Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I may be the biggest idiot yet.

First: WARNING: some people may find this post gross. It talks about stool and whats in it. Read on at own caution, but it WILL be interesting, I promise If you still don't want to read, skip to the second section, it has no poop in it .D



This may just be me rushing to conclusions, but I discovered two important things.

1. As those of you that read my recent posts know, I have had incredible stomach issues lately. Very shortly summed up: Stomach infection in Egypt three years ago, after that stomach never seemed to work properly, and my body exploded with joint pains, fatigue, the works...The last 6 weeks have been hell, with constipation to the point I was admitted to the ER with constipation pains after a "plug loosened" (it had been 4 days since I last saw the toilet for number 2) They found blood in the stool, and are leaning toward stomach ulcer. Gastroscopy is awaiting. During this period I have only been able to pass solid material a few times, then it looked undigested with elongated bits in it. I thought it was undigested fiber. all the other times it has been diarrhea, and it hasnt seemed like a lot got through to be honest. I was worried, scared and have had anxiety off the charts. I was prescribed anti-acids, and artificial fiber to get the stomach to work better, but this only seemed to make it worse. Finally I quit the anti-acids and the artificial fiber, and started taking a remedy that is supposed to make the stool softer and easier to pass. I also started using a bit of chewing tobacco (the kind here in Norway we do not chew but keep uner the lip) Some people say its good for bacteria, as users rarely get teeth cavities. And it has started to loosen. All the while I have insisted to doctors that it fel like constipation at the top of my stomach.
Now something is getting through, although it isnt what I'd call solid, at least it is every day.

With these kinds of problems you do start paying attention to your stool. And seeing as mine looked "undigested" I was. And I noticed a few times with solid stool what looked like rice corn. other times it looked like just undigested matter. But I saw something I really thought looked weird, so yeah; I picked it up (not using hands) and checked it. it looked like 3 bits of 3-4cm, flat transparent ...gelatinous matter. About 4 to 8mm wide and a mere couple of mm thick. But in the middle there was ...well poo to be honest, that did not wash off. It looked like it was enclosed in the middle. I thought it weird and took a picture, lacking an appropriate container to bring it to the doctors. And the next day I passed a round thing that I would have called Spagetthi (same size roughly and white/yellow, 12 cm long), if it wasnt for the fact that I have proof positively not eaten Spagetthi for at least 7-8 weeks. I checked with the wife and she agrees. Again I took a picture and cursed myself for lack of container. (I got one now to be prepared if I pass more) Now it could still be spaghetti I suppose, that has been lodged up in my intestines for that long, but that sounds really unlikely and to still be so undigested.

Then I started to look up what it might be and I swear, the flat bits: they look excactly like what Flatworm segments look like!!! The round part could be from the front of the worm. I WANT more to pass so I can bring to my doctor, this is so weird.

Flatworm is rarely seen in patients in my country, and flatworm can cause constipation if they colonize the intestines. (usually at the top of the intestines, where I have felt my constipation was located). It would explain no CRP results, little blood and no anemia (havent checked B12 though). It would explain the insane stomach infection for 10 days straight after Egypt, and it could from what I read actually fire off fatigue and pains. I think a Gastroscopy that I am having soon would be likely to see it in my upper intestines, right? Also it would explain perfectly my dry coughs, and the "rice corn". (thats what eggs look like) Last of all; A day before my "Egypt stomach adventure" began, we took an arranged tour to a desert tribe. I remember walking off the bus in the middle of the desert, to see over one hundred camels, and the sand was littered in camel droppings. We got to ride them for a while, then got dinner they made for us out in the desert. It was really good, they baked bread on open fire and I dug in. I ate it all; salad, meat, bread, everything. And I ate lots.







Now...second problem. I have had REALLY bad anxiety lately, and it feels like I loose contact with my body, dizzyness spells, a constant sinking feeling and all the things that go with anxiety. I have thought so often it feels like I loose contact with feet or hands. As I have had all the times this has hit me bad. Ever since 17 years ago, when I first got vertigo and loss of feeling my breathing on a flight, after sleeping through take-off.

Let me tell you, if you are one of the fortunate ones never to have experienced this, it is so terrifying and it feels like it just gets worse and will not pass. The actual panic attacks didnt start until after I was on anti-anxiety meds. At the excact same time I started getting ear problems. It started with "clicking noises". Constantly popping off, like when you swallow. Through the years I have got jaw problems with it. Manipulating jaw movements can set off the sounds more or make the better. A few times it has felt like a ballon popped deep inside the right ear, and afterwards I felt like something wet running inside my ear. and after that I have felt like loosing my sence of the right leg and arm. It would literally take weeks and months to get better. Those problems are always with me, but in long periods they are not noticable so much. Then if they get REALLY bad, like now, it feels like pressure in the ears almost like its the head, I get ear ringing, pain, and at night when sleeping I can hear popping noises even in my nose. Like air bleeding out. My sinuses feel sore (but in CV once they came up clear)

I have had doctors look at it, they cannot see fluid in the ear and they arent red. I've told them; Every single time since it started, whenever I was on antibiotics, the sound almost dissapears, but they havent been interested. The last year it's been accompanied by a nose infection that a short anti-biotic cure would not take away fully, and that is still there.

If you DO have anxiety, you know; You grip at any hope, and anything that might help. And I have through the years, I almost developed a routine and since its so far between my "attacks" I sort of only remember it when I get really really plagued again.

Many years ago I read about something they call "crystal sickness" here in Norway. Its a condition where salt crystals form in your balance organ and cause vertigo and dizzyness. There is a simple manouver called Epleys manouver that a fyscician can do to dislodge the crystals and make them exit the balance organ. Back then I tried it myself at home and since it's been a fall-back for me when I get bad with this.
And...as I have before, I had forgot the manouver.
And I remembered it today, and today has been a TERRIBLE day. I've feel like I was sinking though my own body into the floor all day. And I did the manouver. At the very first it induced dizzyness, and then afterward a few rounds of it; I literally felt like I was standing on firmer ground. And can feel my body better.

And dumb as I am, I knew this...I knew it helps. It's just that whenever this has passed each time I just want to forget and keep on living. Really I couldnt care less what they call it, but that manouver HELPS ME! -Yeah I want to shout it out! It helps my anxiety, it helps with dizzyness and feeling like my nerve system is on fire. Is it a perfect solution? -No. My head hurts now, and my ears are still sore and irritated inside. But I feel better. ANYTHING that I can do to change my current situation to the better is GOLD.

When I get back to my GP, I am going to mention a "balance laboratorium" they have at a specialist hospital here. This time I will not just let it go once I feel ok again.


Could these two things be the answer to all my problems? -I doubt it. But they feel relevant, and I will be exploring them. It is not natural for anxiety to cause as severe stomach problems as I have, and anxiety is not helped by head movement.

Love gilth (thats suddenly feels a little better, but knows its a far walk left to go)

Hope you all are well and at the very least feel 50 times better than what I have lately!



EDIT: Arghh...one of the myriad of symptoms that has spooked me lately has been a slight dizzyness when I turn my head some times. If I move my head to the side, it's felt like it kept moving a brief moment after I stopped the movement. I didnt connect the dots, I just felt the terror of it.

My cat had flatworms. It was so weird seeing worms crawling out of his butt! We took him to a vet, the vet fed the cat a pill, problem solved. Hope its that simple for us humans. Good luck with it!

That would explain a lot if you have flatworm. It would be an easy fix too. I hope your tests reveal something for you.
Take care!

Worms should be easy to fix. It might be worth while just talking to your GP, and treating for it anyway, even without "evidence".

Should be, but as I said; they dont see it a lot here in my country. There is special wards for tropical and foreign diseases and parasites though. Just have to get it through the head of my GP first to take it seriously. At least stuff is passing my intestines now, and about time. Between the diarrhea and the constipation I am down from 92kg's to 85kg's.

oh, and the ear thing: After the manouver I tried earlier today I had a great evening, apart from a real pressure feeling in the head and ears. I did a few more rounds of it now, and it feels like when you drain water from your ears after bathing....except from the inside of the ears. Very strange, and a little uncomfortable, but even so; I feel better fit to meet tomorrow than I have in months! I can't say if it's crystal sickness, or meniere's or what it really is; but man it is meaning a huge difference to balance and nerves. Nothing else has had this impact. To be honest, it feels like my body has been using every muscle available to maintain balance without me even understanding it.

What you are describing sounds like paroxysmal positional vertigo (bppv). My dad has that and they do that maneuver thing also. But I believe there is a medicine you can also take.

Good lucky with the other, um, issue! LOL! They should be able to runs test and figure it out!

Jajie is right as to what you have is called in my case BPPV. THose maneuvers do work. I suspect that it is caused by my AS not merely the crystals. I usually do them when I feel like there might be an attack of vertigo coming.

I also have found that staying incredibly well hydrated helps enormously.

I suspect the crystals are a problem becuase of inflamation caused by my AS. I had the jaw isssues before I ever had my first veritgo battle.

Good luck keeping the vertigo away. THose exercises have been a blessing to me and have reduced the severity of the vertigo for me.

It would seem that a simple stool test might show up any worms and/or their eggs. You description sure sounds suspicious.

My friend from highschool has been raving about seeing are REALLY GOOD Osteopath. he helped her get over her vertigo , she suffered from anxiety too, and they would not treat her as having any vertigo because of the anxiety.
but finally seeing a specialist who put goggles on her to see the nystagmus when she was laid down.

The osteopath fixed all sorts of things throughout the last couple years, including problems with inner organs.

I am going to check one out soon. worth looking into.. NOTE you don't want an osteopath who started in RMT or chiro, as they may not be as specialized and their treatment may not be anything more than Reiki. Also if you complain of dizziness or any symptom a good Osteopath can explain what is going on.

I just came back from upper endoscopy (gastroscopy).
Apparently I have GERD grade B, whatever that means, and have to use more anti-acids. No Hernia, and no blockage they could see.

If anyone has it, could you explain what it's about? -Didnt sound too serious from the doctor that performed the exam.

My stool samples are yet to return from lab, so no news there.