Training with irritable bowel syndrome and aphthae

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi,

my girlfriend started training with me a while ago and was making great progress. The challenge that she has is nutrition. She has had IBS for years and has tried most all modifications in her diet. Her symptoms (cramps, bloatedness, sometimes diarrhea) worsen periodically, but most of the time she is at a “mild irritation” stage with this condition. Her bloodwork is all fine, gastroscopy (endoscopy?) came back fine, it’s not celiac disease.

Lately however, tan addition to this condition appeared. She started having quite frequent aphthae in her mouth and on her tongue. This is presenting serious issues with keeping her nutrition game up - tough to eat lots of solid nutritious food every day when it feels like having razors in your mouth.

Her stats are:

age: 28 y.o.
height: 176 cm | 5’7
weight: 61 kg | 135 lbs

I’d love to hear if there are any cues which could help her out. Primary care + gastroenterologist had nothing better than “you’re under a lot of stress, your immune system is down”.

Thanks!

2

Sorry to hear about this.

I would probably get a second opinion from another gastroenterologist and consider a rheumatology evaluation, as there are other conditions that should probably be ruled out here. I also don’t know what “her bloodwork” specifically includes, either.

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3

Thanks Austin, appreciate your reply!

She had what you guys in the States call a CBC(?) I think… like a “complete blood image” if you translate literally. OK, so a second gastro oppinion + rheumatology evaluation. I will report here if we find out anything other than “sorry, you’re stuck with recurring aphthous stomatitis” and IBS (and if it would be of interest to you of course).

Cheers!
Alex

4

Yeah, a CBC is just one test. There are lots of other things that should probably be checked in this situation.

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