Unending stomach problems. Is there hope?
Hello all!
I am a male in my 20s, and I have been dealing with stomach issues for over a year now. It all started when I spent a year living in South America. I got crippling food poisoning multiple times and was just generally experiencing diarrhea and nausea.
I have been back home in the US for about a year now and I was tested for Celiac, thyroid problems, and all kinds of bacteria and parasites. All tests came back negative. Since then, I have been regularly consulting with my gastroenterologist.
I still have the following symptoms: near daily nausea (especially in the morning), loose stool or constipation, occasional stomach aches with varying strength, and some acid reflux symptoms. I'm not sure if this is post-infectious IBS, GERD, or some other disorder.
I am supposed to avoid a wide array of foods including everything from gluten and dairy to tomato and onion. It is hard to know what will trigger my stomach problems as even innocuous, low FODMAP foods can aggravate it. My gastroenterologist has also had me take the following for many months now:
-Daily probiotic
-Pantoprazole (PPI) in the morning
-Famotidine (H2 blocker) at night
-Zofran for nausea
Despite taking this treatment for almost a year, the problems persist. My doctor isn't sure what to do next. I don't know when or how this will get better, and it has definitely worsened my quality of life.
Should I change the probiotics I take? Should I suggest something new to my doctor? Any suggestions or advice would be amazing.
Thank you!
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