Hey, ChatGPT! What is Wrong with My Stomach?
Can the AI and Google search figure out my issue?
I’ve been getting terribly ill a lot lately. It feels like I have food poisoning. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, chills, sweating. It happened when the wife and I went to Boracay and I spent all night curled up under two blankets.
Now, again, after I ate the other day, I got horribly bloated and my body got so cold I was shivering uncontrollably. I started throwing up, and soon after it came out the other end.
Yeah, I hope you aren’t eating while reading this because it could ruin you for food for a long time. I’ve spent the last two days in bed, sweating with cramps and so exhausted that I can’t move.
I mean, I’ve always had issues with my stomach and digestion. The only difference now is that I started doing something about it. I started taking this stuff every morning called Bactiflora which is a probiotic dietary food supplement liquid. It is advertised as “Bacillus clausii — 2 Billion Spores” which is supposed to help my gut get back to its normal working order, whatever that means. I’ve never had a normal working stomach.
The Cleveland Clinic says about probiotics:
“Because microbes used as probiotics already exist naturally in your body, probiotic foods and supplements are generally considered safe. They may trigger allergic reactions, and may also cause mild stomach upset, diarrhea, or flatulence (passing gas) and bloating for the first few days after starting to take them.”
What I had was quite a bit more than “mild stomach upset,” but what if my digestion is so messed up, that when I added Baciflora to the mix, it totally screwed up my system?
And I’ve been taking this every day for the past three weeks — why give me trouble now?
Digging Further
Then, I asked ChatGPT about this and this is what it said:
“The most common side effects of probiotics are mild digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. These symptoms are usually temporary and go away on their own as the body adjusts to the probiotic supplement.”
But I felt like there was more, so I started digging deeper. Then I found something on the Arthur Andrew Medical website:
“It is possible for probiotics to stimulate a detox reaction that can lead to a litany of symptoms that can vary from mild to miserable. This occurs when probiotics rapidly starve out unwanted organisms, causing metabolic byproducts to be released into the body. For instance, dead yeast cells over time can release up to 80 different toxins including uric acid, ethanol, and acetaldehyde, a potent neurotoxin. If you have ever started taking a probiotic and felt exhausted, feverish, or had flu-like symptoms, it may be linked to this type of detox effect, also known as a Herxheimer reaction. The medical community is well aware of Herxheimer reactions when people are treated for serious illnesses, such as certain bacterial infections, other autoimmune conditions or even after heavy rounds of antibiotics.”
So, I was right in thinking there could be something going on. I have spent so much time putting damaging things in my body, that when I introduced something good, my body went haywire.
I'm going to keep taking the probiotics because I am sure it is a sign that I am doing something right, but I may speak to a doctor just to make sure what I am doing is safe for me. I have found no proof that probiotics are harmful, in fact, ChatGPT says:
“…the safety of probiotics may depend on various factors, such as the specific strain of bacteria, the dosage, and the duration of use. Some people may also be allergic to certain probiotic strains or other ingredients in probiotic supplements.
For these reasons, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider before taking probiotics, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications that may interact with probiotics.
It is also important to choose a high-quality probiotic supplement from a reputable manufacturer and to follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage and usage instructions.
Overall, probiotics are generally safe for most people, but it is always a good idea to exercise caution and consult with a healthcare provider before adding any new supplement to your routine.”
I guess the best thing would be to check with a doctor, just in case my many health conditions or medications may interact with it and I just put in a call to see if one could answer my questions. If all else fails, I will call my cardiologist — he seems to know everything about everything when it comes to me and my health.
The Rabbit Hole
I spent most of the morning trying to figure this out, but I am glad I did. I have to say that ChatGPT and the other AIs are so valuable when it comes to putting thoughts together and helping find research. What is it going to be like when we only have to log into an AI doctor, have your Smartwatch check our vitals, and then it gives diagnoses of the issues we have?
That day is not far off, but I think it’s closer than we think if only people will get over their fear of technology and it will become smarter than we are. The fact is, it is already smarter than 90% of us, we are just too far into our own ego and entitlement to admit it.
When are we going to allow AI to help us?