Stomach Gas,Bloating and Distension for last 2 years.

[rajiv740]

Hi Doctor,

I pray you to help me here-:

I am on antidepressants from 1999 till today- They are ---- Fluoxetine Hydrochloride - 60 mg, Lithium - 900 mg, Carbamazepine - 400mg and Amtriptilene Hydrochloride - 12.5 mg... I always had constipation (passing stool in 3-4 days) from 1999 to 2009 but I never had bloating or distension.

SUDDENLY In the month of Feb, 2010 my stomach started bloating and distension. I think it was due to lack of water, lots of tea and doing exercise. I went to MAX hospital, the doctor performed Endoscopy and colonscopy and detected Helicobector pyroli infection and a small Hietal Hernia (Doctor said it is common to have small hernia and will not cause any problem). Doctor cured H.Pyroli and my bloating got reduced by 25% only. Formed stool was also found in my instestine.  Finally the Doctor said the cause of bloating is constipation nothing else.

I went to another hospital (Artimis) where doctor gave me Rifaximin and lubriprostone but it didn't get cured. He also said that the cause of bloating is constipation. But i always have persistent bloating even if i pass adequate stool daily.

Can you PLEASE help me. My current symptoms are-:

1) Persistent Bloating and stomach distention for last 2 years

2) Bloating reduces a bit after passing stool or Urine

3) Fullness/Heaviness after Eating or Drinking water even

4) Farting whole day

5) Very bad smell in Stool/farts.


Bloating and distension gives me a lot of discomfort. Can you pleaseeeeeeeeee help me. God bless you.

Note -: It is not IBS as i never had and have stomach or any pain.

Please help me ......

Can it be Gastroparesis/Functional dyspepsia/Candida/GERG/Gastritis/Peptic ulcer/ Alchlorhydria(low acid)/Enzymes)/ Lactose intolerence/Celiac disease/Gut mortality/Digestive disorders/Bacterial overgrowth in small or large intestine/leaky Gut/ Brain gut disorder or it is chronic constipation.

Please let me know why i have persistent bloating and distension and a lot of gas in intestine.


This discussion is related to Sudden Stomach Fullness.

[patient915]

Lithium is almost always only used for people who are bipolar.  You need to discuss with your doctor what medications you should stay on / go off of.

[rajiv740]

I don't know i asked my doctor about this that why do it need Lithium,carbamazepine and Lamotrigine. He said these are mood stablizers and will keep my mood good always. I don't trust this. But i think lithium is augmenting the effect of Fluoxetine HCL (antidepressant) which i am talking for depression.

I tried to cut lithium by half (225 mg) but i feel somewhat low in mood.

Should i leave lithium, carbamazepamine and lamotrigine. and continue Fluoxetine HCL and amitryptlene.

But i want to enjoy my life.. I want :

Motivation

Happiness

Excitement in life ..

Please suggest...

[patient915]

If you are not bipolar, why are you on Lithium?  To test for lactose intolerance, I would recommend that you eliminate 100% of all lactose (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, etc.) for 2 weeks to see if that helps.  That is very unfortunate that your doctor's didn't do a biopsy to check for celiac disease during your endoscopy.  Chronic constipation is a symptom; it is not a cause.  I would say that a gastric emptying scan and a PH monitoring test would be good things to talk to your doctor about.

[rajiv740]

Thanks for your reply.. I am not a bipoler.

So as per you. I would need to get myself checked for - :

Gastroparesis

Alchlorhydria (low acid)

Lactose intolerence --- I just drink 2 or 3 no. of tea in a day with little milk. I have tried by leaving tea for 2 days completely but it did not fix my problem of gas and bloating.

Celiac disease - No not for Celiac disease but Biopsy was done for Helicobector Pyroli and it was positve. I had treatment for it.

Bacterial overgrowth in small or large intestine --- I had treatment with RIFAXIMIN 200 mg for 30 and 15 days two times. But this was not an issue.

Chronic constipation - This might be the cause but why bloating does not go away when i become regular in passing stool.

I am totally confused. What to do. I don't trust doctors anymore as they could not do anything in this. Please suggest me what should i do?

Anyways i really appreciate your knowlegde in the domain of Gastroentrology. Your concepts are quite strong..Thanks and Help me .. I am waiting for your reply...

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Are you bipolar?  I am not a doctor, but with regards to having these possible conditions, here is my opinion:

Gastroparesis - possibly; you would need a gastric emptying scan to look for this
Functional dyspepsia - this is just a fancy word for a stomachache and it isn't really a diagnosis
Candida - I believe that candida (as in whole-body candida) is a scam and true candida is very very rare and you would be much sicker if you had this
GERD - unlikely if you aren't having any reflux or heartburn
Gastritis - no, this would have shown up on an endoscopy
Peptic ulcer - no, this would have shown up on an endoscopy
Alchlorhydria (low acid) - possibly
Enzymes - this isn't a diagnosis
Lactose intolerence - possibly, have you tried eliminating 100% of all lactose from your diet to see if this helps?
Celiac disease - possibly, did you have a biopsy of your small intestine during your endoscopy to look for celiac disease?
Gut mortality - if by this you mean necrotic bowel syndrome, then no because you would be dead
Digestive disorders - not a diagnosis
Bacterial overgrowth in small or large intestine - possibly
Leaky Gut - I believe that this is also just a scam
Brain gut disorder - not sure what you mean by this
Chronic constipation - this is a symptom not a diagnosis