Digestive symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramps, nausea
Abdominal bloating and distension
Everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. Other terms used to describe abdominal pain are stomach-ache, tummy ache, gut ache and bellyache. Abdominal pain can be mild or severe. It may be constant or come and go. Abdominal pain can be short-lived, also called acute. It also may occur over weeks, months or years, also known as chronic.
Everyone occasionally has diarrhea — loose, watery and more-frequent bowel movements. You might also have abdominal cramps and produce a greater volume of stool. The duration of diarrhea symptoms can provide a clue to the underlying cause.
Acute diarrhea lasts from 2 days to 2 weeks. Persistent diarrhea lasts 2 to 4 weeks. Acute and persistent diarrhea are typically caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection of some sort.
Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than does acute or persistent diarrhea, generally more than four weeks. Chronic diarrhea can indicate a serious disorder, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Sources:
The Mayo Clinic
Post-Covid recommendations for primary care physicians – Switzerland
Practical management of post-Covid19 disease, Dr Ioannis Kokkinakis, Dr Mathieu Saubade, Dr Konstantinos Tzartzas, Dr Serge De Vallière, Dr Catherine Duquenne, Pr Gilles Allali, Dr Frédéric Regamey and Pr Bernard Favrat - Rev Med Suisse 2023
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Digestive issues
Mild nausea
Decreased appetite
Severe constipation
Food intolerance
Physical reactions to certain foods
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Bloating
Heartburn
Trouble swallowing
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Simple actions to begin, that you can do right now
Optimal hydration
Healthy Mediterranean diet
Limitation of sugar and processed foods
Avoid using lots of over-the-counter drugs to treat your symptoms
Daily adapted physical activity
Additional actions to go further
Daily probiotic intake during at least 6 months
Speak to your medical professional first to develop a treatment plan
Test the consumption of lactose free foods
Test the consumption of low FODMAP foods
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Medical assessment
Identify exogenous factors such as stress, dietary habits, medications, etc., which have a favourable / unfavourable influence on the symptoms. Therapy includes stool regulation with bulking agents, dietary counselling or a diet change. Depending on the symptoms, drug therapy can be evaluated following a gastroenterologist consultation.
Tests:
Specialized gastroenterological assessment
Intolerance test (lactose, etc.)
Blood analysis (Anti-tTG antibodies)
Stool analysis, if relevant
Abdominal ultrasound
Abdominal CT scanner, if relevant
Endoscopy if appropriate
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Follow-up with a nutritionist
Osteopathy (visceral manual therapy)
Chiropractic medicine