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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Bloating
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Bloating
by Mobius2002, Dec 17, 2002 12:00AM
I am a 30 year old male. About 8 months ago I started feeling bloated, especially when sitting. My stool also became looser. I went to my doctor and he had me do an upper gi barium x ray test that came back negative except that my small bowel emptied very in 1/2 an hour. Supposedly this is very quick, but not abnormal. He did a fecal blood test in his office, also negative. I had an incident about 1 1/2 years ago where I had bloody diarrhea and vomiting after a long bike ride. My doctor thinks it was due to eating too much (McDonald's hamburgers) during the ride.
My doctor thinks I have irritable bowel syndrome. I am still bloated almost all the time. It seems to get worse after I eat, but also sometimes before when I am hungry.
I must confess that I have always been an anxious person and a hypochondriac. My question is can axiety cause this much bloating? I am also worried about colon cancer, but my doctor didn't suggest a colonoscopy. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
My doctor thinks I have irritable bowel syndrome. I am still bloated almost all the time. It seems to get worse after I eat, but also sometimes before when I am hungry.
I must confess that I have always been an anxious person and a hypochondriac. My question is can axiety cause this much bloating? I am also worried about colon cancer, but my doctor didn't suggest a colonoscopy. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Good Luck, virgo
Went to the GP Jan 6th, who booked me in for an endoscopy which turned out to be 4th April 02! Went back to another GP a couple of weeks later and he said I could have gallbladder trouble. He booked me in for an ultrasound - turned out to be 17th April 02!
In the mean time went to BUPA (yes the NHS is slow in the UK) to see a gastro consultant. He suggested "I cope with the symptoms" for a few months and get the free NHS endoscopy rather than paying £600 privately.
Anyway felt bloated, anxious and even more stressed for the folowing months. Finally had NHS endoscopy - all clear - some evidence of a bit too much acid but nothing that would cause trouble. Had ultrasound, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen etc all clear.
But I still felt like **** and had "stomach" pain.
I saw the BUPA consultant a couple more times after this and he prescribed Nexium "as and when" for my acid problem. Which seemed to help.
Now, I feel much better. But I contribute most of my problems to stress. For the first 6 months of this year I was convinced I had something really bad and that aggravated the condition.
Believe me, your bloating can just be stress!
I still feel bloated every so often but I am much better than I was :-)
Obviously get yourself checked out and if in the UK - pay if you can - go privately. After the tests I had, it helped me realise it was very very unlikely there was anything wrong. I blame the 3 months of waiting for tests (the anxiety) for the slow recovery now. Get your mind put at rest as soon as possible and get checked. If you are regularly bleeding or losing weight get tested immediately (this was my BUPA consultants warning signs).
But try and de-stress, have baths (this really helps) and confide in someone about your worries. Exercise moderately and do things you enjoy. I did these and have turned the corner.
My consultant said "the mind stomach link is stronger than you think".
Hope this helps.