1. < Digestive Health

Severe Bloating and Distention: How did you find relief?

Posted by htocco @htocco, Feb 18, 2019

Hello,
I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of the time. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy (both negative), have tried a low FODMAP diet for several weeks, with no change. I do take probiotics as well a ginger root and peppermint. I rarely have cramping, except after a bowel movement. After a BM, the distention is more severe for the entire day. My GI doctor is at a lost as to what to do now. It seems much of the GI field is mysterious, and, unfortunately there are no answers for many conditions, including this. Is there anyone out there with similar symptoms? Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Thank you!
Helen

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gab002 | @gab002 | Mar 30, 2019

I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you get some answers and can feel better soon. I can't imagine having to do what you're doing. Prayers to you.

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1 reply
beanglow | @beanglow | Mar 30, 2019

@0akboume Thanks for your post. I'm still living in the bathroom and have a love/hate relationship with la toilet. I can't eat overcooked veggies, any kind of nuts, pumpkin pie or meat. Could you give me the name of the doctor at Enterolab and how I could contact him? I need to find what I can and can't eat. I have been on a low residue, low fiber diet since my colon rectal surgery in 2001. There were very few things I could eat on that diet but now even those things cause problems. Elaine

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1 reply
beanglow | @beanglow | Mar 30, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@beanglow I hope you find some answers. Mayo is a good place to deal with hard..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@beanglow
I hope you find some answers. Mayo is a good place to deal with hard to diagnose problems.

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@hopeful33250 Thanks for your reply. I do have a milk intolerance. It seems like everything has some milk in it. I do take Lactaid but it doesn't seem to help. I was drinking Silk and eating lactose-free ice cream but now I can't even tolerate that. I'm hoping for some answers from Mayo. Elaine

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beanglow | @beanglow | Mar 30, 2019
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@beanglow @htocco Severe bloating, diarhea, cramps and excessive gas are symptoms of gluten issues. You can..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@beanglow @htocco Severe bloating, diarhea, cramps and excessive gas are symptoms of gluten issues. You can do an experiment to see if removing all foods with gluten helps. I cannot tolerate any gluten or this will happen to me. I felt better right away when I took gluten out of my diet. I also developed other food allergies because having inflammation from the gluten caused a leaky gut, and I did an elimination diet to figure that out, so I have to be careful now with food. There are blood tests for celiac disease which should still work if done soon. If you avoid gluten for a long period and then get tested for celiac disease, you might not be making the antibodies any more that the test is looking for.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/doctors-departments/ddc-20352229

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@jenniferhunter Thanks for your reply. I think I was tested for celiac and it came back negative, but that was a long time ago. It would probably be good to have the test. What can you eat on a gluten-free diet? I will check out the link you sent. Elaine

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1 reply
sue225 | @sue225 | Mar 30, 2019
In reply to @beanglow "@jenniferhunter Thanks for your reply. I think I was tested for celiac and it came back..." + (show)
@beanglow

@jenniferhunter Thanks for your reply. I think I was tested for celiac and it came back negative, but that was a long time ago. It would probably be good to have the test. What can you eat on a gluten-free diet? I will check out the link you sent. Elaine

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@jenniferhunter if you are considering getting the blood test to check for celiac disease, wait until after the test to start the glutenfree diet. There are two celiac organizations in the US which provide valuable and reliable information. (I was diagnosed almost forty years ago by small bowel biopsy: before the existence of the blood test).

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3 replies
creynolds | @creynolds | Mar 30, 2019
In reply to @lelia "Get tested for fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In the meantime, quit..." + (show)
@lelia

Get tested for fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In the meantime, quit eating the ginger root and peppermint, as well as fruit and sugars.

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Im wondering if I have food allergies...

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Mar 30, 2019
In reply to @sue225 "@jenniferhunter if you are considering getting the blood test to check for celiac disease, wait until..." + (show)
@sue225

@jenniferhunter if you are considering getting the blood test to check for celiac disease, wait until after the test to start the glutenfree diet. There are two celiac organizations in the US which provide valuable and reliable information. (I was diagnosed almost forty years ago by small bowel biopsy: before the existence of the blood test).

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@sue225 I had to go gluten free on my own 19 years ago because no one would test me then, so I've never had an official diagnosis. I was told I looked too good because I wasn't emaciated. For me, it was the extreme stress of going through my first surgery that brought it on, first gluten, and then lots of other food allergies followed due to a leaky gut. I react if I accidentaly get any tiny amount of gluten, even food cross contamination from cooking on a grill can cause problems. I always have to be vigilant. That makes it hard to eat socially. This is good advice for those who are new to this issue. Thanks for your comment.

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beanglow | @beanglow | Mar 31, 2019
In reply to @sue225 "@jenniferhunter if you are considering getting the blood test to check for celiac disease, wait until..." + (show)
@sue225

@jenniferhunter if you are considering getting the blood test to check for celiac disease, wait until after the test to start the glutenfree diet. There are two celiac organizations in the US which provide valuable and reliable information. (I was diagnosed almost forty years ago by small bowel biopsy: before the existence of the blood test).

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@sue225 Thanks for your reply. I will wait until after the test.

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oakbourne | @oakbourne | Mar 31, 2019
In reply to @beanglow "@0akboume Thanks for your post. I'm still living in the bathroom and have a love/hate relationship..." + (show)
@beanglow

@0akboume Thanks for your post. I'm still living in the bathroom and have a love/hate relationship with la toilet. I can't eat overcooked veggies, any kind of nuts, pumpkin pie or meat. Could you give me the name of the doctor at Enterolab and how I could contact him? I need to find what I can and can't eat. I have been on a low residue, low fiber diet since my colon rectal surgery in 2001. There were very few things I could eat on that diet but now even those things cause problems. Elaine

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Hi beanglow, the gastroenterologist/researcher is Dr. Kenneth Fine. The name of his company is Enterolab, located in Dallas, TX. He's on YouTube if you want to see what it's all about.

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1 reply
CL | @lelia | Mar 31, 2019
In reply to @beanglow "Booking for 5 days or a week sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the good..." + (show)
@beanglow

Booking for 5 days or a week sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the good wishes and information. I appreciate it.

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Elaine, I admire you perseverance and resolve! Best of luck with the Mayo apptment....CL@lelia

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