lost - gastro, muscle cramps and other issues

[lazybeagle1]

Over the past 8 years Ive spent nearly 200K on med care including mayo clinic(3 months), university chicago, and recently even traveled to australia to try fecal bacteriotherapy. Prior to being sick I was a health nut who lifted weights and ran almost daily and ate an extremely healthy diet.  Never done drugs or smoked and not a heavy drinker.  

Though it no longer works, an antibiotic called Xifaxan cured me the first time 100% and worked less each subsequent time.  Mayo cant explain how their diagnosis of Pelvic floor disorder would have been cured by XIfaxan.  Because of Xifaxan I traveled to Australia to try fecal bacteriotherapy but it did not help me either.  A doctor in Univ Chicago believes (a theory) I have an infection in my colon but because Ive taken 5 other antibiotics that didnt help me at all I wonder if that is true either.  His diagnosis was based solely on xifaxan but now I see that xifaxan is being also investigated for use in celiacs disease and lactose intolerance so does it do more than kill bacteria?   I also have a strange circumstance of certain activities such as raking and shoveling aggravate my lower left distention and after weeks of little pain, suddenly those activities trigger something.  That doesnt explain xifaxan but I also question some sort of internal hernia taht comes and goes and hence hasnt been found.  Another doctor believes I have leaky gut based on an ALCAT test and that my high candida may be an issue but I question if any of that is legitimate  or made up by the nauturopath comunity as I cant find much in the medical community supporting it.   I dont expect you to diagnose me  and sorry to ramble but I have a long story.  My questions are: 1) is leaky gut a myth?  2) what do I do/who do I see? - doctors have bled my finances dry and I fear seeing another will just start me at square one with more useless Xrays etc.


Thank you

[keepinthefaith]

A related discussion, the infamous, unanswered,  upper right abdominal pain was started.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

If you have been to the Mayo and Australia for care, then it's unlikely I can come up with any insight that hasn't already been thought of.

To answer your questions, the antibiotic Xifaxin, or Rifaximin, can be effective in cases of irritable bowel syndrome.  So the fact that it had some effect can be indicative of you having the condition.  

There are other treatment options, including tricyclic antidepressants as well as antispasmodic agents.

Specifically to answer your questions, i) there is little scientific evidence to support leaky gut syndrome, and ii) I would pursue further GI consults, preferably another opinion at a major academic medical center.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd