Abdominal Distension and Bloating

[hoosier1]

Hello All:

It has been a while since I have posted on the board. But I need to tell you about my new, developing symptoms. I need your advice as to what to do. Know that I had my annual colonoscopy a month ago and all looked well. They didn't take any biopsies this time.

For about the last quarter, I have been noticing and feeling an uncomfortable abdominal bloating that makes me look (and I am a male) several months pregnant. I have been following the gluten free to the best of my ability.

The bloating seems to occur as soon as I get up. In other words, I see my distention occur as I shower. I am a very thin person so this is very noticeable on me. But it is the discomfort that is the worst.

My bowel habits have been odd. I alternate between C and D. I feel like I have to relieve myself most of the time, but have trouble going... but I don't think I am constipated. I have always had to go to the bathroom several times consecutively in the morning, and htis still applies.

I am thinking that I may need a probiotic or the like but do not know which one(s) to try. I also need supplements that I can carry with me as I travel (i.e. no supplements that require refrigeration, etc.). Could this be SIBO?

Help.

Rich

[Leah]

It's all a guessing game, isn't it? Bloat usually happens to me if I ingest too much sugar.
Probioticsmay be a good thing. I take GF Culturelle which is shelf stable.
Hope it works
Leah

[hoosier1]

He Leah,

I agree that sugar is bad for me too. And lately, I almost cannot stand the taste of it. I am heading out to get some probiotics tomorrow. I have heard good things about Culturelle and will give them a try. Thanks for your prompt advice!

Rich

[tex]

Hi Rich,

I'm sorry to to hear that you've developed those symptoms. Especially since you described me, to a "T", back in the days when I was reacting. Those are the classic symptoms of untreated gluten sensitivity, but I suppose it could also apply to other food sensitivities. The exception is the way that your inflation occurs. I was bloated all the time, but I did have the alternating D and C.

I don't understand how the shower could initiate the bloating, though. I'm going to have to think about that for a while, to see if I can visualize some sort of mechanism by which that could occur. Maybe someone else has some insight.

If you ate the sugar at night, I suppose the timing for the development of gas from fermentation might fit, but the shower imposes an unusual set of boundary conditions, to say the least.

Tex

[hoosier1]

Hi Tex,

I don't think the shower is causing the bloating... it is really the only time I get to stare down at my tummy with my shirt off to see me hanging out. It is my observational time. Frankly, I am bloated all the time, it just goes up and down but it is always there.

I guess I need to do a little forensic work on my diet for the last few months. As usual, I am hopping all over the country and perhaps I picked something up in some food I ate. But this feels systemic too me. It sure behaves that way.

Do you have any probiotic advice?

Rich

[tex]

Do you have any probiotic advice?

No, I've never taken a probiotic (unless you count saurkraut).

Tex

[hoosier1]

OK... Then if I am being glutened... I need to understand what has changed in my eating routine. I really haven't changed it much, if at all, but I have added a few restaurants since my last, worthwhile, posts. Time to get my food diary/journal out again. Time to hunker down.

[ant]

Dear Rich,

but I have added a few restaurants

I have noticed that with some restaurants, even though I meticulously order a GF, DF, LegumeF, EF and NightshadeF meal, I still get a reaction.

When this happens once I do not delete them from my "safe restaurant" list. But when it happens three time in a row, I assume it is due to cross contamination or a less then fastidious chief. Three strikes and they are off my list.

Hope you find the cause of our bloating soon, best wishes, Ant

[Polly]

Hiya Rich!

Good to see you! But sorry to hear about the bloating - it IS a miserable feeling, I know.

I agree that it is likely due to food sensitivities. Once you are certain you have eliminated all gluten, you might consider a trial without dairy, the second most common food sensitivity around here. It is not unusual to find new sensitivities developing over time, unfortunately. It happpened to me.

If the problem continues, you might consider getting the MRT - a blood test that covers a myriad of foods. It might be easier for you than trying to do individual eliminations with your hectic work schedule. And once you have the results, you could devise a diet using your least reactive foods. Just a thought.

Why didn't they do biopsies this time? I would think that, once we have MC, biopsies would be routine.

I am one who never had any success with probiotics. In fact, they made things worse for me. But others have found them helpful.

Good luck. And feel better ASAP!

Love,

Polly

[hoosier1]

Hi Polly!!

Good to see/hear from you too!

I am a little skeptical about adding probiotics too, but I figured it may be worth a try in case my flora is disturbed. Not sure I am going to do it, but the way I feel right now reminds me of a long time ago when I was treated for (but not diagnosed with) SIBO. They used Rifaximin back then and it seemed to help. Have you heard of that antibiotic?

Regarding my colonoscopy, as usual, I don't think I get the consistently good physician care that others on this board get. It seems I am always stuck in the politics of the system, behind nurses who selfishly block me from care, etc. My last colonoscopy was with a partner of my primary GI (since my primary GI is so busy I can never get to see him in short order). He didn't feel it was necessary to biopsy and to be frank, I was shocked when he told me hid did not take any when I awoke. I often feel I am the subject of a money making machine that doesn't care to help me to get better, or to find relief. Hence, my using this board and going at it somewhat on my own.

I think Ant had a good suggestions about "3 strikes and your out" with restaurants. Perhaps I have let my guard down too much... Frankly, I feel that I have.

As always, it is so good to hear from all of you. Your advice is so valuable to me as I evolve with this complex "disease".

[Fish2575]

Hi Rich,

I believe I have SIBO too, though my doc refuses to test me for it! I just started VSL #3 and it has made a huge difference! I had mild/moderate stomach pain the first 3 days I started it,(and each time I increased the dose) but I stuck with it and the pain went away. It has greatly improved by BMs and even my appetite! I first started with the capsules and have switched to the sachets, but I think they are affecting me oddly with the maltose, so I am going to go back to the capsules. I take 900 billion CFU daily (quite spendy, but I get it at costco and some insurances will cover). I started with 225 Billion CFU and increased over about a month. I have taken several different kinds of probiotics, and this one is the only one to make a huge difference!

Hope that helps! Susie

[gluten]

Hi Rich, Since you travel, there are sites online that will tell where resturants are that offer gluten free meals. Many of the large chains are now offering meals but there is always the danger of some cross contamination. Sedona labs makes a probiotic called I-Flora that does not need to be cold. VSL-No3 has to kept cold as it is contains live cultures. Presently, I am taking Primal Defense Ultra by Garden of Life and 2 capsules of VSL-No3 a day. I used to do a hundred situps a day thinking it would help but getting the MC under control has helped greatly. I am gluten, sugar and diary free. Jon

[tex]

I often feel I am the subject of a money making machine that doesn't care to help me to get better, or to find relief.

I have a hunch that most of us here are members of that club — at least I feel that way about most of the GI specialists I've seen, and my ex-PCP pretty much fell into the same category. On the other hand, the ER personnel I've encountered have generally left me with a much better impression, (but maybe that's because they've helped to saved my life a time or two. ).

A fair number of members here have been prescribed Rifaximin (some, more than once), but I don't recall reading where any member actually received any long-term benefits from the treatment. It often appears to help for a few days to a week or so, but then any perceived benefits seem to fade away.

I agree with Suzie, for those who can tolerate (and afford) VSL #3, it seems to be one of the better probiotic options available, and it appears to have Dr. Scot Lewey's blessings. Another disadvantage of Rifaximin is the cost. If it could be taken long-term, it might be a practical remedy, but we all know that taking any antibiotic on a long-term basis is asking for trouble. Probiotics, on the other hand, can usually be taken indefinitely, without any long-term risks (assuming that we tolerate them).

Tex

[hoosier1]

Hi Tex and Jon,

Yeah... I am not wanting to just jump right into Rifaximin but I seem to have become more acute lately and somewhat suddenly. Was thinking this could help and since I don't really have a physician that allows me to productively experiment with my own body, I have to go at this alone.

Hmmm... I think I will order some VSL. I do recall taking iflora years ago... In fact, I think I had a prescrip for it back then. Back in the old "IBS" and "its all in your head" days.

But the main thing to do, as I know in my heart and mind, is to re-examine my life, eating, stress, etc. for the last quarter and re-evaluate.

Thanks!

[MBombardier]

Rich, good to see you!

I occasionally have bloating, and recently I had pain with it so severe I thought I was having a heart attack. My husband told me I should be eating papaya enzymes. I was skeptical, but tried them just so I could tell him they didn't work. Guess what? They did! I don't know if they would help you at all, but I thought I would mention them.