New here. Need urgent advice
#308056 - 05/28/07 09:44 AM
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plo66
Reged: 05/28/07
Posts: 9
Loc: Iowa
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Hello. It is nice to meet everyone. I was diagnosed with IBS 2 years ago and I have been suffering ever since. I have the diarreah end of it and have take liquid medication to control it. But the worse part is I have extreme bloating. It is so bad my stomach expands way out and it makes me look like I am pregnant. Which I am not. This happens every time I eat. I have gained 60 pounds and I am just so depressed I don't know what to do. I haven't been able to get a job because of it. Does anyone know of any prescription medication out there to minimize bloating? I have tried everything over the counter and nothing works. I can't stand living like this anymore. Thanks
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I am IBS with constipation, but I can sympathize with the bloating problem. It's unbelievable sometimes how much my belly expands! Even my sides!
Are you fructose sensitive? That's my big trigger. All that extra un-assimilated sugar ferments everything in my gut and the result is expanding (and trapped) GASES. I have tried to add back some fruit since following the IBS diet--but it still causes problems. I'm most comfortable when I just leave fruit out of my diet.
I don't know much about anti-bloating meds.
Welcome to this forum--the information is extensive and the folks are a great support.
C
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Is it possible you have candida overgrowth? Your symptoms seem to match.
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Welcome. Tons of us here have fought that terrible bloating. I can't remember I bought pants that weren't stretch or elastic or two sizes too big.
One of the best things you can do is so utterly simple: fennel tea. Take some fennel seeds, and put a teaspoon or two in a mug of boiling water. You can crush them up with a knife a bit or a mortar and pestle and put them in a tea strainer. It tastes like licorice. I hate the taste, but plug my nose and swallow it down.
Also, I find that peppermint tea really helps with all the diarrhea. Strong hot cups several times a day. It really does make a difference.
Also, make sure you try Heather's diet. Be very strict for a few days. Lots of soluble fibre, be very careful with your insolubles and avoid all triggers.
Eat several small meals a day, to keep yourself from getting hungry. Also, get active. Even a small 10 minute stroll after meals can be really helpful with digestion.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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How did you find out you were fructose sensitive? Does this mean you have to eliminate all fruits from your diet or do you tolerate some of them?
I am wondering if my daughter who has special needs and is IBS-C could be fructose sensitive?
Is there a specific test for it.
Thank you. Hope to hear from you.
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I don't know how many people know this but the herb, Stevia is a wonderful sweetner that I use all of the time! I have suffered with IBS ever since I had my gallbladder out over 30 years ago. Heather's diet is excellent! I have studied holistic health and am a certified practitioner but it seems over the years that sometimes my holistic treatments would work and sometimes not. Heather's diet makes perfect sence!
At any rate, I use KAL brand stevia powder to sweeten up my teas and it's wonderful! It may seem pricey but a $12.00 bottle will last me about 3 to 6 months. It is so worth it! It is great for cereal and baking too. Nothing artificial and Stevia is beneficial for the body.
I like to make a large teacup full with one peppermint & spearmint teabag and one fennel teabag, which you can buy in your local whole foods market. Sweeten it up with stevia and it tastes wonderful and keeps those horrible symptoms away!  
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I don't know if there's a test for fructose sensitivity. There have been several threads here recently where people who are more knowledgeable than I ---are discussing fructose.
For me, I have just noticed the association between eating fruit and getting terribly bloated and gassy from it. This has been going on since 1981. It has gotten worse since I've gotten older, too. I used to be able to eat fruit now and then, as long as I ate it totally by itself--didn't mix it with any other foods.
I've been trying to add fruit back--since starting with Heather's IBS diet--a half banana or 3-4 strawberries (from our garden). But even that seems to cause bloat and gas. It's hardly worth it. I just can't figure out a way to eat fruits that doesn't cause me trouble.
I definitely can't eat oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes or raisins, prunes, pears, apples, apricots--even blended, peeled or pureed. I use lemon and lime juice for flavoring OK. I love fresh figs, and haven't given them up yet.
C
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Fructose malabsorption is a dietary disability of the small intestine. Fructose malabsorption is quite common in IBS population.
Fructose malabsorption can be detected using a breath test. However, frequently it is diagnosed by excluding fruits, juices and other foods high in fructose
Here is a recent scientific review article on fructose malabsorption and how to treat it. My GP found it quite interesting. I have adhered to a low fructoes diet for 2 years. It has made big difference in my ability to remain stable and manage pain
If you search this board you will find many posting on fructose malabsorption.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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I also suffer from extreme bloating. It helps to get your gut into a more calm attitude by following the diet. The spasms you are suffering from twist everything in a bundle so to speak and only by getting them to stop can bloating be improved. Bloating is not really a symptom in itself for most people but a side effect of irritated bowels. There are things that will help, but it is my experience that the gut can keep things tight and 'twisty' for as long as it wants to and then let it go for no apparent reason. The things to do are:
drink a lot of fennel tea and drink a lot in general (make sure to always pee as soon as you have to because having to pee makes me bloated too)
get plenty of exercise and never sit too long
take a fiber supplement like acacia
eat small amounts very often
fart and poop as needed (if I did this my bloating might be gone)
don't wear clothes that are tight at the waist (even putting them on can cause bloating), low, loose waists are best or none at all
follow the diet really well, starting with the break the cycle diet- stay away from triggers like pop
don't chew gum or use a straw
don't take naps
Good luck!
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Thanks for the suggestions. Just wanted to note, though, that for some of us, fiber supplements increase bloat. I know they help control in is some....but many can't tolerate them.
Definitely worth a try though!
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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There is a breath test for it, but I have found that very few places offer it.
Try not to get all caught up in the fructose issue. While it can be a problem for many, sometimes reading the board gives us scares we never had before. If you eliminate everything anyone has a problem with, you'll end up with a very poor diet. It's a horrible way to live. 
I'm not saying it isn't a problem...but it may not!
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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Thanks for your advice little minnie. I bought the fennel tea and started drinking it, but no relief yet. I am still really bloated. More than usuall actually. Why do we get so bloated? And why does some of it go away when we poop? I hate to be so vulger, but its the only way I can explain it. This disease is ruining my life. I can't even work because of it. I only wear elastic waist pants now. I have gained like 60 pounds over the last two years because at first I only had constant diarreah. So I was sick all the time and couldn't do anything. Now, I need to get this weight off and every time I start to exercise something else happens so I can't. I feel like there is someone out there stopping me. Anyway, how long does it take for the fennel tea to work?
Thanks
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Hi. Thanks for your advice. I bought heathers fennel tea at my local grocery store. I had 2 cups yesterday but still no relief. How long does it take to work? I am miserable. Iam more bloated now than I was a couple days ago. I don't understand it. Why does it happen? I heard that there is gas in the stools that make it happen. Anyway, thanks for your advice but I feel like there is someone out there stopping me from ever getting better. Everytime I try to start exercising again ( I used to everyday before this ) something happens like this to stop me. I am having horrible back pain from the bloating. I will try heathers diet. I bought some soy milk so maybe that will help?
Thanks alot
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It takes time. Keep up with the fennel tea. If you look on the yoga section of this page (yoga for IBS) on the left hand side of the page, there are some great gas - relieving postures that can really help with trapped gas. Whoo wee!
Also, it will take you a while to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Certain foods are no problem for some, and others can't touch it. It's a bit of trial and error when it comes to the insolubles. So, at the start, stick to the lots of soluble fibre, avoid all triggers religiously. Make sure you're not overeating - lots of small meals - I find I bloat the most when I've eaten too much. Eat off a sandwich plate or smaller.
Just don't put too much pressure on yourself for exercise - even a small stroll a couple times a day can help. Just take it a bit at a time. HUGS!
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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