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Severe Bloating and Distention: How did you find relief?
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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Hi @tjm123
I have had the symptoms you describe off and on for a long time. I do have GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux) and Gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach) which causes food to stay in my stomach for hours before it is digested. I can tell you what helps me. I find that stopping carbonated drinks and taking Gas-X-Max 750mg (which is over the counter) twice daily helps the bloating. I also switch from coffee to tea until it improves. I take one (over the counter) Nexium 20mg/24 hour capsule daily (as needed) and also one Tums 750mg chewable tablet. I have to be careful not to eat a high protein, high fat, high fiber diet and foods with citric acid such as orange juice and tomato sauce, etc. You probably don’t need to do all that but that is what helps me. So basically my diet is fairly high carb easily digestible foods.
NJH
@tjm123
The Gas-X-Max are 250mg not 750mg
NJH
So sorry you are dealing with this. I had similar issues and first endoscope showed undigested food in stomach like gastroparesis but then things got worse. I ended up being diagnosed with SIBO via another special dudenal endosccope that goes into the small intestine. I had taken an earlier breath test for SIBO which was negative but I have a unique kind called Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO so only shows up on the TRIO Breath Test, which is not what I took. I have slow motility as well that can be tested by your GI via an egg test. I wish you all the best on your journey. Have they ruled out Chrons and Ulcerative Colitis? I know how frustrating and lonely this can feel. Hang in there and keep going. Have to be your own personal health care advocate so doctors dont give up looking. That is what I have learned.
Hi @tjm123 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am glad you were able to connect with people like @njh and @keetafox above about your current symptoms of pain and bloating.
You will see that I moved your post to a discussion where members are discussing similar symptoms. THis way you can interact with more people like @donnacarp, @faithful55, @jackiem95, @oakbourne, and @ken82
@tjm123 Have your doctors suggested a colonoscopy or a CT or MRI to check for masses?
@tjm123
i have the same issues and lasted longer than you. Gotten worse every month, had same tests as you and more with MRI and CT scan along with upper scopes. I havent found what helps either, mine goes pelvis to xiphoid and sometimes broadens at sternum out side to side and at waistline and navel. The navel area if you really grab your belly pinching a big hunk of skin under and above navel and squeeze lots of pain. push in these areas and pain like you. I might just try what few others mentioned but taking out my gallbladder only helped me eat more. I was losing a ton of weight over last year just by having no appetite and couldnt eat more. I loved to eat so its so strange, lost 40 lbs in one year, male 52 6ft tall. Let me know if you find something that helps. I can't seem to find anything to take the edge off and now its added a lot of anxiety on top of it. I wake up and feel awful at level 8 pain. You can try suboxone for pain as its now used for that too but have to find a doctor that can prescribe it. YOu will need to take 8mg twice a day probably to make a difference, its a pill that melts under your mouth. I also get the nausea now which I never suffered from and dont have the energy much anymore. keep posting.
Rob
@njh @keetafox @rt061069
thank you all for your help! i really appreciate it although i am sorry to hear you all have gone through something similar...it's very frustrating. i talked to my doctor earlier and he ordered a CT scan which will give me more peace of mind i think. he also mentioned something about a swallow test down the line. hopefully one of these will reveal something, but in the meantime i'll check into the over the counter medicines. thanks again i will update if anything changes 🙂
Please do, would like to know if you find anything for relief.
I suffer from bloating and stomach distention for almost 2 years now! Avoid lactose, gluten, fried food, high Fodmap food, take Metamucil, eat smaller meal, etc. but still suffering! Just had upper & lower endoscopy, doctor hasn't call yet!
Colon sigmoid polyp biopsy "one 3mm sessile tubular adenoma." 3 yrs ago 5 polyps were removed!
Stomach, antrum biopsy "Gastric mucosa with mild gastropathic changes." Don't know what changes! Does anyone know? Thanks!
Sounds like bacteria I, the stomach, H pylori, have you been tested for it?
During my journey I have had so many tests to rule things in our out. Still on my journey but SIBO is probably my root cause. I have been tested for parasites, Lyme diseases, scleredoma, h pylori, c diff, candida, pancreatic enzyme deficiency (EPI). Includes stool test for malabsoprtion and several motility studies (egg test and ballon test) . I even did PT for pelvic floor dysfucntion ( did not help me but helps some). My functional medicine test GI Map is probably one of the best one to date but is exensive and not covered by insurance. I just throw this list out there in case any of these test that have not been performed for you yet. If you can get a prescription for Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet that helps me. Often I use it as a meal replacement when I feel too sick to eat. I flavor it with Stur (fruit punch) with Stevia( I do not eat sugar or artificial sweetners) .I blend it with ice (spring water ice cubes I get at Whole Foods). Here is my "mocktail". It tastes pretty good.
Shake (Shake.pdf)