Are loose stools, ear plugging, sinus ache, and frequent urination urge often connected to a single problem?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am going to be pretty detailed, and I am not sure if all my symptoms are separate issues or linked to one thing. I am a 42-year-old female. For the last couple of years, I have had loose stools. I cannot remember the last time I had a normal bowel movement. They seem pretty grainy and pencil-like. My doctor does not seem too concerned. I travel abroad quite often. So, I do not know if it could be parasites. I do not have gas or bloating issues, and I have bowel movements every morning, like three times. Along with the loose stools, I wake with my whole back aching, and it feels like I slept on the floor. Also, my ears seem plugged all the time, and my sinuses ache. A few months ago, I had a deep tissue massage, and that night I had to pee every hour. This continued for the next two months too. Then I would have these flares that would cause me to have to pee every 15 minutes. It would last about 30 minutes then, go back to every hour. I was getting extremely exhausted. My doctor ran several tests, and they were all normal. He put me on Desmopressin, thinking I had diabetes insipidus. That put me in the ER. I had undergone more blood work and a CT scan. CT showed a slightly enlarged liver. I quit the Desmopressin since my blood work later showed I did not have diabetes insipidus. I noticed every time I would have something high in sugar, I would have a flare (every 15 minutes). So I cut out sugar. After that, I was able to go through the night peeing every two hours. I saw another doctor who told me I had thrush. He put me on Diflucan for three days, then Nystatin for two weeks. Symptoms seemed better, but I still urinated every hour during the day. The antifungals gave me severe anxiety, so I quit them. I started on a good probiotic, Colostrum, multivitamins, and a candida supplement. I also quit gluten, dairy, yeast, and alcohol. My stools became stringy for a while, and I felt a lot better for a couple of weeks. The back of my tongue is still white, and I still ache, my sinuses feel like crap, and my bladder started hurting again. I really thought going gluten-free would have helped my aches. However, that has not been the case. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I thoroughly read your query and understand your concern.

I appreciate your seeking help. Well, first and foremost, I would suggest you follow a heart-healthy and balanced diet that is relatively Mediterranean. In general, a healthy eating plate comprises essentially a low-fat diet, fiber-rich foods including whole grain cereals, green leafy vegetables cooked using healthy vegetable oils, fresh fruits of all colors as seasonally available, and healthy proteins or fats including fresh fish, poultry, etc. The consumption of alcohol, if any, has to be strictly in moderation, and is best avoided. Smoking is to be avoided too. Again, red meat, butter, refined grains, sweets, sugary drinks, including carbonated beverages, and other high-calorie foods, etc, if any, are to be taken sparingly or should be completely avoided. Particularly, in your case, you need to avoid dairy products as you seem to be demonstrating significant sensitivity towards them, as evident from your test results. Similarly, for avoiding dairy products, you need to exercise and have diet control. Avoid all food that you are sensitive to, based on your tests. Being severely obese, you need to exercise regularly (walking being the safest) for at least 30 to 45 minutes daily unless your physician instructs or advises otherwise. Stretching exercises (of the pelvic floor muscles) under the proper guidance of a trained or expert physiotherapist may help alleviate pelvic floor dysfunction, if any. Stay well hydrated, relax, and de-stress on a daily basis. Diet and lifestyle guidelines apart, I would like to suggest the following supplements to be taken orally for a month:

1. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) 250 mg 1 tablet twice daily, after food.

2. Curcumin 250 mg 1 tablet twice daily, after food.

3. Cod liver oil 300 mg (Seacod) 1 capsule twice daily, after food.

4. Garlic extract 250 mg 1 tablet twice daily, after food.

5. Green tea, one cup, up to twice daily.

6. Probiotics to continue as advised by your physician.

Keep at least a five to ten minutes gap between each of the natural medications as suggested above. Also, eat with at least two hours gap between natural medications and allopathic medications, if any. Additionally, I suggest you consult a neurologist who can clinically assess neurologic issues, if any, and recommend treatment as appropriate. Your gynecologist can help you with the gynecological issue appropriately.

Hope this helps. You can follow up after a month. Do take care, and all the very best.

Regards.