Tummy Troubles *Graphic Info Warning*

Hey all,

I've been struggling with a funny feeling tummy for about a week or so now. It's constantly bloated, with lots of gas (and not of the sweet smelling variety :( ) and either I can't go at all, or I can't be too far from the bathroom!

I've searched the forums and tried everything. My diet is pretty high fibre considering its mostly fruit and veg. I drink in excess of probably 4 litres of water a day and I'm exercising. But nothings working and I feel and look absolutely disgusting!

Help! This is ruining my confidence. All my clothes are fitting way tighter cos of the bloat and I'm so self conscious of it that I'm not leaving the flat to go to my lectues. ONly time I go out is to go to the gym or to go to the shops pretty much. Any advice is appreciated.

First of all, you should go see a doctor.  But you might also be eating too much fiber or drinking too much water.  I've had digestive system issues all my life, and I've learned to limit what I eat.  If I drink too much water, I also have to stay near a bathroom all day.  If I eat too much fruit, same deal.  I've learned how to listen to my body and eat what it tells me to when it tells me to, and that might be all you need to do.  But you should still go to a doctor.  After numerous tests and procedures as a child, I was finally diagnosed and found tips on how to manage my symptoms.

I have IBS, and struggled for years with constant bloating and gas and trouble going to bathroom etc. Definitely see the doctor, but also consider adding in a probiotic supplement to your diet. Probiotics helped me immmensely in that area.

I also have struggled with digestive problems. Just before Christmas I went to a naturopathic doctor and she suggested that I eliminate wheat and gluten from my diet and see if that helped. I have found 100% difference in my digestion (no bloat, no gas, no to all the uncomfortable things that go along with digestive problems). I have also noticed a huge difference in my sinuses, which apparently is also normal with someone who is gluten intolerant and has cut it out of their diet. I can't believe the difference and guess what, added bonus, I have lost weight. From what my doctor told me, if you're gluten intolerant and you eat products with gluten in them, your body doesn't know how to use it so it just stores it away in your fat cells. Makes sense. I'm not saying this is what is wrong with you, but it's worth looking into and it's really not that hard to cut it out, the only real challenge I have it eating out, most "fast" food has gluten. You just have to be creative.

corazon_latino,

you sound just like me! I can't seem to figure it out. I had some tests done and found out i am sensitive to dairy, and that is most likely my cause, but it's so hard to avoid! :( I agree with raven21, altho it may not only be wheat or gluten. I would reccomend trying to eliminate one thing at a time (dairy, gluten, sugar, etc.) for about 3 weeks, then eat it again and see how you feel. Just keep doing that until you find something that seems to help. From there you can narrow it down even more. For, instance, I have a friend who thought she was allergic to wheat and so avoided it entirely. But she realized that even off of it something was still bothering her. She kept track of what she ate whenever she started feeling sick and looked at the ingredientys list. Eventually she figured out that it wasn't wheat, but malt, but it took a year to figure it out!

I wish the solution was easier :(

Too much fibre can result in bloating. Have you recently upped your fibre intake? Is it over 80g a day? Some bodies can tolerate high amounts of fibre (I, for example, get constipated if I have less than 50g and am on a high fibre diet for my IBS; between 50g and 60g seems to be the safe range for me). If you're consuming too much fibre, either way, cut back on it.

Four litres of water is WAAAY too much water unless you're exercising an awful lot, in which case you need that extra for hydration. However, you only recently got back to a healthy weight - don't go too heavy on the workouts, yes?

You might be reacting to something. Aren't you lactose intolerant? I forget.

Either way, I'd look at your fibre intake and also speak to your doctor. A bloaty tummy can be a sign of many problems, particularly coupled with gas.

And if it helps you any I feel your pain. I am having to make increases and I feel like a small balloon just inflated in my stomach. Pushing through it, playing games on the web as a fun distraction. x__x Ahhh. Joy. But yes, talk to your GP.

Original Post by raven21:

I also have struggled with digestive problems. Just before Christmas I went to a naturopathic doctor and she suggested that I eliminate wheat and gluten from my diet and see if that helped. I have found 100% difference in my digestion (no bloat, no gas, no to all the uncomfortable things that go along with digestive problems). I have also noticed a huge difference in my sinuses, which apparently is also normal with someone who is gluten intolerant and has cut it out of their diet. I can't believe the difference and guess what, added bonus, I have lost weight. From what my doctor told me, if you're gluten intolerant and you eat products with gluten in them, your body doesn't know how to use it so it just stores it away in your fat cells. Makes sense. I'm not saying this is what is wrong with you, but it's worth looking into and it's really not that hard to cut it out, the only real challenge I have it eating out, most "fast" food has gluten. You just have to be creative.

I hope this lasts for you...i went through the same thing and was good for about a year and a half...then i started getting sick again. :(