bowel/colon inflammation anyone?

[pleasehelp]

Hi, my name is harmeet (21 yrs old, male, canada), this isnt my first time posting on here since I got C Diff in Jan 09. But Im back to ask/inquire about bowel/colon inflammation. Note: in mid Feb 09 I tested negative for C Diff although I didnt feel back to 'normal' at the time, nor do I fell 'normal' now.

Annoyances include: nausea (biggest one, through out the day, usually low grade but not always), lightheadedness, rare abdominal cramps, inconsistant stools. After seeing 3 GP who ran urine, blood, and stool tests which came back fine and told me I was only depressed, I decided to see a Live Blood Analyst in July. During visit 1 she said told/showed me that I had most of my red blood cells sticking together (accounting for the lightheadedness, some bacteria in the blood, and a clear indication of BOWEL INFLAMMATION, which I wasnt too surprised to hear since I had bloody diarrhea.

3 months later, this Oct I went back for a follow up: red blood cells were 85% a part (she mentioned this is a good improvment), but the BOWEL INFLAMMATION is still present and hasnt really showed signs of improvement.

The live blood analyst told me to keep on doing what I was doing since there is an improvement (things including aloe vera gel, drinking a lot of water, gluten/wheat/sugar free diet, probiotics). But that I must do something specifically to treat the BOWEL INFLAMMATION.

I also find a bit of uneasyness on my left hand side abdominal area right between my hip bone and the bottom of the rib cage bone. I find I cant really sleep on that side since it seems to aggrevate the nausea, and feel pretty sure that the bowel inflammation is in that area.

I feel totally lost since GPs tell me im fine and time will only work, but ND and Live Blood Analysts tell me that there is a digestive issue and that bowel inflammation needs to be treated (note the ND gave me a powder for gastrointestinal healing, but im waiting for this cold to fully stop before I take it).

Has anyone dealt with the problems associated with bowel inflammation, any ideas or suggestions people?

[klt03301]

Hi, sorry to hear you're still feeling so bad.

Do you have a gastroenterologist? GI specialist? They're the ones who should be able to tell if you have bowel inflammation. I really did not feel completely well until a year after C Diff hit me; maybe a bit longer. It does take time, but if you think you have bowel inflammation, a GI is the doc you should see. Just my opinion. I saw one and had some tests done and everything turned out fine, but the testing did ease my mind. I felt very sick for a long time after I was C-Diff free.

Karen

[beth22]

Salmon oil capsules help some people for bowel inflammation. You could also see a GI as Karen suggested. Maybe they can do a sigmoidoscopy which would show inflammation on that left side if it is there. What blood test showed that you had bowel inflammation? I've not heard of that. I know that if you have white blood cells on a stool test it is supposed to indicate inflammation also. Good luck. I am told that this takes a long time to get better too. I have some of the same going on now, two months post meds for c diff. Am only taking probiotics and a small amount of Pepto Bismol with lunch and dinner.

[pleasehelp]

Hi Beth, it wasnt a 'normal' blood test, I visited a Live Blood Analyst. The Live Blood Analyst will actually take a drop of blood from your finger and place it on a microscopic slide (a few drops and on a few slides). The microscope and connecting monitor will show you whats in your blood sample. From that the live blood analyst can tell you whats wrong or any deficiencies. For me, I had bowel inflammation present at both visits which were 3 months apart.

Right now I'm trying to help myself using a natural route before a colonoscopy etc. Ive heard that you can actually get C Diff again from having a colonoscopy done (i think from either contaminated equipment or the prep flushing you do).

Ill look into salmon oil tho, thanks for that.

[monacat]

I have experienced bowel inflamation during and after (several months)my c-diff. I have found that wild pacific salmon oil (i am a broken record!!!) was amazing in helping me with this. In addition I am taking natural digestive enzymes and apple cider vinagar (2 1/2 tblsp with juice and water) daily which has really seemed to also add to my healing. May not work for all but this trio has really done wonders for me. Google salmon oil and bowel inflamation (or colitis) and see what you find.

[beth22]

What brand of digestive enzymes are you using? I tried a presciption kind and they didn't agree with me (Creon 5) so the doctor told me to get the kind at a health food store which I haven't done yet. I'll try the one you use if you have had good results with it.

[Mommy23]

This is interesting, because I'm experiencing the same pain on the left side slightly under the ribs. Although unfortunately I think I'm relapsing I've had this pain through out my ordeal. No Dr has been able to figure it out. Is it like a burning type pain? I too, cannot sleep on the left side it feels swollen or as you said inflamed.

I'm sorry that I don't have any advice, but reading your post is helpful. Where are you in Canada? I'm moving back that way in Dec.....should be interesting if I still have this bug. I do hope you get well soon!

[monacat]

hi beth!
i am using "Renew Life" brand it's called "Digest More". I really helped take the bloating (i was looking 6 months pregnant for a while!!) away and digest my food and get rid of the acidy sicky feeling. I try to take a couple a day with the bigger meals. After all of this (salmon and enzymes)i started using unpasturized apple cider vinagar to combat any upcoming sinus infections(sure I read something on here last year about this..) and sure enough it really aided in clearing up my bouts of questionable stools that i would still have from time to time (so far so good anyways... i don't want to jinx this, I know how this can operate!!).

[Mommy23]

Do you use a capsule for the salmon oil or the liquid form?
I think I'm going to try that too! What were your symptoms with the inflamed bowel?
Thanks for the info :)

[pleasehelp]

Hi everyone, the feeling I have on my left side isnt 'pain' or 'burning' really, its more of an uneasyness or unsettledness. I noticed I cant really sleep on that side because it seems to make me more nauseated and uncomfortable (as opposed to sleeping on my back or right side, where I dont feel any of that). Im in BC by the way mommy23.

The thing is Ive had stool tests for: cidff, colitis, toxins. But, they come back fine so the GP tells me to stop and move on. But, on the other hand, I dont feel ok, and the Live Blood Analyst has confirmed bowel inflammation twice over a 3 month period (I really believe this since I dont feel ok yet).

Is it possible to have bowel infammation, but still test negative for colitis in a stool test?

The salmon oil sounds like a good idea, I wonder if you can get these from health stores.

[beth22]

I have the inflammation too and have tested negative. The only thing that will show up sometimes are white blood cells in the stool if they test for them, which they usually don't. That shows that there is inflammation, but unless there is a positive toxin test, the doctor won't treat.

The salmon oil capsules can be purchased at a vitamin supply store or a health food store. Both have them. They are by Natural Factors - 1000 mg enteric coated softgels. It is a Canadian brand, so you should find them easily. I had to get the Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil softgels, but Monacat recommended the Pacific Salmon Oil ones. I don't know if there is a difference, but I couldn't find the others here. I haven't used them lately, but plan to start again along with the enzymes.

I have the same problem on the left side - mostly a soreness - kind of dull at times, but often feels inflammed too. I'm assuming that it is where the colon makes a turn, but I really don't know. Nothing unusual showed up on any scans I had, so I'm guessing inflammation.

[monacat]

my whole colon was sore all the time, an ache. Sometimes my back would be sore also and early on in recovery my bum (sorry!) was sore too. I had questionable stools from time to time too then they would go back to normal. I am 5 months out so far and was very frustrated at the beginning of the healing process as I too had symptoms that were very c-diff like. I am still nervous but am much better for the moment then I was even in July.

[dawnie31]

my colon too is always inflamed, it is my right side, when i touched it, it seems there is air with water floating in my intestines and it is aching, or it makes me feeling like i am going to have gas, or it increases nausea. My stools are always weird, really loose and greasy or sometimes it is contipation, then D comes right after C as if my bowel would not tolerate C and has to empty itself. I am three months off vanco and my stolls were never totally normal since I took vanco the first time. My Gi wants me to take Pentasa for a probable inflammation, even if my blood tests are ok.

[Suezer]

I have occasionally had 2 types of colon discomfort, the first sign something was wrong right before initial C Diff episode was a burning pain front/center between my ribs. I had this another time while pulsing.

The other is something I experience still occasionally and that is left side also, it feels like a "runners cramp" only it is under left rib cage. I am sure it is my colon being inflamed also. It is less now, however at one point I too could not lay on my left side due to the discomfort. That was 7 months into this (while still pulsing Vanco)

I am still taking 1 Vanco every 3rd day, will try to reduce to 4 days soon.

I did find eliminating dairy ,except yogurt has helped some as I believe I now have lactose intolerance.