u/Ill-Risk-8004

Is it possible that something in the air or ground or environment in Iowa can completely disrupt someone's digestion? And if so, what might you assume? Water and food are obvious.

Hey everyone, looking for insights, similar experiences, or ideas on what to investigate next. I’ve been dealing with a distinct chronic digestive issue since 2021. Skip to the bottom for a very brief summary.

*yes I put this into AI to summarize everything for me

📌 The Core Problem: Post-Meal "Stagnation"

The Sensation: Every time I eat, food feels like it sits completely still in my mid/left abdomen and refuses to move.

The Triggers: Occurs after almost all meals. It's triggered by solid foods, but also by liquid/blended calories (smoothies, kefir). Plain water is tolerated completely normally.
Upper GI Symptoms: fair amount of regurgitation (even 3–8 hours after eating) No pain, severe nausea, or vomiting.

Bowel Patterns: sometimes small pebbles other times it completely disperses when I flush like a very loose stool

😴 The Sleep Connection
My sleep is 100% dependent on my stomach. If my digestion feels "stagnant," my brain will not let me fall asleep. If it feels "cleared" (sometimes requiring a bowel movement or waiting 7+ hours after eating), I sleep deeply and normally. Insomnia is secondary to the gut issues.

🌍 The "Ghana Twist" (My Biggest Clue)
In 2024, I traveled to Ghana. Before I went I did a 4 day fast taking raw garlic, ginger, and oil of oregano. I broke the fast with some fruit at the airport and I ate normal food when I arrived in Ghana that night (no restrictions). Within 2–3 days, my symptoms completely vanished.
Digestion became 100% normal. No stagnation.
I could eat massive meals right before bed and sleep perfectly.
I ate local rice, stews, plantains, fruit, and coconut with zero issues. Everything. Only things I didn't eat there were bread and dairy and that was just because I was scared of it starting an issue. When I say I was 100% okay I mean it. Not 98 or 99.
The Catch: Within 1–2 weeks of returning to the U.S., the stagnation and sleep issues came right back.
🧪 Testing & Trials
Tests: H. pylori is negative. No structural diagnoses yet. Appetite and body weight are completely stable. Blood work was slightly high bilirubin and high cholesterol. I don't eats. High cholesterol diet AT ALL so me and my doctor were confused at this.
What Helped (Temporarily/Partially): Antibiotics, fasting (initially), sauerkraut, and various probiotics all gave short-lived, temporary relief before losing effectiveness.
What Didn't Help: Ultra-clean dieting, long fasts, antimicrobial protocols, or heavy supplementation.
❓ My Core Questions

1. What could cause this specific "stagnation" and regurgitation without pain or weight loss? (Looking into gastric accommodation, functional dyspepsia, or upper GI motility issues).
2. Why would this completely resolve in Ghana and return in the U.S.?

If you've overcome something similar or have a theory on the geographic remission, I'd love to hear it. Thanks!

Long story short my sleep is being massively hindered by my digestion and everything I try doesn't work. It's preventing me from living how I should.

I also don't want to get any injections or take any medicine as not only do I know my body can fix itself but I don't need a side effect in the future.