Has anyone experienced bloating?

Posted by judithbramson12 @judithbramson12, Mar 2, 2024

Has anyone experienced bloat? I can’t seem to get rid of it. Any information of success would be greatly appreciated, I've tried probiotics, 5 different brands and they did nothing. My primary recommended that,
Thanks for Reading1

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@altc321

Congratulations on your weight gain and no diarrhea…. Can you share what foods and enzymes/dosage you are using?

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I shared the foods in my reply below. I take Zenpep, 40,000 units with everything I eat. If you read my post, I eat only 5 times a day and don’t do snacks. It’s explained in that post.

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@katereese0820

My husband is having the Whipple procedure in April at the Mayo Clinic in JAX. Who was your surgeon? Can you provide me with the foods that have assisted you in weight gain and doesn't cause diarrhea?

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One thing I left out that’s important re: foods. Read the labels and no foods with ingredients listed, be careful. As the additives really don’t tell you what is in them.

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@kathyleec58

Try Gas X (Simethicone).

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Hi @kathyleec58, thanks for the tip and welcome. What is your pancreatic cancer story?

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Hello, I am writing from Turkey, a temporary solution for diarrhea and gas is to drink dried cloves with water.

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Has anyone had bloat, rounded stomach area, ? I always had a flat stomach. I came home from Whipple two years ago with a flat stomach. About eight months ago I am suddenly bloated and I think it’s gas. My primary Dr. says she hears gas. I tried all those gut meds advertised, but it’s still hard. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you for reading my question.

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@judithbramson12

Has anyone had bloat, rounded stomach area, ? I always had a flat stomach. I came home from Whipple two years ago with a flat stomach. About eight months ago I am suddenly bloated and I think it’s gas. My primary Dr. says she hears gas. I tried all those gut meds advertised, but it’s still hard. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you for reading my question.

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Me too. And I weigh 95 pounds...I'm so looking forward to some help on this too. I'm gaining a bit of weight, but some is on the outside of my stomach; you know, the part you can grab with your fingers and measure. My Whipple was 1 1/2 years ago; I'm physically active, walking and household duties, gardening last summer.
I think it's gas; I've tried Gas X, etc. and no measurable results. Thank you for asking this question, Judith. Nothing like a skinny little old lady with a protruding stomach...but I'm glad to be alive and feeling good. Carrie

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@judithbramson12

Has anyone had bloat, rounded stomach area, ? I always had a flat stomach. I came home from Whipple two years ago with a flat stomach. About eight months ago I am suddenly bloated and I think it’s gas. My primary Dr. says she hears gas. I tried all those gut meds advertised, but it’s still hard. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you for reading my question.

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Since your Whipple procedure, were you evaluated for Exocrine Pancreas Insufficiency (EPI)? Resecting the head of the Whipple can remove as much as 82% of the acinar cells which produce and secrete the digestive enzymes. While some have sufficient cells left after surgery to handle their diet of carbohyd, protein and fat, others do not. And in those that have a sufficient amount, the remnant pancreas can atrophy so over time, the amount of digestive enzymes decreases. This results in undigested food mixing with intestinal bacteria, fermenting and causing excessive gas.

The test to determine if EPI is the cause is the Fecal Elastase1 test. It is a measure of the output,of enzymes by the pancreas. Values under 200 micrograms/gram stool indicates impairment and is treated with supplemental enzymes known as pancrealipase. Examples are Creon, Zenpep, Viokace and others. If you were prescribed a pancrealipase, then you may need to increase dosage to optimize for the fat, carbohydrate and protein content of each meal. The dosing calculator at https://digestthis.ca makes optimization easier.

If you eat high fiber vegetables and legumes, one’s pancreas does not produce the specific enzyme called alpha-d-galactosidase needed to digest oligosaccharides which are complex carbohydrates that comprise these food items. To prevent gas as a proactive method at the source, the OTC product Beano is the enzyme alpha-d-galactosidase. A capsule taken with a meal of high fiber vegetables such as corn, peas, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus and all varieties of beans will prevent gas formation as opposed to simethicone-based products such as Phazyme and Gas-X. They work in a reactionary fashion after gas has formed to make it easier to expel. So if you want to prevent gas from forming in the first place, it requires having sufficient amounts of amylase, lipase, proteas and if your diet also contains any high-fiber vegetables and legumes, alpha-d-galactosidase as well.

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@judithbramson12

Has anyone had bloat, rounded stomach area, ? I always had a flat stomach. I came home from Whipple two years ago with a flat stomach. About eight months ago I am suddenly bloated and I think it’s gas. My primary Dr. says she hears gas. I tried all those gut meds advertised, but it’s still hard. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you for reading my question.

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Thank you for the information. I am taking Zenpep and will try adding another dosage. The calculator will be a big help as I have been dosing on my own as no one has told me what goes with what. They say what I am doing is ok, but I increased it myself and it did make a difference, but not touching the bloat.

Thank you again; I really appreciate it.

Judith

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@carrie40

Me too. And I weigh 95 pounds...I'm so looking forward to some help on this too. I'm gaining a bit of weight, but some is on the outside of my stomach; you know, the part you can grab with your fingers and measure. My Whipple was 1 1/2 years ago; I'm physically active, walking and household duties, gardening last summer.
I think it's gas; I've tried Gas X, etc. and no measurable results. Thank you for asking this question, Judith. Nothing like a skinny little old lady with a protruding stomach...but I'm glad to be alive and feeling good. Carrie

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93/95 pounds is my normal weight and two years post Whipple I’m stuck in the low 80s. What a journey this has been. Like you, I am active, but I do not like the gas. Never had bloat pre-Whipple. My primary doc says she can hear the gas, so you are most likely right.

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@judithbramson12

Has anyone had bloat, rounded stomach area, ? I always had a flat stomach. I came home from Whipple two years ago with a flat stomach. About eight months ago I am suddenly bloated and I think it’s gas. My primary Dr. says she hears gas. I tried all those gut meds advertised, but it’s still hard. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you for reading my question.

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I had my Whipple six months ago. I have also noticed that certain foods give me more gas than others. Specially processed and high sugar foods. I have eliminated these from my diet and home cook most of my meals so I know how much fat I am eating. This has made a difference so far and I have not needed to take digestive enzymes.

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