Bloating - what worked for you?
#310691 - 07/07/07 04:23 PM
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Zara
Reged: 06/07/06
Posts: 883
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Hi everyone, I don't contribute much but I read here a lot. I've had IBS for about 7 years now. I was always a 'C' but in the past couple years my bloating got a lot worse. Not a day goes by when I would feel comfortable. I wake up at least a little bloated and get worse during the day. I feel like it doesn't matter what I eat, I get bloated even if I stick to safe foods only. I was tested by my GI doctor for celiac disease and he found that I don't have it.
Are there any fellow "C-ers" that found a way to battle bloating? What did you do and what did you eliminate? I'd love to hear an answer from anyone but I feel that Cs have more triggers in common with other Cs than with Ds.
I'm just so miserable, all of my clothes are too tight and I'm in pain all the time. Why does it take such long time to get better? I mean, once I get all the trigger foods out of my system (if I use an enema it should only take a few days) why don't I feel better if I only stick to safe foods afterwards? Since there's nothing that should cause bloating why is it still going on? Thanks!
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant 
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Wow
Same here! The fiber and tea make it a little better, but sooner or later I have a really bad day. I recently found this:
http://www.medicinenet.com/small_intestinal_bacterial_overgrowth/article.htm
and a thread that was 4 years old
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=146840
from some people undergoing treatment-said treatment was quite drastic-but I am going to demand (beg, wheedle, insist) that my GI let me try it. The amino acid fast is well over $200-I can't afford it, and I need a prescription for the antibiotics-but I'm desperate. I had my husband take pictures of my horrible bloated belly, because needless to say the morning of my appt I won't be bloated-I'm often not so bad until midafternoon...(but that is a powerful incentive not to leave the house in a pair of jeans in the morning isn't it?) and my GI has only to smirk at me to make me feel like an idiot blathering nonsense and frantically waving computer printouts at him-and he's one of the best in his profession...
I'm convinced that IBS-C has complications secondary to the dysbiosis itself-in this case the study demonstrated that the methane created by these bacteria stopped peristalsis and caused constipation in IBS sufferers. It seems so farfetched, doesn't it-but nothing else is helping and I may not have time to try and deal with it again.
I have to get out of here because I'm getting so angry I will really start to sound crazy...but this is ridiculous isn't it?
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Did you have the hydrogen breath test done? I had it done a year ago and nothing was found so I don't think I have SIBO. However, I will see my doc soon so I will ask about this...
I wish finding out what works didn't take so long. I'm so frustrated, I feel like I've been trying for ages and nothing works  . I feel stupid at family reunions and celebrations because I have all these dietary requirements that keep changing all the time as I'm trying to figure out what bothers me!
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant
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that you might be able to control the methanogenic bacteria in your bowel - the ones responsible for producing methane that slow peristalsis - through your diet instead of using a strong and perhaps repeated antibiotic treatment.
Some current research suggests that if you reduce the food sources available for methogenic bacteria you can reduce their population in the bowel and therefore reduce the amount of methane they produce.
For example it is known that sugars such as lactose, fructose and sorbitol that are malabsorbed pass through the small intestine into the large bowel. These sugars are quickly digested by methanogenic and other bacteria in the last part of the small intestine and first part of the large bowel.
The secret to this approach seems to be to consider not only the amount and ratio of SF and IF that you eat but also pay attention to the the types of SF and IF you eat. 
References
Gibson, P. R., E. Newham, J. S. Barrett, S. J. Shepard, and J. G. Muir, 2007: Review article: fructose malabsorption and the bigger picture. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 25, 349-363.
Goldstein, R., D. Braverman, and H. Stankiewicz, 2000: Carbohydrate Malabsorption and the Effect of Dietary Restriction on Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Functional Bowel Complaints. Israel Medical Association Journal, 2.
Pimentel, M., H. C. Lin, P. Enayati, B. van den Burg, H.-R. Lee, J. H. Chen, S. Park, Y. Kong, and J. Conklin, 2006: Methane, a gas produced by enteric bacteria, slows intestinal transit and augments small intestinal contractile activity. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 290, G1089-1095.
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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'm going for both-antibiotics, and maintainance diet
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Ugh...I am right there with you on the bloating, I also get really gassy. For me, I take a ginger based pill called "Reflux Away." I know it sounds like a SNL gag, but it truly works, even if I just have a general upset stomach, it really makes me feel so much better.
I also do a lot of yoga when I get gassy and bloated. The poses I incorporate into my normal routine are: shoulder stand,wind relieving posture, downward dog and wheel. All of these can of course be found on this site.
For managing my C with diet, I eat a lot of jasmine rice with really cooked down vegetables. The veggies I use are carrots, corn, peas, scallions and water chestnuts. I also usually toss in chopped almonds or walnuts to get some added protein. Last week I struggled a lot with C and my pooch belly and gas, so I ate this concotion a lot. I flavored it with Litehouse Blueberry Pomegranate Vinaigrette and it turned out really well. I eat a lot of bananas, mango and Activia Yogurt as well. I also walk my dogs pretty much every day, and if I don't get a chance to walk, I work in our yard in the evenings after dinner.
I hope this will help someone...I know I am thankful for stumbling upon this web site, I have a come a long way since I discovered it last summer.
But anyways, take care everyone!
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Thanks, the recipe sounds yummy! I don't take the ginger pill but just purchased some ginger tea so hopefully the effect will be similar.
You said you eat Activia yogurt - any problems with that? I LOVE dairy but at this point I'm really ready to give it up if it helps. I haven't had any in a couple weeks and I think it really helps with C. I can't stand soy substitutes (they make me really bloated) but I found that the Rice Dream brand of rice milk is pretty good and you can get it unsweetened to use for cooking.
I don't know much about yoga but I'm going to look up the poses you suggested and try them.
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant
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Acacia has worked wonders for my bloating! I used to have it daily, but very rarely does it occur now. I also drink Yogi Teas "Stomach Ease" tea which is GREAT for gas and bloating.
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Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
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Great! Keep us posted on the breath test if you doctor prescribes it and on the changes you make to your diet. I would particularly interested in your dietary modifications and what information you used to guide you when you made these changes.
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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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Actually, I have no dietary ideas right now. These organisms thrive on very little protein and starches/sugars, and so are almost impossible to eradicate. I haven't always had this problem, so they came in from somewhere (I used to be able to eat a plate of fruit with no problems-I'm afraid of fruit now, and just cut up the beautiful summer melons for the kids)-I really don't know much, and can't afford to buy any more books and supplements.
In my naivete I think these bugs (if I even have them) came from a horse or cow-those animals are naturally somewhat gassy and bloated. Maybe that's the bacteria I have.
Everything I read online gives them a different name and cause. Did I eat something bad? Pick 'em up at a restaurant, or a particular type of food? Why haven't the hundreds of $$ worth of probiotics I've taken displaced them?
The only surefire way to wipe them out with diet alone (I've read) is to water fast. That would wipe me out as well though, even providing I have the fortitude to do that-and I have 4 kids to take care of...
Meanwhile, I will try this experiment while I have the time-life's about to get really busy in the fall
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