What is GVHD of the gut?
Chronic GVHD (grant-versus-host-disease) of the stomach and intestines happens when the donor’s cells attack and damage this organ and the stomach and intestines aren’t functioning properly.
What are the symptoms of GVHD of the gut?
Symptoms of GVHD of the gut include nausea, loss of appetite, a feeling of fullness, indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea, pain and weight loss.
How you can decrease symptoms of GVHD of the gut
- Keep a list of what you eat and your symptoms.
- Some foods are more apt to irritate your GI tract. Avoid foods that cause symptoms.
- Take anti-nausea medicines before you eat.
- See a dietitian if you’re losing weight. They can give you advice to ease symptoms and help you eat healthy foods.
How do you stop GVHD diarrhea?
Be careful about what you eat. Avoid foods that seem to cause diarrhea. This may include spicy, oily, or fatty foods and foods that have milk in them. Talk to your doctor about anti-diarrhea medicines.
What is the treatment for GVHD in the gut?
Available treatments for GVHD of the gut include:
- Medicines, like topical steroids that you swallow, can ease symptoms. These coat your stomach and intestines without affecting the rest of your body. Examples are beclomethasone in corn oil and budesonide pills.
- Most people with this type of chronic GVHD will also need medicines that treat the entire body. This may include prednisone.
- Your doctor might give you medicines to ease nausea (for example, Zofran or Compazine) and diarrhea (for example, Imodium or Lomotil).
- If your pancreas isn’t working, your doctor may give you enzymes. Enzymes are substances that help you digest food, particularly fat and oils. If you don’t have enough enzymes, you may have gas, bloating, pain, oily and smelly stools and weight loss. One example of this treatment is a pill called Creon.
- If you lose weight because of chronic GVHD of the stomach or intestines, you may need food through an intravenous (IV) line or feeding tube. You may heal more slowly and have a higher risk of infection if you aren’t able to eat enough.
Other facts about GVHD of the gut
- Symptoms of chronic GVHD of the stomach and intestines may get better with treatment. But it can take a long time. Some people need treatment for years or for the rest of their lives.
- If your pancreas isn’t working, you will likely need treatment with enzymes for a long time.
- Chronic GVHD may also cause your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) to narrow. This could cause nausea or vomiting.
- There are other things that can cause symptoms that seem like chronic GVHD. For example, nausea and diarrhea may be caused by pain medicines, antibiotics or other treatments. Infections can cause diarrhea and stomach pain. Hormone changes from taking steroids for a long time can cause nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain.
When you should call your doctor
- Your stomach or intestines hurt
- You notice changes in your appetite, stool or weight