I had similar a similar issue on and off for the past two years but was consistent for about 6months. Throughout the 6 months I got tested for nearly everything you could think of that had to do with abdominal pain. I fought constantly declaring that my diet wasn't the source of the problem as I was eating healthy, lots of vegetables/fruits and all that. Turns out disputing that my doctors were wrong was pretty foolish of me. We finalized it by just saying I may have IBS and just sensitive to certain foods. It took me about a month for the pain to go away after stopping almost all consumption of vegetables/fruit as I started eating them in mass quantities only a few months before the pain. Since then I have been much better but the pain still arises once in a while. So I am curious, how long did you stop eating those foods that you believed may have been causing the issues? If you only stopped for maybe 2-3weeks I say to drop them again and wait longer.

A good friend of mine just suffered through years of symptoms similar to what you describe, including the big belly after eating. She was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, IBS, SIBO... finally it was determined that she had heavy metal poisoning. Mercury from eating cod every day for a year or something crazy like that. Anyway after suffering through chelation treatment she her GI system is now getting back to normal. Maybe something to look into?

I'm 46 and male. One tested for thyroid. It was negative. Getting results from latest test next week. In this test was also for thyroid. I wanted another opinion.

We need to know the actual value of your tsh result to offer some feedback.

I don't know where you are but I would consider a visit to the Mayo Clinic. I have been there and have referred others to go there. They have specialists in nearly every esoteric branch of medicine that you can think of and they will be very comprehensive in diagnosing you.

If you show up there I suspect that you will have an answer before you leave. They are an international referral center that has seen the most unusual cases from all around the world.

Your situation sounds like it does not fit a typical pattern that is easily diagnosed. With your current action of randomly trying different specialists, you are going to be stuck going from doctor to doctor until you come across one that has an a-ha moment and recognizes what is going on with you. That might take an awfully long time. I wouldn't be that patient. I would go to Mayo and plan on getting an answer. Do it on a vacation week so that if it takes an entire week of diagnostic tests, you can stay and get it done. Rochester, Minnesota is perhaps a bit boring but you can take your bike and running shoes and get some training in between appointments......

I am not belittling physicians. I am a doc and I am sure that you have seen some excellent doctors but you have not been fortunate enough to come across the "right" doc who has encountered whatever it is that you have.

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Jason
None of the secrets of success will work unless you do.

Thanks for the feedback. Something to file for my next test.

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I'm not convinced the race has been the source. I'm thinking back to maybe developing Lyme disease. I was in an area at that time with ticks. Maybe I got bit, maybe not. I've learned symptoms can develop months after being infected. So, I'm having my current doc check for this. Since 2011, I'm checking off "boxes." So far, I've learned what the issues are not. I'm hopeful I'm getting closer to the cause.

I'm 46. I've backed off on the water intake. Taking in about three quarts a day, along with juices and fresh fruits and veggies.

Thanks for the feedback. Got worked up by a cardiologist last month. No issues, even with a family history of cardiomyopathy. Reviewing blood work with doc next Tuesday. He was checking for Lyme and thyroid issues.

Thanks for your feedback. Glad to hear there's some improvement for you, even though it's not 100 percent.

I had a parasite infection in 2014. Took Flagyl and it got rid of it. But, my symptoms continued to worsen. GI doc had me do a gastric emptying test last March. Came back normal. Reviewing blood work with another doc next Tuesday.

Thanks for the feedback. Something to consider. I've seen 13 specialists (three were mental health counselors because of the "mind-gut" connection) and still no better, but worse. The Mayo Clinic is something to consider. Currently, I'm strapped with debt and live in WA. So, not able to just bounce from my job (have no leave at the moment) and fly to MN for a week or so. Reviewing latest blood work from another doc next Tuesday. As far as the "IBS" issues, his research has led him to conclude that term is just another symptom. He said we just have to drill down and see what's really going on with me.

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I need to test those foods again and leave them off longer than three weeks. It's been difficult to really know if what's happening in my body is really related to food. I was so well seven years ago. What I'm experiencing now has been gradual in coming on. Each year has been harder than the previous one. Reviewing blood work with another doc next Tuesday.

Seattle area or the couv? Naturopath I saw is in Portland. Reasonable rates. He will also pour over all labs and symptoms and come up with a plan. He specializes in gi.

Portland is close enough. Thanks for the feedback.

However, I'm growing increasing skeptical that any doc can get to the root. I've seen 10 medical docs and three mental health professionals. Now on my 11th doc who specializes in allopathic and naturopathic approaches. After all my tests, I keep getting further away from better health.

Today, woke up at 8:30 after going bed at 10 (had plant-based meal at 5:30 night before). Woke up feeling just wore out. Like I had done a lot of running the day before, but barely even walked around. Jaw was very tight, had gas (but there's no odor, it's like air). Slowly drank quart of caffeine free peppermint tea. Four bowel movements by 11. Each time I go, my abdomen and colon swells like I swallowed a medium watermelon. It makes me feel so bad, I have to lie down (on my left side). After an hour, got ready to go for a swim, bike ride and short run. Even after I pumped up my tires on bike, my gut was aggravated. Then I foam rolled legs and back for five minutes. Even that exertion inflamed my gut (swelled up). I had half a quart of fresh green drink with couple of scoops of plant-based protein powder. Had another bowel movement. After about 30 min of laying down again, headed out.

I was on my Giant cyclocross bike (10 pounds heavier than my Tarmac). Going at a conversational effort pace to lake (about 18min). Got passed by a guy who appeared 25 yrs younger than me. He passed me as we were going up a small incline. He passed me on the right riding a cheap beater mtn bike. No helmet, wearing tennis shoes. Here I am riding aluminum bike (likely lighter than his), clipped in to Speedplay pedals and wearing bike clothing. He passed me like I was going backwards while he was wearing his earbuds jamming away. He didn't even look like he was putting in an effort. I knew something was wrong with my strength. I was struggling to try and catch him. Never could. My gut was just giving me fits. I felt so heavy all over. And this was 10 min into my ride.

Got to lake and swam for about 35 min. But, I stopped about a dozen times because I was struggling. Finished swim and got back on bike to head home and get my Tarmac. Twenty minutes later, I'm home and begin to eat a Larabar and gluten-free Power Bar. Finished the Powerbar while on the bike. Could tell that my colon just didn't feel right. It hasn't felt right for years. It's just that any exertion aggravates it. When I attempt any exertion (climbing stairs, etc.), I feel so heavy and my abdomen gets pregnant bloated. Afer 35minutes on the Tarmac, my belly was pregnant. Looked like I swallowed a medium watermelon. Just felt so shitty all overall. Pulled over near a park and laid down on my left side. After 15min, got back on bike and headed home taking shortcuts. At one point, I rode on a sidewalk for a quarter mile because I did not have the gusto to stay with traffic. So, my initial plan was to ride for two hours, but cut that short. Also, no way I felt like running. Got home, took a bath and as I write this, I'm lying down in bed on my left side while my bowel feels so unruly and makes me feel so heavy, pregnant and miserable. Physical exertion is just out. Mostly due to getting so bloated that I can't get a deep belly breath because it interferes with my diaphragm.

Seeing a doc this Tuesday to go over results from blood work.

Have you had an autoimmune blood panel? Ferritin, Rheumatoid factor, etc...

How have you selected the 10 specialist you have seen?

My husband had some challenging colon problems, has surgery, had complications and almost died, had another complication 9 months later and was septic and almost died. From there we searched for the best doc we could find to help him.

We were referred to a GI doc in Providence. He saw my husband and suggested we see another GI in Boston who would know who to refer my husband to. Boston GI gave us names of two best surgeons for my husband to see and helped get him in sooner than if we called on our own. Finally after two more surgeries and a few more minor complications things are going better.

I share the story because we originally called the local teaching hospital and saw the specialist who have an appointment and he is the one that messed up the surgery and started this whole process. Things only got better once we got referrals to the best people to deal with his issues. I know when you have undiagnosed health issues, it is frustrating to get no clear answers and no solid direction. Hopefully someone in the medical field can refer you to someone who is like a pitbull and will consider many options and try to solve this.

My Dad suggested I go to Mayo Clinic like another poster suggested for some ongoing undiagnosised issues. I called and the process is quite intense. It is best if you have a physician refer you and you will get in much sooner than if you call directly. My friend's daughter after going to many Boston area Docs in a week at Mayo had a diagnosis and a treatment plan that helped her greatly. My Mom had her 3rd heart surgery there and they saved her life. What an amazing facility with kind and compassionate physicians and everyone working there was amazing.

Good luck!

You also sound malnourished despite eating, bloated from not digesting food. Dr. Minarik is on east side. Unfortunately conventional medicine does not always see the bigger picture. For the money, it would not hurt to make an appt with him (naturopath) since he specializes in gi issues. Not getting a handle on it can lead to autoimmune which was the road I was headed down. I was eating and slowly​ watch labs like cholesterol continue to drop to levels I had never run when healthy. That was just one sign of malabsoption. Most MD specialists were in conventional medicine school. It wouldn't hurt to go outside the box. I shudder to think what flipping meds I'd be on now if I didn't go another direction and the likely autoimmune issues. And that those meds would have done more harm than need good. My once doc rolled his eyes at food intolerance as the issues for the gi upset and malabsorption of key nutrients even though I was 100%! Tunnel vision to say the least. New doc knows there is a balance to be had between the two. Hope you get your answers and soon.

Had something like that. Ferritin rings a bell. That was done 2014-15. Waiting for results tomorrow from another doc.

does the HCL actually solve the problem or is it to just help digest the current meal? How many mg did they say to take?

First off a couple of questions. What do you mean by blurry vision? Since this is going on 6 years have you been keeping a daily journal, what about tracking the weight gain? Have you ever looked at your diet and tracked it both for knowing what you are eating but also just measuring a calorie / calorie out? You mentioned in another thread on Cardiomyopathy some other symptoms like neck constriction that you don't mention here.

A couple of observations that I thought of when reading this backstory and your other thread on Cardiomypathy. You mentioned dealing with debt, didn't sound enthusiastic about your job, training, or life in general. The debt part really struck me. No doubt your health is very important and when we can't find answers to problems we have a tendency to downspiral. Stress is not helpful in this situation. Is it possible you are dealing with some slight depression with this? Depression could account for some of the physical symptoms and the other life stress isn't helping.

I also noticed a tendency for you to do much more posting in the Lav room than triathlon room as of late. Your post and replies in the main room tend to be on more negative subjects like "your reaction when clipped by a car/near misses", "Anyone else give up riding outdoors?", "Time to hang it up, near miss on the bike." "stupid pride, bicycle road rage". Looking back you started entirely in the triathlon room.

But then I looked at some other posts. You have one early on (2011), very similar to this one except a bunch of jackasses telling you to go straight to the doctor, where you discuss symptoms going back as far as 2003.

You also talk in another similar post, but by someone else, about doing a lot of introspection which personally I think can be good. Also good to bounce things off other people though if you are like that so you can stay grounded which is exactly why I am replying in this fashion and with a specific tone etc.

I am not a doctor, I don't pretend to be, but I also understand that others can be very helpful. It is the nature of support groups with various diseases - they are designed to help people cope.

Ultimately to me it sounds like you need to go back and identify what really started this all. The IBS like symptoms and weight gain fluid retention could perhaps be explained by additional stress created by the initial symptoms that caused so much distress.

Curious, have you tried yoga, mediation, or anything else to help clear your mind and help stress? Do you have a spouse, kids, pets etc?

You described what sounds like kind of a typical day in a follow up post on this thread but what struck me is again you just seemed like you were going thru the motions. Why even go out the door to swim / bike. What drives you to do these things?

Some of this is rhetorical and for your own introspection. You can answer any questions or none at all. I think it is important to not underestimate stress, depression and the powers of them.

By background I was in medical device sales, cardiac / ep - specifically pacemakers and defibs. They forced and required me to know way too much about the heart. One thing that does stick out is transient a-fib. I assume they have given you a 12-lead EKG in the office. What about a holter monitor to watch for any transient a-fib. Something to think about.

You can always DM if you want to do, I am an extremely open person but I realize this stuff can be hard to discuss.

Lastly I will say that I take a proactive approach to my own health and as DIYer in general I really think the more information and tools I have the better. The reality is that at my level, very few doctors are going to be familiar with the level of training a pro athlete does. The hardest part in this process is teasing out what is fatigue from training (expected) versus other issues. I am working on my Q2 blood test blog post (Q1 labs here), but it is reminder to all that getting an extensive blood test can be very helpful in the process. If you have symptoms all of sudden and your general says "let's take a blood test" and biomarker is flagged it is nice to have a report to show to them before you were having symptom what the biomarker was.

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Thanks for your feedback, Kathy.

The 10 specialists I saw? All referrals from someone else. The first one I saw in 2011 was my "family doctor." Said I was having gut issues. He referred me to a GI specialist who I saw July 2012. That GI doc said it sounds like I have IBS and there was nothing that could be done about it. Try a low fodmap diet and try to manage it. Angry about her feedback, told her managing this is not an option for me. I'm not going to "just live with it." She didn't like me challenging her. She did conduct an endoscopy and colonoscopy on me March 2013. Everything checked out normal. So, I stopped seeing her and did more research on my own. In 2013, a coworker mentioned a specialist who helped his wife. So, saw this person who did a food panel on me. Had to eliminate things like wheat, almonds and eggs (I previously went back on eggs for a bit). I didn't improve on this elimination diet. So, stopped seeing this person. Another coworker referred me to a naturopath closer to me. She was helped by this doc. Had a battery of tests. One thing that came back was low iron. Took iron supplements, but didn't get better. I saw this person 2014 to Sept 2016. Just wasn't getting anywhere, but worse. So stopped seeing him. The others I've seen were referrals by someone else who had been helped (three were mental health counselors because a friend suggested my symptoms were mental due to getting back so many negative tests for things like Crohn's, etc.) One theme I'm running into with most of these docs is they see a deficiency on my labs, so, suggest taking a supplement or Rx to hopefully correct the deficiency. My gut tells me this is not going to fix the root cause (whatever that is). Like, if I had low iron, what caused the iron to get low? Taking a pill is not going to address the root cause, imo.

Well, the Mayo Clinic is something to consider. Thanks for the tip. Currently, I can't afford to leave WA and fly to that area. I've got much debt from other medical tests and supplements. Plus, I've missed so much work since 2013, that my job is getting increasingly jeopardized. I'm under FMLA protection, but, any time I miss is leave without pay. Once FMLA runs out, I'll have no protection. So, I'm looking at having to medically separate from my job that I've had since 2005. I don't want to go this route, but, my worsening health is forcing me in that direction.

Got results from labs today. Thyroid wasn't tested.

For me, I think it helps digest a meal, but, my pregnant abdomen and chronic fatigue remains. At one time, I took 8000 mg of HCL with betaine. Didn't get heartburn, so, could have taken more (didn't).

Thanks for chiming in, Thomas. Appreciate you deep diving into my other posts. I mean it. Yeah, I was having issues back in 2011. That's when things were "off" in my gut and I had constriction around my chest and neck area. Since then, I've had multiple EKGs and a treadmill test. Everything was good to go. No cardiomyopathy. No indicators that I was having a heart attack when I went to the ER last month.

Early on in Slowtwitch, when health was amazing, I mostly posted in the Tri room. But lately, since I can't be as active as I used to be, was seeking my kicks by posting in the Lavender room. Since I'm not racing, didn't feel the need to post in the Tri room. As far as the negative threads, yeah, I took to them because my symptoms are pissing me off. So, I gravitated to negative subjects because I feel so bad all the time. I'll follow up with a PM. Thank you.

This is just a shot in the dark but maybe it will have some value. My father in law contracted "valley fever". It is a fungal infection that you get in central California. That particular strain does not exist anywhere else, but there are other kinds of fungal infection you can get. If you do not live in an area where they Re common, your docs may not think to check for it. Even when they do check for it, it can be difficult to get definitive results. It can last for a very long time, even when treated with anti-fungals.

His symptoms included (and still include) lots of water retention, making him look puffy and bloated when he used to be quite fit. He also had a plural effusion which is fluid inside the membrane around the lungs which made it difficult to breath. Chronic fatigue is associated with it.

Did you travel anywhere that fungal infections can be contracted?

I am not a medical expert in the least, just sharing this experience!

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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Thanks for chiming in. I'll leave no stone unturned.

What other symptoms did you father-in-law have? Bowel issues, poor sleep, etc.?

The only place I traveled during the time things changed in my health was to NW AR and Branson, MO Sept 2010. Returned to WA the end of Sept. Still felt great. By Mar 2011, something wasn't quite right in my gut. I noticed physical efforts were a bit harder. I also wasn't as lean as I was six months before. I began having this slight fat roll around my gut. Just felt puffier. Weight had increased by 10 pounds compared to six months before. Results came back today for Lyme. It was negative. Doc is just experimenting with a "natural" supplement for a potential viral infection. He concluded going this route because of the host of symptoms I have (about 20 since 2011).