when associated with other symptoms, can signal a drop in red blood cells due to blood loss.

If you notice any of these signs, it is essential to consult a Top Gastroenterologist in Noida, such as Dr. Manish Gupta, as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.

Causes of Upper GI Bleeding:

Several factors can lead to upper GI bleeding. Some of the most common causes include:

Peptic Ulcers: Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or duodenum. These ulcers can erode blood vessels, leading to bleeding. Helicobacter pylori infection and prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common causes of peptic ulcers.

Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining, often caused by infection, alcohol consumption, or prolonged use of painkillers, can lead to bleeding.

Esophageal Varices: Swollen veins in the lower part of the esophagus can rupture and cause significant bleeding. Esophageal varices are commonly associated with liver disease, particularly cirrhosis.

Mallory-Weiss Tear: A tear in the lining of the esophagus, often caused by severe vomiting or retching, can result in upper GI bleeding.

Gastrointestinal Cancer: Tumors in the stomach or esophagus can cause bleeding, often in the later stages.

Angiodysplasia: Abnormal blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract can rupture and cause bleeding.

A comprehensive evaluation by an experienced gastroenterologist, such as Dr. Manish Gupta, can help identify the exact cause of the bleeding and tailor the treatment accordingly.

Diagnosis of Upper GI Bleeding:

To diagnose upper GI bleeding, your gastroenterologist will perform a thorough physical examination and review your medical history. The following diagnostic tests may be used:

Endoscopy (EGD): The most common procedure for diagnosing upper GI bleeding is an upper endoscopy (also called esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD). During this procedure, a flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth to examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Blood Tests: Blood tests, including complete blood count (CBC), liver function tests, and coagulation tests, help assess the severity of the bleeding, anemia, and liver function.

Stool Test: A stool sample may be collected to check for the presence of blood, especially when melena is suspected.

CT Scan or Angiography: In certain cases, imaging studies like a CT scan or angiography may be used to locate the source of bleeding, particularly in cases of active or recurrent bleeding.

At Gastro, Liver & Endoscopy Center, we offer state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to ensure accurate and timely diagnosis. As one of the Best Gastroenterologists in Ghaziabad, Dr. Manish Gupta provides expert care and uses the latest technology to identify the root cause of your symptoms.

Prevention of Upper GI Bleeding:

While some causes of upper GI bleeding cannot be prevented, there are several lifestyle changes and precautions that can reduce the risk:

Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol use is a major risk factor for both gastritis and esophageal varices. Limiting alcohol intake can significantly lower your risk.

Use NSAIDs Wisely: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and aspirin, can irritate the stomach lining and increase the risk of ulcers and bleeding. If you must take them, do so under the guidance of a doctor.

Treat Helicobacter pylori Infection: If you have been diagnosed with an H. pylori infection, it is essential to undergo appropriate treatment to eradicate the bacteria and reduce the risk of developing ulcers.

Manage Chronic Conditions: Conditions such as cirrhosis, liver disease, and clotting disorders can increase the risk of bleeding. Regular monitoring and treatment can help manage these conditions.

Eat a Balanced Diet: A healthy diet, rich in fiber and low in processed foods, helps maintain the health of your gastrointestinal system and can aid in preventing ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues.

Consulting with a Top Gastroenterologist in Noida, such as Dr. Manish Gupta, can provide valuable guidance on lifestyle changes and preventive measures based on your specific health profile.

Treatment of Upper GI Bleeding:

The treatment for upper GI bleeding depends on the cause and the severity of the bleeding. The primary treatment options include:

Endoscopic Therapy: If the bleeding is from a source that can be directly visualized, such as an ulcer or varices, endoscopic treatments like cauterization, injection therapy, or banding can be used to stop the bleeding.

Medications: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be prescribed to reduce stomach acid and promote healing of ulcers. If bleeding is due to an H. pylori infection, antibiotics will be used to treat the infection.

Blood Transfusion: In cases of severe blood loss, blood transfusions may be necessary to stabilize the patient and replenish lost red blood cells.

Surgery: In rare cases, when other treatments fail or if the bleeding is from a large tumor, surgery may be required to remove the affected area of the gastrointestinal tract.

At Gastro, Liver & Endoscopy Center, Dr. Manish Gupta, as one of the Best Gastroenterologists in Ghaziabad, offers personalized treatment plans for upper GI bleeding to ensure the best possible outcomes.

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