Really need advice/assistance from people who suffer with this

Digestive health
1

Hi everyone!
I’ve had issues with my stomach for about 6-7 years now.
I had lived my life pretty much gaining no weight no matter how much I ate, but staying a healthy weight. I had a slimline body, barely any fat at all.
That was until about 6-7 years ago and things changed.
My belly started to be permanently bloated, both in feeling and visually. It never feels empty (no matter how much I go to the toilet successfully, also even that is a lot more messy since these changes) and there’s a constant discomfort in my stomach.
I’ve been to multiple doctors, they couldn’t find any physical issue causing it, with me even trying laxatives to unblock a possible blockage, I had an ultrasound and they didn’t find anything, the only thing we didn’t try was a CT Scan which I was due to have in my original country (for free) but haven’t been able to have since I moved as it costs a lot of money to get one.

I’ve tried diet change also, to no avail.
I eat very healthily, a wide range of meat, vegetables, I drink water, there’s nothing I “overdo”.

I do have one, sort of, theory that’s the nearest thing I could possibly think it is.
Around that time it all started, I had my appendix removed. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there’s any direct correlation to my appendix itself, but more so the surgery.
Whether they accidentally cut into my intestine and scar tissue has formed around it, tightening it or something, I really have no idea, it’s spit-balling at this point.

I really am miserable with this, it’s been years and as well as feeling and thinking I look unattractive with this belly - that’s not really the important part, more the discomfort and horrible, heavy, dense, bloated feeling constantly (with of course the new, much more messy toilet changes ever since it started).

The most recent doctors I saw suggested it may be IBS, something I’d have to figure out myself by cutting out certain food groups here and there (you are the last people I have to explain this to as you are all way more well versed than I am in this).

I am kinda thinking they may be right, but since I have been more cautious in what I am eating, I really can’t pinpoint a particular food group that may be causing it.

Anywho, you guys out there who are suffering with this, I really could do with any advice at this point. How do you deal with it? How do you minimise the bloating? How do you ease the discomfort?
Etc etc.

Thanks for taking the time to read and hope you all have a good day!

2

There are reports that removal of the appendix may cause IBs but it could be just coincidence ie those patients were about to develop IBS anyway and the problem appendix is just the start of it.
The main culprits are wheat/gluten and /or dairy products. So its a good plan to eliminate wheat from tour diet for 2 weeks, and then if there are no improvements, start eating wheat again and eliminate dairy from your diet. You do have to examine all the processed food you eat but there should be a list of ingredients on all packaged food, with known allergens in a darker print.
Another thing that often seems to help is to take a probiotic once per day. You should be able to find this in your chemist/pharmacy or health food shop. Its worth a try.

3

Hi Mister0

I hope you get some answers because I’m in exactly the same situation as you and I would like advice too.

Sorry I can’t be of any help.
Best of luck!

4

Thank you Sasical72
Will absolutely keep you updated if/when I hear anything :]

5

Thank you, really appreciate this.
Will try this and see how it goes!
Willing to do anything at this point, affecting a lot more than just day to day comfort and things.

6

I have similar problems suffering from the past 8 years. I understand the constant struggle to figure out what’s wrong by doing everything right yet not being our best.

So six months ago I had similar problems where my stomach was bloated and I would almost feel my stomach touching the chest. Doctor prescribed Meva C, along with Allymax D & MGD3. The other medications were Sompraz IT, Flatubust & Gaviscon.

I also went ultra low fodmap. For 2 and a 1/2 weeks I ate only rice with bell peppers, crushed black pepper and boiled chicken. Twice a week boiled spinach. 1-2 tsp Cremadiet (psyllium husk - cremadiet is the best quality) powder twice daily 30-60mins after meal to get some fibers. A probiotic (15b count) 1-2 times a day, it helps with the gases. After 2 and a half weeks I replaced one time meal with Oats and Millets. This went on for the next one month. Had lots of fibrous fruits. Most of the time I had Papaya, Muskmelon, black grapes, etc. (check low fodmap chart) Finally I started to feel better, a lot of the inflammation was down.

Doctor suggested to slowly introduce new foods and see if they trouble. I have realized that gluten, wheat and dairy products affect a lot. So does sprouts, salads, eggs, fish and fish oil. I was also taking a multivitamin which was also giving me heartburn. I do not eat any food outside. I always carry something and in case I have to eat out, I will have plain rice.

This is a problem that has no permanent cure, but is manageable. See if Cremadiet, probiotics, fruits and fibre along with a very strict diet help you. With dietary changes, you should start to see small changes in 2-3 weeks.

I’m not a doctor and these opinions are my own having gone through a similar situation.

I also had my endo and colon done and doctor told me its IBS. Could be other factors too like stress, anxiety, etc.

7

hi mister o, that’s sounds miserable. there could be a number of reasons APART from ibs that you’ve gained weight and can’t shift it. i suggest you ask for bloods for allergy rule out, try to monitor whether this worsens with different foods or whether you have any other symptoms, THEN insist on seeing a specialist possibly a gastrologist? You need to find out what is going on, for your sanity more than anything. Until you know some idea of what this is don’t just take lots of foods out of your diet. You could lose vitamins, minerals and other nutrients by doing this. IF you want to try this, try cutting 1 food out bit by bit! good luck! :crossed_fingers::folded_hands::thinking: