1. < Digestive Health

Trouble Getting Diagnosis

Posted by oat @oat, Nov 24, 2022

Hi! Whenever I eat certain foods, I get severe abdominal distention. The distention gets so bad that I look 9 months pregnant right after eating some food triggers and occasionally have a difficult time breathing from all of the distention. I know I react to gluten, dairy, and soy. Yet, even with avoiding these, I still experience symptoms sometimes and cannot find a pattern. I have tried a low FODMAP diet but that did not help. I don’t know what to do.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Nov 25, 2022

@oat - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
Have you noticed a correlation with fat intake?
Is there any pain except the discomfort from being so severely distended?

REPLY
oat | @oat | Nov 25, 2022

Hi! Thanks so much!

I have not noticed a correlation with fat intake. I kept a strict food diary for a couple months but could not notice any consistent triggers other than those three.

I feel generalized pain throughout the whole abdomen. There may be a little bit more pain towards my lower abdomen but I am not sure as there is no sharp epicenter.

Do you have any idea of what it could possibly be or what tests I should request? Thank you so much again!

REPLY
1 reply
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Nov 26, 2022
In reply to @oat "Hi! Thanks so much! I have not noticed a correlation with fat intake. I kept a..." + (show)
@oat

Hi! Thanks so much!

I have not noticed a correlation with fat intake. I kept a strict food diary for a couple months but could not notice any consistent triggers other than those three.

I feel generalized pain throughout the whole abdomen. There may be a little bit more pain towards my lower abdomen but I am not sure as there is no sharp epicenter.

Do you have any idea of what it could possibly be or what tests I should request? Thank you so much again!

Jump to this post

Hi oat,

Be careful with fruit. It's almost 100% water and if I eat a lot it's like drinking a gallon of water and I get very bloated and uncomfortable.

What you're eating could also be creating gas. Have you tried gas-reducing products like Beano?

All the best to you.

Joe

REPLY
2 replies
oat | @oat | Nov 26, 2022
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Hi oat, Be careful with fruit. It's almost 100% water and if I eat a lot..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Hi oat,

Be careful with fruit. It's almost 100% water and if I eat a lot it's like drinking a gallon of water and I get very bloated and uncomfortable.

What you're eating could also be creating gas. Have you tried gas-reducing products like Beano?

All the best to you.

Joe

Jump to this post

Hi Joe! Thanks so much! I did a while ago and it made my distention a bit worse. Have you had any luck with digestive enzymes? Do you have any products that you’d recommend or tests that you’ve had done to help determine which enzymes would be best for you? Thanks again!

REPLY
kelly619 | @kelly619 | Nov 27, 2022

It could be a long shot, but do you still have your appendix? You mentioned lower abdomen. I have had atypical pains related to appendicitis. Other ideas..upper gastric is more gallbladder and can cause mucho distension and gas pains too. But, you mentioned lower, I start thinking appendicitis. Good luck!

REPLY
riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | Nov 28, 2022

I hope you have cut out all fizzy drinks and booze.

REPLY
jenatsky | @jenatsky | Dec 5, 2022
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Hi oat, Be careful with fruit. It's almost 100% water and if I eat a lot..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Hi oat,

Be careful with fruit. It's almost 100% water and if I eat a lot it's like drinking a gallon of water and I get very bloated and uncomfortable.

What you're eating could also be creating gas. Have you tried gas-reducing products like Beano?

All the best to you.

Joe

Jump to this post

Fruit does not contain that much water but the sugar in the fruit pulls water into the colon. And due to the inability to breakdown the fruit you get bloated and gas.

REPLY
1 reply
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Dec 6, 2022
In reply to @jenatsky "Fruit does not contain that much water but the sugar in the fruit pulls water into..." + (show)
@jenatsky

Fruit does not contain that much water but the sugar in the fruit pulls water into the colon. And due to the inability to breakdown the fruit you get bloated and gas.

Jump to this post

fruits such as apricots, blueberries, oranges, peaches, pineapples, plums and raspberries contain over eighty percent water. Melons such as cantaloupe and watermelon have some of the highest water content, at more than 90 percent.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.