How To Ease Gi Symptoms
Most important: Work with your doctor to keep your arthritis under good control, and report any signs of GI problems to your doctor right away.
With the multitude of potential GI issues associated with RA and other rheumatologic conditions, as well as the interplay between the gut and joints, says Dr. Lukin, its important to consult your rheumatologist, and if necessary, a gastroenterologist, to get any new or unusual GI symptoms under control. More tips to ease GI issues:
Am I Missing Something
Outpatient assessment of a patient with fatigue and chronic pain can be challenging. This is particularly the case when the patient is polysymptomatic and they have had many interactions with healthcare professionals before. It is all too easy to admit defeat as in Dr A’s case, or initiate a test or another referral in response to every symptom described by the patient during the course of their illness . How can this be avoided?
One approach is to adopt the snapshot approach and ask the patient to identify a maximum of three live clinical problems , highlighting which is the most significant one. If the primary problem is fatigue or pain , it can be highly informative to identify the single most important additional symptom: the plus one approach. This should raise a specific subset of diagnostic possibilities, often limited in number, which will prompt further, more focused direct questioning, and may inform an initial investigation strategy, if considered appropriate.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms You Should Know
Fibromyalgia, commonly referred to as fibro, is a painful condition that increases the bodys sensitivity to sensation, causing pain. Because this condition cannot be diagnosed by traditional tests, it can sometimes be difficult for patients to receive a definitive diagnosis. Doctors rely on the presence of symptoms to determine if the patient may have fibromyalgia.
If you experience pain and tenderness on a regular basis, but cant explain it, it is possible you may have fibromyalgia. Your doctor can discuss your symptoms with you and investigate other causes or potential treatments for your pain. Here are some of the common symptoms that can indicate fibromyalgia.
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How Inflammatory Arthritis Affects Your Gi System
First, a brief anatomy lesson: Your GI system has an upper and lower section. The upper GI goes from your mouth to your stomach the lower GI runs from the start of the small intestine to the end of the large intestine. Studies show that inflammatory arthritis can affect both. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found people with RA report higher rates of stomach ulcers, bleeding, and esophagitis in the upper GI tract, and perforations , bleeding, bowel inflammation, and infections in the lower GI tract. People with inflammatory arthritis also have higher rates of abdominal pain, bloating, trouble swallowing, and nausea.
Whats the potential link? There may be several factors:
Short And Long Term Health Effects Of Covid
There is emerging evidence that COVID-19 affects many systems of the body, with patients reporting a wide range of symptoms. Long-haulers are patients who experience ongoing COVID-19 symptoms for several months after infection. These include fatigue, difficulties in thinking, shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular or abnormal heart rhythm, and joint pain.
Research on the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still ongoing. Over the course of the pandemic it has emerged that SARS-CoV-2 is not only a respiratory virus, but is able to affect many other organs, such as the heart, brain and kidneys. This article summarises the current understanding of acute and long-term COVID-19 symptoms, and the increasing evidence on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on different systems.
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Itchy Skin Joint Pain Fatigue
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When To Be Concerned
Of course, body aches and fatigue are very common, but the severe pain located in joints and muscles is a lot like what you have when you are dealing with the flu.
Some of the other symptoms that accompany chronic body aches and fatigue are:
- Tenderness when pain is most severe
- Lack of sleep
- Fever
- Inflammation
Due to the fact that there are some serious conditions that can manifest with chronic body aches and fatigue, it is critical that you make an appointment with your physician to get checked out.
Following are some of the common conditions that manifest with these symptoms:
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Unexplained Pain: Could Those Aches And Fatigue Be An Autoimmune Disease
Are you exhausted and depressed? Do your joints ache? These are telltale symptoms of more than 80 of the autoimmune diseases that exist. Find out the 6 most common, what happens when your body turns against itself and how to diagnose and treat symptoms…
When our immune systems work right, our body is able to fend off attacks from invading bacteria and viruses. But with an autoimmune disease, it fights against us. Instead of protecting, it attacks, sending armies of your bodys disease-fighters to battle your own healthy tissue, cells and organs.
Up to 22 million Americans have autoimmune disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health . Nearly 80% of them are women many in their childbearing years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And the numbers are growing. Autoimmune diseases are much more prevalent now than they were 20 years ago, says Virginia Ladd, president of the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. Each disease is relatively rare, but looking at them collectively, thats another story.
- Pain in the wrists and fingers of both hands
- Tender, warm joints in both knees and elbows
- Morning discomfort
- Fatigue/loss of energy
- Fever
How to diagnose it:
- Fatigue
- Chronic vaginal yeast infections
How to treat it:
- Achy and swollen joints
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- Skin sores from sun exposure
How to treat it:
- Dairy products
It Trips The Immune System
People with severe COVID-19 seem to show an altered immune response even in the diseases early stages. They have fewer circulating immune cells, which fail to efficiently control the virus, and instead suffer an exaggerated inflammatory response .
This is increasingly recognised as one of the main factors that makes the disease so serious in some patients. Suppressing this exaggerated response with the immunosuppressant dexamethasone remains the only treatment that reduces death rates in those who require oxygen support or intensive care.
Read more:Dexamethasone: the cheap, old and boring drug that’s a potential coronavirus treatment
Patients with severe COVID-19 describe a far more complex range of symptoms than would normally be seen with pneumonia alone. This can include brain inflammation , causing confusion and reduced consciousness. Up to 6% of severe sufferers may have a stroke.
Pathology studies and autopsies of patients who died from COVID-19 reveal the expected features of severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome , with extensive inflammation and scarring. ARDS occurs when theres sudden and widespread inflammation in the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath and blueish skin.
Uniquely, however, they also reveal the virus seems to directly cause inflammation of the small capillaries or blood vessels, not just in the lungs but in multiple organs, leading to blood clots and damage to the kidney and heart.
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The Effects Of Elemental Dieting
DrMR:
You make a couple of really good points. Youre not alone in this cohort of patients who respond to Rifaximin or Xifaxin for a temporary period. And to your point, its great that theyre seeing some improvement, but then they kind of backslide. One of the things we try to offer people is a few different types of supports. Probiotics as one that can be helpful, and elemental dieting is another. Id much rather someone do another round of probiotics or this kind of periodic, low-level elemental dieting like youre doing rather than just repeat Rifaximin or Xifaxin. And there are studies showing safety and tolerability of repeat Xifaxin or Rifaximin, but still I like the idea of elemental dieting better than just antibiotic round every four months or so.
I definitely agree. I think the biggest advantage of it is you dont have the highs and lows either of when youre coming off and youre going onto the antibiotics. Also the side effects of that arent always pleasant at first, even as it starts to work. So depending on what works best for the person, I definitely think that Ive had more benefit from this diet.
DrMR:
Right. And so energy is better, the kind of GERD burning the throat is better, some belching, and was it also some abdominal pain that you said was occurring?
DrMR:
DrMR:
DrMR:
DrMR:
RuscioResources:
How Diabetes Causes Pain
Diabetes causes pain by damaging tiny blood vessels all over the body due to sugar accumulation within arteries. Around 20 to 60 percent of diabetes patients report chronic pain to their physicians. Diabetes patients are also prone to back, neck, and joint pain, as well as abdominal pain caused by damage to the nerves in the gut.
Peripheral neuropathy is another common pain for those with diabetes to experience. This is when poor circulation causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet. If not treated by regulating blood sugar levels, neuropathy can lead to tissue death and amputation.
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How Many People Are Affected And How Long Do Symptoms Last
It is still unclear how many people are affected by long COVID symptoms, or how long they last. Importantly, long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection can be experienced by the entire range of COVID-19 patients, from those who show no common symptoms of COVID-19 to severe cases. Given that some of these symptoms emerge late, sometimes people experiencing them no longer test positive for the virus.
An Italian study of 143 hospitalised patients who had recovered from COVID-19 reported that 87.4% of them experienced at least one COVID-19-related symptom 2 months after symptom onset. A US-based study on 292 mild COVID-19 cases reported that 35% of them didnt fully recover after 2 weeks following symptom onset. Data collected by the COVID Symptom Study indicate that 10% of people experience prolonged symptoms after 3 weeks or more. Anecdotal reports suggest that long COVID symptoms can last more than 4 months.
It is also unclear for how long long-haulers are still infectious. A single study reported on a case study of a patient able to shed SARS-CoV-2 for 49 days.
Its Not Just An Infection Of The Lungs
On the surface, COVID-19 is a lung disease. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infects cells of the respiratory tract and can cause life-threatening pneumonia.
However, the full range of symptoms affects multiple parts of the body. An app that records daily symptoms developed at Kings College London has tracked the progress of more than 4 million COVID-19 patients in the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States.
Besides the well-described symptoms of fever, cough and loss of smell are other effects, including fatigue, rash, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. People who develop more severe forms of the disease also report confusion, severe muscle pains, cough and shortness of breath.
About 20% of those infected with COVID-19 require hospitalisation to treat their pneumonia, and many need assistance with oxygen. In about 5% of cases the pneumonia becomes so severe patients are admitted to intensive care for breathing support.
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What Is Sjgrens Syndrome
Sjögrens syndrome is an autoimmune condition. This means that the immune system, which is the bodys natural self-defence system, gets confused and starts to attack your bodys healthy tissues.
Inflammation is your bodys normal reaction to injury or infection. You might notice inflammation if you have a cut or a wound. It causes the affected area to hurt and turn red. It may also become hot, as fluid rushes to the area and causes swelling.
The inflammation seen in Sjögrens syndrome particularly affects the glands in your body that produce tears and saliva. This causes your eyes and mouth to become dry. Other parts of the body can also be affected, leading to dryness of the:
- skin
What Type Of Blood Tests Are Used To Diagnose Autoimmune Diseases
Several different blood tests may be used to diagnose an autoimmune disease. In addition to a regular complete blood count and metabolic panel, other tests that are likely to be included are anti-dsDNA, anti-RNP, anti-Sm, anti-Sjogren’s SSA and SSB, anti-scleroderma, anti-Jo-1, anti-CCP, antibody against cardiolipin, and an antinuclear antibody test. A rheumatoid factor test, which looks for rheumatoid arthritis, is also usually included during the diagnostic phase. The antinuclear antibody test looks for antibodies that could cause an autoimmune response.
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How Arthritis Medications Affect Gi Problems
Yes, GI problems are common side effects for many drug classes used in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, says Justin Owensby, PharmD, PhD, research pharmacist with the department of clinical immunology and rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In fact, most GI problems in RA patients are related to their medications, says Dr. Huffstutter. Side effects for RA drugs range from minor, such as nausea, to severe, like GI bleeding. They depend on the specific drug, dose, duration of therapy, and other meds youre taking, says Dr. Owensby.
Arthritis meds that can cause GI symptoms include:
NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce compounds called prostaglandins, which protect the lining of the stomach, explains Jared J. Vanderbleek, PharmD, pharmacist at the Kirklin Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. If the lining of the stomach is exposed to stomach acid, irritation or an ulcer may occur. The most common complication associated with NSAIDs are gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, says experts. If you take steroids along with these meds, or take NSAIDs for a long period of time, you may be at an increased risk of side effects, adds Dr. Vanderbleek.
DMARDs: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate have been shown to cause diarrhea and nausea, as well as abdominal pain, indigestion, and vomiting.
Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common condition which is triggered by long-lasting exhaustion or fatigue which does not fade away with rest or sleep.1 Chronic fatigue syndrome can greatly reduce the quality of life. However, children and young people affected by this condition generally find it difficult as they grow up. Let us look at the top 10 symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome .
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What Are The Most Common Causes Of Joint Pain And Nausea
During pregnancy, a woman usually gains weight, and it is typically distributed in a different way than her body is used to. Her feet and ankles may experience more pressure than before the pregnancy, resulting in joint pain. Nausea is a common symptom for pregnant women and usually does not last past the first trimester, although some women experience nausea throughout the entire pregnancy. Joint pain and nausea may not occur at the same time during pregnancy.
Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection that has many different symptoms. Sometimes a person may experience nausea and vomiting when she has the flu, or she may have other symptoms like fatigue and a sore throat. Joint pain and overall muscle weakness are often a common complaint of people who have influenza. Children, the elderly, and women who are pregnant are more likely to suffer from the flu. Those who work with the elderly or take care of children also have a higher likelihood of contracting a flu virus.
Sex Fertility And Pregnancy
Women with Sjögrens syndrome can sometimes have a dry vagina, which can make sex painful. Lubricants and creams made from the female sex hormone, oestrogen, can help with this. Treatments for infections such as thrush are available from chemists.
The condition doesnt affect fertility in men or women. However, there may be a higher risk of miscarriage in women who have anti-Ro or anti-La antibodies. Your doctor might suggest low-dose aspirin in the early stages of pregnancy to reduce this risk.
There arent usually any problems during or after pregnancy, and you may be able to carry on with some treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine, during pregnancy.
However, a very small number of women may pass anti-Ro or anti-La antibodies on to their baby during pregnancy. The baby could then develop symptoms, such as rashes and abnormal blood tests after birth.
These will clear up once the mothers antibodies have been lost from the babys blood. This can take anything from a couple of weeks to a few months.
In some cases, the antibodies affect the babys heart, causing it to beat slowly. If you have these antibodies, you should tell your obstetrician, as your babys heartbeat will need additional monitoring in the womb.
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Why Does It Happen
The reasons behind long COVID are still unclear and immunology studies on the subject are needed. Scientists have hypothesised three possible scenarios underlying long COVID symptoms: 1) a reservoir of virus, hiding and reactivating 2) virus particles not eliminated by the body activating an immune response and 3) an autoimmune disease generated by the infection.
