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,
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Profile picture for bkatz43 @bkatz43

Hi folks,
I am 1.5 years in now, struggling with daily bloating. Stuff happened for me at age 66. It is possible that COVID attacked my gut, and then after my L4-5 spinal laminectomy/fusion, it just put my gut over the edge. That is looking back retrospectively, of course and only a theory. But at that time, I experimented with food restrictions, adding in low FODMOP's, etc. The only thing I've learned from all of it is that I cannot tolerate any foods ending in "ol." Erithrotol, etc. I developed gastroparesis and currently suffer from that. As soon as I wake up and have either water or tea, the bloat begins. And for me, it's more than that as I experience pain when walking, my favorite exercise.

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I truly sympathise with you, bkatz43, the thought of 1.5 yrs of bloating is inconceivable... - I also have back problems, hypermobile at L4/5 with an implant to 'help' and on synthetic morphine patches for the pain. But I've had that for over 15 yrs, so I presume it has nothing to do with my bloating. Losing weight is a new thing for me, too. I wish I had a GP that knew me and could help me, but I have only just changed GP's and my visit with regards to my bloating was my first ever visit to him. I aim to do a 12-hr fast on Weds and see if I get the same reaction to water and fruit tea as you do.

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Profile picture for marialyce @marialyce

Have you done a food diary?

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I did one a couple of weeks ago, marialyce - but not because my GP asked me to, I just wanted to see if anything flagged up plus I've got to try to do something. I eat very little anyway (and even less now) so I don't really know what to look for, other than the obvious ones, like dairy and wheat... If my GP was more interested in my symptoms and explained how to do a food diary and what to look for, then I would be happy to keep one, but I've still got a 3 week wait for my next appointment!

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Profile picture for js59 @js59

I did one a couple of weeks ago, marialyce - but not because my GP asked me to, I just wanted to see if anything flagged up plus I've got to try to do something. I eat very little anyway (and even less now) so I don't really know what to look for, other than the obvious ones, like dairy and wheat... If my GP was more interested in my symptoms and explained how to do a food diary and what to look for, then I would be happy to keep one, but I've still got a 3 week wait for my next appointment!

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Google food diary and you will get many examples of how to do it. The basic ones are just putting down the food you eat for each meal and snacks, and the amount of liquid you drink, and what type. You can get more fancy by noting weight of food, and how you feel before/during eating (e.g. stressed, relaxed), and time of eating/drinking. Leave room to make notes about feeling bad at some point during the day. Remember that it may take hours to get a side effect from a food. You should start to see patterns. If you start now you should have something to talk about with your doctor in three weeks.

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Profile picture for js59 @js59

Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so in the mornings (because I have been lying flat?) but increases as the day goes on until I look pregnant by the evening. My normal (pre-bloating) waist measurement was 31ins but now it bloats up to a huge 38ins by every evening. My tummy feels progressively uncomfortable, bulk-wise, as the day goes on and yet I have lost around 4lbs and am not regaining it. I have no digestive problems as such, i.e. my bowels are normal for me, no excess gas or loose stools/constipation. My appetite is not too good though. None of my clothes fit - I now wear loose dresses or elasticated waist trousers - and I avoid going out where people can see me. I feel very down.
Initially, I tried Deflatine, Rennie, Buscopan, walking, stretching movements, eating more fibre, but nothing made any difference so after a couple of weeks I decided to see my GP; he is a new GP to me as I changed GPs back in May. At my appointment on 2 July he ordered a FIT test, FBC and an ultrasound scan, all of which came back negative. In my blood test results, I noted that my Red Blood Cell Count and Haematocrit are below the ‘normal’ range and that my Haemoglobin is only just above normal, but I don't know if this has any significance as my GP has not explained any of my results to me. I tried to get another appointment so that I could discuss my results and perhaps pursue other investigations, but I was triaged for an appointment that is not until 22 August.
I started taking Bio Kult a week or so ago and, whilst my tummy is still behaving the same, I feel a bit better in myself, less tired and a little more positive. I just want the 'old' me back, to be the way I used to look and feel before all this. When I first get up in the morning, my tummy is relatively flat, and I keep hoping that this is the day it won't bloat up, but it always does. More than anything, I want to know what is causing this and what I can do (or what can be done) to get things back to normal.

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I also have terrible bloating and at night even my husband notices how bloated I am! I look pregnant and at 73 years old know that’s not it!! I start the morning ok and do intermittent fasting but as soon as I start eating for day my stomach gets bigger and bigger! I am Celiac and am very strict with my diet. Also eat no sugar or added salt. Despite a low calorie diet cannot lose weight. I work out regularly. and yes, doctors have no exclamation. I’m very regular so not constipated. Hopefully someone will have some ideas?

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Profile picture for js59 @js59

Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so in the mornings (because I have been lying flat?) but increases as the day goes on until I look pregnant by the evening. My normal (pre-bloating) waist measurement was 31ins but now it bloats up to a huge 38ins by every evening. My tummy feels progressively uncomfortable, bulk-wise, as the day goes on and yet I have lost around 4lbs and am not regaining it. I have no digestive problems as such, i.e. my bowels are normal for me, no excess gas or loose stools/constipation. My appetite is not too good though. None of my clothes fit - I now wear loose dresses or elasticated waist trousers - and I avoid going out where people can see me. I feel very down.
Initially, I tried Deflatine, Rennie, Buscopan, walking, stretching movements, eating more fibre, but nothing made any difference so after a couple of weeks I decided to see my GP; he is a new GP to me as I changed GPs back in May. At my appointment on 2 July he ordered a FIT test, FBC and an ultrasound scan, all of which came back negative. In my blood test results, I noted that my Red Blood Cell Count and Haematocrit are below the ‘normal’ range and that my Haemoglobin is only just above normal, but I don't know if this has any significance as my GP has not explained any of my results to me. I tried to get another appointment so that I could discuss my results and perhaps pursue other investigations, but I was triaged for an appointment that is not until 22 August.
I started taking Bio Kult a week or so ago and, whilst my tummy is still behaving the same, I feel a bit better in myself, less tired and a little more positive. I just want the 'old' me back, to be the way I used to look and feel before all this. When I first get up in the morning, my tummy is relatively flat, and I keep hoping that this is the day it won't bloat up, but it always does. More than anything, I want to know what is causing this and what I can do (or what can be done) to get things back to normal.

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I always want to mention when long-term bloating comes up: rule out appendix or ovarian cancer. Both cause bloating and are treatable when found early. There's no one test... a CA-125 lab test is a place to start, though.

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Profile picture for baguette @baguette

Google food diary and you will get many examples of how to do it. The basic ones are just putting down the food you eat for each meal and snacks, and the amount of liquid you drink, and what type. You can get more fancy by noting weight of food, and how you feel before/during eating (e.g. stressed, relaxed), and time of eating/drinking. Leave room to make notes about feeling bad at some point during the day. Remember that it may take hours to get a side effect from a food. You should start to see patterns. If you start now you should have something to talk about with your doctor in three weeks.

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Thanks baguette, I am going to start one tomorrow. When I tried it before, I was just jotting it down in a notepad and couldn't see any patterns, but I have ordered a proper non-fancy food diary with little boxes and sections which should make everything a bit neater and easier to interpret 😉 I keep a journal anyway, in which I note my moods, weight loss, etc.

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Profile picture for saucy @saucy

I also have terrible bloating and at night even my husband notices how bloated I am! I look pregnant and at 73 years old know that’s not it!! I start the morning ok and do intermittent fasting but as soon as I start eating for day my stomach gets bigger and bigger! I am Celiac and am very strict with my diet. Also eat no sugar or added salt. Despite a low calorie diet cannot lose weight. I work out regularly. and yes, doctors have no exclamation. I’m very regular so not constipated. Hopefully someone will have some ideas?

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It must be very frustrating, sacuy, to be doing everything 'right' with regards to your Celiac, but still suffer such awful bloating. Like you, I have neither constipation nor diarrohea. I just wish I had a diagnosis to work with...

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Profile picture for js59 @js59

Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so in the mornings (because I have been lying flat?) but increases as the day goes on until I look pregnant by the evening. My normal (pre-bloating) waist measurement was 31ins but now it bloats up to a huge 38ins by every evening. My tummy feels progressively uncomfortable, bulk-wise, as the day goes on and yet I have lost around 4lbs and am not regaining it. I have no digestive problems as such, i.e. my bowels are normal for me, no excess gas or loose stools/constipation. My appetite is not too good though. None of my clothes fit - I now wear loose dresses or elasticated waist trousers - and I avoid going out where people can see me. I feel very down.
Initially, I tried Deflatine, Rennie, Buscopan, walking, stretching movements, eating more fibre, but nothing made any difference so after a couple of weeks I decided to see my GP; he is a new GP to me as I changed GPs back in May. At my appointment on 2 July he ordered a FIT test, FBC and an ultrasound scan, all of which came back negative. In my blood test results, I noted that my Red Blood Cell Count and Haematocrit are below the ‘normal’ range and that my Haemoglobin is only just above normal, but I don't know if this has any significance as my GP has not explained any of my results to me. I tried to get another appointment so that I could discuss my results and perhaps pursue other investigations, but I was triaged for an appointment that is not until 22 August.
I started taking Bio Kult a week or so ago and, whilst my tummy is still behaving the same, I feel a bit better in myself, less tired and a little more positive. I just want the 'old' me back, to be the way I used to look and feel before all this. When I first get up in the morning, my tummy is relatively flat, and I keep hoping that this is the day it won't bloat up, but it always does. More than anything, I want to know what is causing this and what I can do (or what can be done) to get things back to normal.

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Hi dboesten - I have had an ultrasound, which included a TV one as my bladder apparently wasn't full enough despite following the fasting and drinking water instructions. It came back normal, although the report did say that the ovaries were occluded by bowel. I am concerned about this, as I have several cysts on one of my ovaries back in the 90s, plus I have lost weight and am not putting an ounce back on. I really want to ask my GP if he could order a CA-125 test or another type of scan to rule out ovarian cancer, especially as I had a squamous cell tumour removed from my face last autumn, but he is a new doctor to me as I changed GPs in April and the consultation about my bloating last month was my first visit to him.

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Profile picture for js59 @js59

Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so in the mornings (because I have been lying flat?) but increases as the day goes on until I look pregnant by the evening. My normal (pre-bloating) waist measurement was 31ins but now it bloats up to a huge 38ins by every evening. My tummy feels progressively uncomfortable, bulk-wise, as the day goes on and yet I have lost around 4lbs and am not regaining it. I have no digestive problems as such, i.e. my bowels are normal for me, no excess gas or loose stools/constipation. My appetite is not too good though. None of my clothes fit - I now wear loose dresses or elasticated waist trousers - and I avoid going out where people can see me. I feel very down.
Initially, I tried Deflatine, Rennie, Buscopan, walking, stretching movements, eating more fibre, but nothing made any difference so after a couple of weeks I decided to see my GP; he is a new GP to me as I changed GPs back in May. At my appointment on 2 July he ordered a FIT test, FBC and an ultrasound scan, all of which came back negative. In my blood test results, I noted that my Red Blood Cell Count and Haematocrit are below the ‘normal’ range and that my Haemoglobin is only just above normal, but I don't know if this has any significance as my GP has not explained any of my results to me. I tried to get another appointment so that I could discuss my results and perhaps pursue other investigations, but I was triaged for an appointment that is not until 22 August.
I started taking Bio Kult a week or so ago and, whilst my tummy is still behaving the same, I feel a bit better in myself, less tired and a little more positive. I just want the 'old' me back, to be the way I used to look and feel before all this. When I first get up in the morning, my tummy is relatively flat, and I keep hoping that this is the day it won't bloat up, but it always does. More than anything, I want to know what is causing this and what I can do (or what can be done) to get things back to normal.

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Not sure if it will help. I started eliminating certain types of foods groups out of my diet, following the FODMAP diet plan. THE biggest help were nixing gluten, dairy, all types of beans, red meat and chewing gum, cough drops and products with xylitol. I have gastroparesis and IBS and the diet has been a great help.

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Profile picture for js59 @js59

Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so in the mornings (because I have been lying flat?) but increases as the day goes on until I look pregnant by the evening. My normal (pre-bloating) waist measurement was 31ins but now it bloats up to a huge 38ins by every evening. My tummy feels progressively uncomfortable, bulk-wise, as the day goes on and yet I have lost around 4lbs and am not regaining it. I have no digestive problems as such, i.e. my bowels are normal for me, no excess gas or loose stools/constipation. My appetite is not too good though. None of my clothes fit - I now wear loose dresses or elasticated waist trousers - and I avoid going out where people can see me. I feel very down.
Initially, I tried Deflatine, Rennie, Buscopan, walking, stretching movements, eating more fibre, but nothing made any difference so after a couple of weeks I decided to see my GP; he is a new GP to me as I changed GPs back in May. At my appointment on 2 July he ordered a FIT test, FBC and an ultrasound scan, all of which came back negative. In my blood test results, I noted that my Red Blood Cell Count and Haematocrit are below the ‘normal’ range and that my Haemoglobin is only just above normal, but I don't know if this has any significance as my GP has not explained any of my results to me. I tried to get another appointment so that I could discuss my results and perhaps pursue other investigations, but I was triaged for an appointment that is not until 22 August.
I started taking Bio Kult a week or so ago and, whilst my tummy is still behaving the same, I feel a bit better in myself, less tired and a little more positive. I just want the 'old' me back, to be the way I used to look and feel before all this. When I first get up in the morning, my tummy is relatively flat, and I keep hoping that this is the day it won't bloat up, but it always does. More than anything, I want to know what is causing this and what I can do (or what can be done) to get things back to normal.

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So I also have problems with bloating. I am 79 years old and slim so I don't like to see my stomach out rather than flat. I had an SBO operation 8 months ago and am doing fine - no problems except for the bloating. So I saw my gastroenterologist who suggested I might have the following: diastasis recti (a result of the SBO operation). Naturally I looked it up and I think it makes sense for what I have. I hesitate to mention it as it really is only good for me - and I don't want to suggest that anyone else has it or may have it. But I was diagnosed with it and I am greatly relieved as it is annoying rather than worrying, It usually happens after pregnancy but can happen to other age groups as well (obviously!) Exercises help. So I would be interested to know if anyone else has had this. It may not be the only answer for me but it is a start and I was grateful to my gastroenterologist who took my bloating seriously.

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