Disorder
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose intolerance is a condition where symptoms occur after digesting this milk sugar. Symptoms are produced when lactose is not adequately absorbed in the digestive tract. Symptoms experienced after eating or drinking lactose-containing foods and beverages may include: watery stool or diarrhea abdominal cramps […]
Disorder
Chronic, long-term or recurring, constipation is more challenging to treat than common simple constipation. Constipation is a common disorder affecting approximately 1 out of every 6-7 people worldwide, and annually leading to more than 1.5 million healthcare provider visits in the United States alone. People can experience short-term constipation as a result of medication use, […]
Disorder
The lack of an obvious cause, and the absence of a physical abnormality in the gut (stomach, esophagus, and intestines) are features common to all the functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. While these disorders are more common than structural diseases, they are not life threatening. However, they often impair quality of life. Nevertheless, the presence of […]
Disorder
Progressive GI Symptoms: Could it be Scleroderma? Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are extremely common. However, on rare occasions, people thought to have a functional GI disorder can develop progressive GI symptoms from another underlying condition. This is truly rare, but when symptoms do not respond as expected, or if symptoms get worse and worse despite […]
Disorder
What is Diarrhea? Diarrhea is defined as passing frequent and/or loose or watery stools. Acute diarrhea goes away in a few weeks, and becomes chronic when it lasts longer than 3–4 weeks. If no specific cause is found after a thorough investigation and certain criteria are met, a diagnosis of functional or chronic diarrhea may […]
Personal Story
Anonymous Personal Story: A Lifetime Battle with Intestinal Obstructions and Pseudo-Obstruction I was born with my problems. Doctors wanted to give me a colostomy at birth. My parents said no. I had chronic pain always. Sometimes I could eat, and sometimes I couldn’t. I never had normal bowel movements. When I was able to go, […]
Personal Story
The Worst Nightmare of an IBS Sufferer: Don’t worry, you WILL laugh at me, and it is okay. Part of my coping is my ability to laugh at some of the unfortunate incidences associated with IBS. My boyfriend and I went on our weekly date night. I knew something was brewing when we sat down, […]
Personal Story
Hollie’s Personal Story: From Independence to Resilience – Her Journey with Gastroparesis 3 years ago, I embarked on a journey unlike anything I could have ever imagined. I have gone from a strong, independent nurse, wife, and mother to a shell of a person barely able to get up and go each day…to the “new […]
Personal Story
Brooke’s Personal Story: “I went undiagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) for 14 years…” My Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Story I went undiagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) for 14 years… Immediately after having my gallbladder out in 1998, I developed severe pain in my right side, under my ribs that […]
Personal Story
Jorge Castto’s Personal Story: Battling Rectal Prolapse, Constipation, and Chronic GI Pain Hi everyone, my name is Jorge and I currently live in north Georgia. About a week ago during one of my frustrations, I stumbled upon this website. And I am just astonished at the story’s and even though I know that GI problems […]
Personal Story
Jasmine’s Personal Story: A Journey with Gastroparesis and Unwavering Strength Hello, everyone! My name is Jasmine; I am a 30 year old single mother of 2 boys, and I was diagnosed with gastroparesis on March 16th. My story is long but I’m hoping to meet people in a similar situation as myself, and to […]
Personal Story
Michaelynn’s Personal Story: Battling Persistent Diarrhea, Weight Loss, and a Gastroparesis Diagnosis My issues started in 2009 and it all started with persistant diarrhea, indigestion, heart palpitations and nausea. I was working a full time job and struggled to make it through each day with the diarrhea. They prescribed every drug for reflux but they […]