severe daily bloating

[sammisfriends]

I was reading about another member’s problem that is very similar to mine however I couldn’t find a categorical answer to her problem so I thought I would try and get an answer myself.

I have been suffering with a bloated stomach for the last couple of months. There is a pattern to it. In the morning I my stomach is flat and by the end of the day it is massively distended.

I am 28 and this is a new problem for me however I should inform you that I suffer with Cystic Fibrosis and therefore take digestive enzymes daily. There has been no change in my usual enzyme regime and I often suffer a degree of malabsorption, which my body is very used to so I must reiterate that the bloating in a brand new problem and unlikely to pertain to the malabsorption issue.
When the bloating first started it was coupled with constipation but having dealt with the constipation I am still getting this daily bloating which is at its peak in the evenings and quite uncomfortable. I consistently look pregnant by the time I reach my bed in the evening every single day.

I am very worried and would appreciate any help or advice you can give me

[balmykshama]

A related discussion, Bloating of the stomach was started.

[sammisfriends]

I can't exactly pin point when it started but I've been suffering for about 3 months. I too had an emergency trip to A&E with the most terrible pain in my stomach a couple of months after the bloating started, which when they x-rayed me they found was caused by being full of faecal matter. Now I have dealt with the constipation that caused the dreadful pain with laxatives they prescribed however I am now prone to constipation when I wasn't before and I wish I knew what had changed for this to happen.
The above episode is the only time I’ve suffered with any tummy pain, like you there is no pain associated with the bloating.
I will certainly try staying away from gas producing foods and see what happens. It is ironic that since the bloating began I have been eating more fibre and veg which includes lots of things like broccoli that I guess may be making it worse!
Thank you for you advice, I have to say it is much more helpful than the doctor’s.
Please let me know if you find anything else out about what is causing your bloating or if something you eliminate or add to your diet makes a really big difference. I am very upset to have lost my lovely flat tummy, like you I was always proud of it.

Sammi

[lintek44]

I too have been having the same symtoms as you and mine just started happening within the past four to five months.
I would go daily but with difficulty and not realizing that stool was building and building up inside.
I went to the  ER with severe abdominal pain a few weeks ago. It escalated for hours and progessivly got worst so I thought it was a gall stone or kidney stone.
the only thing they found was that I was filled to the transverse. so I had to call my gastro for a follow up.

I too was wondering why on earth my stomach has been so distended? I'm normally flat and am proud of my figure.
now all of a sudden I'm cursed with this problem called "spastic colon"?
my gi dr thinks this is what I have.
so I read up on it and we have to stay away from gaseous foods. if our systems are moving too sluggish, certain foods will turn gaseous and make our abdomens even more bloated.
so  now I stay away from bananas, apple juice, apples that are not cooked, I can't eat oat meal anymore, it binds,
cabbage, which is my favorite vegetable all my life, broccoli, and especially esparogus, raisins, etc.
any type of gas producing foods.
I'm find this helps. plus my dr told me to take sennakot for a week, taken with metamucil, and miralax to cleanse my body out. so I'm trying all these things plus drinking more water, which I have a bad habit of not doing.
I'm finally getting my stomach back down again.
it's worth a try for you if dont' want the distended stomach. the same happens to me on given days too. I wake up, the stomach is flat, then by the end of the day, I'm embarrassed for my husband to see my stomach.

so I was shocked the other day when my gastro dr told me over the phone he thinks I have spastic colon. IBS. but as I said, I  dont' get pain which goes away by having a bm. and I don't have loose watery stools, just the opposite.

can spastic colon jsut happen out of the clear blue sky one day out of your life???? I never had this problem before.
why now?

did this happen suddenly to you too?

Linda  

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Bloating can be due to a variety of GI conditions.  This can include GERD, an ulcer, inflammation of the upper digestive tract, or irritable bowel syndrome.

An upper endoscopy can be done to comprehensively rule out these conditions.  Imaging the abdomen can be done to evaluate the liver and gallbladder.  

Blood tests for celiac disease can also be considered.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_