Chronic Bloating

Posted By Garth on June 26, 1998 at 15:08:08:







Hi,
    First of all, regardless of whether you can assist me or not,
thank you for this forum.  You are performing a very worth while
function here!
    I have been suffering from chronic (mostly) upper GI bloating
now for about 7 years.  This problem has gotten worse over time.
The bloating begins about 1 to 1.5 hours after eating and I have
not been able to attribute it to any particular food group (i.e.
lactose intolerance, etc.)  There are those that love to claim
air swallowing but fasting cures the problem (unfortunately this
will eventually kill the patient).  There is also the 1 to 1.5
hour delay after eating (you can practically set your watch by
it!).  There are those that love to blame smoking, so I quit a
year and a half ago.  I have had all the standard tests (except
this ERCD thing) upper GI, endoscope, gall bladder sono, etc.
All negative, with the exception of the scope showing an awfully
irritated lining.  At the 3 to 4 hour range (after eating) the
problem peaks (just happens to coincide with bed time) so I
naturally don't sleep too well either.  I at times can literally
belch continuously for up to 30 minutes straight.  The symptoms,
though always present to some extent, are extreme on an episodic
basis.  I am also dizzy at times and feel like I may pass out on
occasion (I attribute this to REM sleep deprivation as it tends
to coincide more with the nights I don't sleep well).  Please,
any thoughts at all would be helpful!
                                              thanks again,
                                                     Garth