Adominal Bloating

[mollmac321]

I am 39 years old and since my late teens i have had problems with bloating.  I go to the toilet everyday so constipation is not as issue.  My stomach is flat in the morning, after lunch generally I start to get trapped wind.  I am unable to wear fitted trousers as the pressure on my abdomen can create the problem of the trapped wind and make it worse.  I try to avoid certain foods such as fruit as this produces a lot more gas.  My diet is very healthy.  I exercise a lot.  Most nights my abdomen is bloated so much I cannot empty my bladder which means i have to get up in the night to pee.  It is just general discomfort everyday and worse at night.  The bloating makes me feel sluggish and irritable when at its worst.  I have tried peppermint tablets, they seemed to work a little to begin with but then stopped.   My doctor says I just have a sensitve bowel. I have now been referred to see a specialist. Do you think this is a food intolerance and what tests should the specialist do?

[mammo]

With IBS you can sufffer from constipation, diarrhea or alternate between the two.  Mine was constipation, my friend's is diarrhea.  But see a Gastroenterologist and get checked out, he will be able to tell you for sure and prescribe medicatiuon for it.   Take care!

[mollmac321]

Thanks for that.  I've always thought that as I do not have alternating constipation and diahorrea that I do not have IBS.  I wish walking helped but it doesn't. I wish mine would just go away.  

[mammo]

It sounds like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), which I have and have experienced the same problems as you.  There is medication for this, and it stops the colon from having spasms.  Mine just went away eventually. The Gastroenterologist may want to do a colonoscopy to view your colon to be on the safe side. I found that when the bloating first starts, if I got up and walked I could release some the gas and get relief.  Good luck with this and keep us posted!