Anybody else with really bad burning and cramping GI symptoms?

[[Bu...]]

Is anybody else experiencing intense gastro-intestinal burning, pain and cramping?  Mine started about a week ago and I'm trying to figure if it's from withdrawals, a stomach bug, (going around big time here) and/or my original GI problem rearing it's ugly head and being affected by withdrawals.  Does anything help your pain/burning?  Went to ER recently and tests said everything ok.  Now, I have bad burning down the front of my thighs...ugh 

[[Kr...]]

Yes,  I had terrible GI symptoms in Acute, and now have them (combined with 'burning' and 'raw nerve ending pain') whenever I have a window.  In fact I think the GI symptoms cause my windows (unless stress or food cause the GI).    But I'm 100% sure there is a correlation with the GI symptoms and burning. 

 

I have had hot/red palms of my hands and 'lifting' of fingernail ends.  On a good day, my hands almost look normal, but, during a wave of particularly bad GI symptoms and 'burning' my hands actually go all read again.

 

I saw someone recommend the 'GAPS' diet which I'm going to investigate.    My last wave was so bad (2 days to yesterday) I was anticipating asking for gabapentin, mainly for my hands which are debilitating, but I thought it might help with the burning skin as well.  I'm going to hold off and see if the GAPS might work (I'm certainly going to start eating smaller meals, more often).  I know the gabapentin has to be tapered as well (and I'm already trying to taper omegprazole).

 

Some days this is just devastating.  I have some good windows, but am starting to continually live in fear of the next wave, which is always gut/burning/insomnia related.  I'll keep you updated if I have any success 

[[Kr...]]

Oooops I'm so sorry!! I just re-read your post and you were referring to burning on the intestinal tract.  So 'yes' to that also, I had it on Month 2 or 3, and the GP prescribed Omeprazol.    I thought it was ulcerative cholitis.  Anyway the Omeprazole did assist with the pain, but now I can't stop taking it (it has rebound acid 3 weeks after stopping apart from other side effects).   

 

I wish I'd tried gaviscon first along with diet changes.  I think it was all happening to me because my stomach wasn't emptying (nerves not working properly I think called gastroparesis).  I was also prescribed domperidon, which helped the movement in the intestine, but is a pretty severe medication too (but did get me through the first four months).  It's easy to say, in hindsight, that there might have been a better way, but I can't be sure, and just have to continue looking for assistance, now, to get off the omeprazole, and heal my gut, which is still having problems with sluggishness (I've stopped taking the domperidone which was starting to affect me badly, even though it worked).  I try not to use laxatives but they have helped. 

 

There are other threads on here related to benzo-belly which I think include reference to burning.    Hope it clears quickly for you xxx

[[Bh...]]

OMG yes!!!!!!! I'm dying with these symptoms right now. Burning back muscles, cramping gi symptoms and burping....I never burp. I really haven't changed my diet either. I don't understand it!

 

I did just finish antibiotics on Sunday, so I'm not sure what to think. I've had these symptoms all day long. I'm praying it's just a virus that we will get over soon. I hope you feel better!

[[Kr...]]

There is more than one thread on 'benzo-belly', to do with the neuro-receptors in the intestine.  I went gluten-free and dairy-free and kept meals small and easily digestible, but it isn't an easy one to conquer.    Mine has improved though, compared to when I was Acute and I've slowly reintroduced dairy and wheat. 

[[Bu...]]

So sorry you both are having all this too.  Mine is getting worse and worse-a lot of bad family stress on top of all the physical sxs to boot...ugh.  I really think withdrawal is affecting a serious condition I had before benzos, too.  I have sphincter of oddi disorder.  The sphincter spasms and can cause bile reflux, pancreatitits and liver issues.  There's not much that doctors can do about it except muscle relaxers and scary operations. I'm losing weight and having too many BMs and probably malabsorption, too.  I'm glad your GI has improved a bit Kristina.  Hope if it's a virus Bhealthy, that it goes away soon.  I know some bad bugs are going around.  Please keep me in your thoughts-I'm terrified. 

[[Kr...]]

Strangely, at my worst I had full blood work done, and everything was normal.  In fact, perfect.  I did expect my liver or spleen to be suffering, but nope, and I was managing to keep my electrolytes in balance too.    It was definitely benzo-belly, which means everything is function, but not functioning optimally, which can cause problems.  i.e. the nerve receptors attached to EVERYTHING are only picking up week signals from the brain, so aren't able to do their job properly.  My understanding is that my peristalsis action was sluggish, my stomach emptying problematic, and, until it heals, we need to 'carry' our systems through it, with both meds and diet changes, to attempt to keep everything in balance.  Initially I was almost on a liquid diet (jelly, yoghurt, home-made soup)....  There is a thread on here that goes into detail, if you search 'benzo-belly'. 

 

All the best, we've got this;  it IS terrifying, but we can muddle our ways through - and thankfully have this site to help xxx

[[Bh...]]

Thanks Kristina and Burnedout. It definitely is benzo belly so some extent.

 

I made myself a big pot of chicken noodles soup. Bone broth is the best for our guts.

 

I guess I have to be really strict with myself still. I literally eat the same things....veggies, fruits, chicken, fish, beef, gluten free oats and almonds. That's why I'm still fascinated that I have symptoms still. It doesn't make any sense. It better be withdrawal.

 

People think I'm wacked since I'm so rigid with food. I wish I could eat like normal. My mom thought I had an eating disorder!

[[Kr...]]

I really don't think we can actually 'cure it' as it's just part of WD, but we do have to do everything we can to keep our nutritional intake working as best we can until our nerves start to heal.  After 6 months, I'm still quite nervous about what I eat and still haven't quite worked out how or what to be confident with..... but there has been improvement from Acute which was hard work and scarey.  I stuck to eating the same stuff every day and drinking lots of water inbetween, and still don't know whether I did the optimum plan for myself.  I did find a 'suckable' vitamin that had C, B-complex, Zinc, Magnesium and Potassium.  I wasn't able to swallow large pills at the time and didn't trust what they'd do to my stomach.  There are different schools of thought on vitamins;  I didn't take them regularly.

[[Bu...]]

Yep, same here-sticking to the foods I know are ok for now.  Supplements have been hit or miss with some being very helpful and others aggravating symptoms.  I will check out the benzo belly thread, too-thanks.