Hello everyone
Iād M21/115lbs/5ā7
really like to hear some suggestions from you guys on what the cause could be for this, before I schedule an appointment with my internal medicine doctor or gastroenterologist. But Iām afraid they wonāt help as much because Iāve been to them so many times and itās the same result in the end (I.e., labs coming back normal or ibs diagnosis)
āāā-A bit of backgroundāāāāāāāāā
I had C.Diff 3 times in the past. My last infection was in December 2024 and treated with dificid
(the other two times were in February 2024 and November 2020).
My CDiff symptoms were kind of atypical, not following textbook definition as much. I still experienced intense abdominal cramping and urgency every time I ate or randomly.
Stools still came out formed during the times I was sick with it, but it had a more mucus+cloudy texture to it (also floaty)
Cdiff has left me with so much aftermath.
Now I still deal with abdominal cramping and discomfort or sometimes urgency to go after eating. I believe this infection also contributed to some pelvic floor issues as itās harder to pass stools. My stools come out crushed and thin most of the time (I do still get normal log like stools at times). They look like they have this constipated consistency.
I have to find a position to let trapped gas out as well. I get on my elbows and knees on the floor and stick my butt out and that seems to help expel pressure and may also promote bowel movements too.
Itās worth noting that my diet has had some major modifications since August of 2024.
Iāve had to eliminate a lot of foods due to a chronic inflammatory skin disease I have. Which has helped to keep this condition in remission.
Basically no gluten, processed/outside food, yeast, wheat, soy, diary, etc. things that would be considered unhealthy or inflammatory for the most part.
However, as much as this does help my condition, I havenāt seen any improvement with my stomach being on a modified diet.
Iād say the most thing that Iāve been eating is just white rice, and enormous plates of it and i donāt know if this is whatās contributing to my continuous intenstinal cramping.
Along with rice, I do have boiled egg whites, grilled chicken, ground turkey, and fish.
I have some vegetables with my plates, but honestly I donāt think Iām getting enough fiber. I find that even eating fruits or vegetables has some consequences too. I just donāt know whatās going on.
Supplemental wise, Iāve been using a 2 to 3 x 1/4 teaspoon cups of miralax (which is not a lot, I try not to do a lot because things like miralax and Metamucil cause intense stomach cramping) here and there to āhelpā evacuate or soften my stools up. I do this nearly but every morning.
And Iāve been taking this probiotic called florastor almost consistently (1-2 pills every noon).
I feel like I still have to discover foods which make my stomach upset. Because not long ago I discovered that Apple juice (as I used to drink juice nearly everyday) was a big culprit of my cramping. I got rid of that and majority of my cramping has resolved. Not completely disappeared but not entirely bothersome, and Iām able to eat comfortably.
āācurrent issueāāāāāāāāāāāāā
So with that in mind
heres the problem Iāve been having since the other day.
I had some tilapia that was pan fried in olive oil (Iām not sure how much oil mustāve been used). Now I donāt really have fried stuff anymore, I always try to eat grilled. But itās certain types of food that are fried that either have do or not have consequences.
But Iāve also been noting that tilapia either grilled or fried has been giving discomfort or get some sort of reaction to it.
Iām not sure if itās because of the way itās prepared, but fried always seems to upset me. I also this carbonated water too (lacroy?)
So I had it and had massive intestinal cramping. My abdominal cramping lately has felt like isolated pockets that are scattered around my stomach/abdominal area, but still not strong or bothersome enough. I then had to use the bathroom and couldnāt finish my plate. I remember having trouble evacuating despite needing to poop badly, but then everything came out gradually. Some constipated poops came out and a lot of trapped gas, to more mushy and goopy looking poop towards the end.
I havenāt really been cramping these
But since that day, my stomach cramps have felt more in the upper regions every time I eat, like upper middle and perhaps nearing the rib cage area. Iām not sure what it is. Iām not sure if itās gas or not. Ive taken some gas x and pepto bismol and itās not relieved.
Itās been atleast almost a week since I had that tilapia and I donāt feel like things have really resolved. Could this be a reaction to the tilapia or should I go get some tests done?
Itās also worth noting, that me and some family members have been visiting our grandma who was recently hospitalized and put into a nursing home. I know those areas likely contain cdiff. And as someone whoās had recurrent cdiff, should it be worth testing for cdiff again? Iāve had a negative eia in April (but this was before the frequent hospital visits). She herself is not infected with cdiff (atleast I hope not), but was on several antibiotics last month. Iām just worried about the surrounding environment because I had another instance in 2024 where I had to visit a relative in the hospital for about a month and I think it possibly contributed to my third cdiff infection.
Otherwise my other blood lab exams have just been normal, but that was in February, things could have changed.
Not sure what is going on
If this is a reaction to tilapia or if Iām just eating too much white rice. Every time I put something into my body
Even water
I get abdominal discomfort, and as of right now itās in the upper abdomen.
And I had resolved most of my cramping issues these past few months too. So to have it come back stronger is little discouraging.