Bloating

[Mobius2002]

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.

[virgo57]

I know Mcdonalds is not the healthiest of foods but to cause vomiting and diahrea? If your Doctor does not suggest looking into this further with tests then you should either suggest it yourself or find a new Doctor who will take this more seriously.
Good Luck, virgo

[Suziepie]

It sounds like the doctor is guessing and that's not good.  Your doctor sounds typical.  He probably wrote cheat sheets for the medical exam and he knows how to help someone who has the common cold.  You know, take two aspirins and call me in the morning.  There are a lot of incompetent doctors out there!  I've posted this information on this board before.  I try to help anyone that I can because it's a horrible situation when you can't get diagnosed and you're sick.  You can check out a doctors record on the medical board web-site of your state.  Just type Medical Board in the search box and you'll get a bunch of links, find the medical board in your state.  Then I called a diagnostic lab that I read about.  The Great Smokies Lab has an extensive digestive test that shows everything that's going on in the digestive tract except for a blockage.  You would need to rule out a blockage with a colonoscopy.  The number is 800-522-4762 - press 0 and then press 1 for clinical support, I think. Since I wasn't getting anywhere with a regular MD and a gastroenterologist I called the lab and asked them for a list of good doctors that work with them and know how to diagnose digestive conditions.  It worked and I ended up with a really good naturopathic doctor.  I just took the lab report to the MD and got a prescription, but I'm working with the naturopathic doctor because she does Kinesiology (sp?).  After a year and two months I had a diagnosis. FIND A DEPENDABLE DOCTOR!!  There's many people that go un-diagnosed or mis-diagnosed and don't make it to these postings.

[stepstep]

Hi your doctor told you that you probably have IBS. But have you done a stool test before? I think you might have c-diff bacteria overgrow in your intestin or colon. My husband has the same symtoms like yours and he used to have IBS. But his IBS getting worse presently. He got cramp, bloating, pain, lost appetile and diarreia. his stool test ture out positive with the c-diff. so he is taking treatment now. C-diff is a bad bacteria. I think you should talk to your doctor about it. Get a stool test!

[noonoo]

I started (32M) with similar symptoms just after Xmas this year, bloating, pain just below sternum and a general feeling of being unwell, although doing lots of exercise.

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.