Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Home > Ailments > Gastrointestinal Disorders > Gastrointestinal Disorders Q&A > Flu meds caused major gastrointestinal problems

Flu meds caused major gastrointestinal problems

Posted By Anniebananie (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 09/11/2011

Back in May my 15 yr old had a bad flu and finals coming up and begged me to give her something to get rid of symtoms every day for 2 weeks. She had advil, theraflu, nyquil and lots of strong cough meds. All said and done she developed gastro problems and since then cannot hold any food unless vegan and combine according to correct food combinations but we worked her up to some pretty solid food and away from homemade baby food mush type. She almost died from gastro specialist putting her on reglans she had every side effect know and couldn't breath. I got her off zantac and prilosec with digestive enzymes. She takes cabbage juice 4 times a day.

Anyway she has been able to eat vegan for 2 months and then she ate a watermelon that had been in the fridge a litttle too long and her symtoms started all over again, vomiting and she is back to baby food mush. I am thankful though because had I continued with the gastro specialist she would probably be on feeding tubes by now. Anyway I do check in with him now and then and I requested that they do a endoscope to just look inside and check out the lining of her tummy etc. to have the piece of mind that we havn't overlooked anything. That will happen next week.

The doctors basically just want her on zantac and that is their solution to everything but she feels malnourished on it and fatiqued which was why I took her off it. She has developed small under the skin pimples in a cluster on the sides of her neck on the pulse area. I'm wondering if this is a reaction to the reglan or if it is an allergic reaction to food. She had a little teen acne, typical for this age. But since all of this it got worse, spread a little to cheeks and these tiny ones on sides of neck. Since she was set back to starters again after the bad watermelon she has also developed this gasping for air symtom as we worked her back to baby food to stop vomiting. Now that we figured out the food her gasping type breathing is just every minute or so like a need for extra deep breath. I'm amazed how intricately intwined the gastro and respiratory is related.

These pain killers which I believe caused all this but the drs. just think it is a post viral tummy reaction, they are so dangerous. She has been like this for 3 months. I have never peeled or cooked so many veggies in all my life. I feel like putting on a pair of overalls and calling myself farmer mom. If anyone has any ideas on the neck bumps or idea on what I can do to get her back to eating normally please let me know. For those with Gastroparesis or gastritis, I feel like cabbage juice really helps her but I can't really know until I start her eating non vegan which I don't want to do yet for fear she will vomit or the food just won't digest and she feels sluggish. Baby steps right now. Accupuncture didn't really do anything for her because we didn't do it long enough and its too expensive. Should I go back to the zantac to coat her stomach and let her stomach heal where she can eat anything but feel malnourashed or should I continue on digestive enzymes and healthy vegan eating? Its hard to know what to do. HOpefully this post helps someone out there or helps me with someone elses reply. Thank you for this website it is and has been my sanity for 2 months now. The person who started it is truly a godsend. thank you.

Replied by Melinda (San Marcos, Ca) on 10/20/2011

To Side Effects: You may want to try giving your daughter Vitamin E. I went through a series of massive injuries (dislocated/shattered ankle plus I caught on fire and had severe third degree burns). I went through 4 surgeries, IV antibiotics, and over a month in the hospital, followed by months of additional meds which I am convinced completely disrupted my internal ph balance and killed a lot of good bacteria.

ince coming out of the hospital over a year ago, I have struggled with chronic UTI's and in doing research learned that Vit E is essential not only to helping heal UTI's, but also to repairing internal damage and scarring that occurs whenever someone has undergone any kind of surgery or fought any kind of infection. Not only has the Vit E helped the UTI, but I began to experience all sorts of additional beneficial side effects... Including welcome relief of acute nerve pain that has plagued my ankle area for the last year, massive reduction of swelling (I can finally fit into shoes that I thought I would never wear again! ) and my burn scar looks amazing. I take 2000 IU's per day and can't get over the difference it has made.

I write this because my guess is that your daughter suffered a lot of internal damage from the excessive use of meds and probably has quite a bit of internal scarring as a result. Vitamin E may not be the only fix, but it certainly will help repair the cell damage that has inevitably occurred. Good luck and take care!

Replied by Jen (Bozeman, Mt, Us) on 11/18/2011

Some suggestions for healing the gut. Glutamine and glycine are really great amino acids for healing the stomach and intestines. I agree that Vit E is also helpful for healing any stomach and intestinal lining that may be damaged. Try probiotics as well since she may have killed them with all the medicine she ingested. Vegan is great as long as she is still getting protien in her diet like nuts and seeds. I would also try the Ted's alkalizing remedy to balance her pH. Poor thing. Hope she gets some relief soon. Fifteen is a hard age to be sick. They are growing so fast and need lots of nutrition so I hope she is up and running soon.

Back to Gastrointestinal Disorders Q&A