Bloating immediately after meals and sometimes on an empty stomach

angeladw · Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Hi. I see there are lots of posts about unexplained bloating in this forum. I am 30 years old, female, smoker. After every meal, even vegetable broth, everything beneath my bra swells. I have been experiencing this for two months, after a few months of mild stomach pain. I am a strict vegan for six years now, therefore I do not eat any meat or dairy products. I have seen overall, 2 gastrointerologists, an allergist, a dietician, a gynocologist and a naturopath. So far, we have ruled out celiac's disease, and H. Pylori. I do have a small fibroid and a small ovarian cyst, both of which my doctor says are too small to be producting my symptoms. A skin prick allergy test showed allergic reactions to navy beans, rice and peanuts, but a blood test for antigens showed no allergic reactions, and I have given those foods up anyway and continue to experience symptoms. I have had 2 ultrasounds and am going in for a third. My first one revealed a small gall stone that the technician said was too small to be causing my symptoms. My last gastro put me on Prevacid but I have taken it for a week now and seen no change. I know that I shouldn't smoke, but it was actually my inability to enjoy eating anything anymore that led me to start smoking again after a successful quit lasting several months. The one food I can eat almost enough to get filled up on before the bloating sets in is bread, and this is what I have been subsisting on for the most part for two months now, so I feel pretty crappy energy-wise on top of the bloating and pain. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to know what else I need to be tested for. Due to my age, all of my doctors have been reluctant to do any tests such as colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scan. Thanks.

Lori · Veteran Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 508

Hi! I have had similar problems for the last two-three weeks and I did some research and realized that there could be so many reasons for bloating. Ovarian cysts and tumors could be causing bloating but since you have already had ultrasounds and your cyst was small, I suppose the doctors were right to rule out these.
The simplest air swallowing while eating and drinking could be causing the swelling as well as hormonal changes including PMS, PCOS and very painful periods. Considering you are vegetarian, there are a lot of gassy vegetables that could be causing your problem. Constipation can be another cause.

My father has IBS and he has had problems with gases and bloating for over a year now. It is said that stress worsens the symptoms.

Diverticulosis (inflamed pouches in colon) could be causing bloating as well but the disorder is more common is older people ie those older than 40.

If they can’t find another cause, maybe they should perform an endoscopy, I don’t know.

Anyway, I hope you get better soon.

Guest · Guest

You should persuade your docs to do an upper GI or EGD as well as a colonoscopy. At the very least, a CT of your abdomen/pelvis. There could be many things going wrong that could be identified by an imaging study. You also might consider seeing an ENT or general surgeon as they deal with these types of issues, including acid reflux. Silent reflux, or something called laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, can be silent (no symptoms of heartburn) and can still cause problems. You may need a pH manometry test to see what your pH levels are to see if acid is the problem. But I would find a doctor who will do an imaging study because if every other test has been tried up to now and nothing has been found, imaging is the next step.

mike18 · Newbie Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 3

This would be an exellent test to try, and if it fails to identify any specific problem, it will nevertheless have wonderful side effects.

FAILSAFE TEST: Stop all nicotine smoking for 12 months.

Sounds like it will help you, doesn't it, one way or another?

Give it a shot, kid.

--Mike

mike18 · Newbie Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 3

FAILSAFE TEST: Quit nicotine smoking for 12 months. The side effects are great whether or not your current symptoms go away (which they probably will !).

Good luck, Angie.

angeladw · Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

That's a nice saintly gesture you're taking upon yourself, Mike to try and get a stupid addict you don't know to quit smoking. I find your post insulting for many reasons. One of which is that while we all know that quitting smoking is a great step in the direction of good health, and one that is necessary for all of us to eventually make, we also all know that it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with bloating and stomach pain. Except in the case of severe IBS, where sometimes smoking helps the pain subside. Of course you have no idea that I have already quit smoking and my life-ruining bloating has absolutely nothing to do with it since this post was made a long time ago. Nice of you to come on here and suggest I try something that has nothing to do with the problems I posted about on this forum for a year and a half though. Here's a failsafe test for you: quit lording it over complete strangers for a year and a half and see if it helps with all of your problems.

angeladw · Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Thank you Lori and Guest - my doctors finally figured out that I have gallstones. I am able to keep the pain at bay with a low-fat diet and I will have surgery next month, have my gallbladder out. If the bloating does not subside after surgery, some of the things you both listed that I haven't yet tried will be on my list, as well as a gastric emptying scan and a low-carb diet. Thank you for your comments; I of course forgot about this site. Please no more Mike's or any posts telling me how bad having my gallbladder out is.

Guest · Guest

Angela,
I am so sorry. My note was not written or meant to be condescending and I certainly don't consider smokers to be dumb. I smoked for too many years myself and know full well what it takes to quit and quit permanently. Where I was coming from is that quitting smoking has many beneficial effects all over the body, even if it didn't help with the bloating.
I hope the gallstones surgery resolves most if not all of your symptoms.
Good luck to you.
Mike

angeladw · Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Mike, no hard feelings. I accept your apology and I too am sorry if I lashed back a little harshly. It's hard to tell what people are really getting at in this medium. I'm glad we're both not smoking now and here's to good health for both of us, as much good health as being smoke-free can bring anyway.

Guest · Guest

You should try taking supplements that promote intestinal flora. (Pro-Biotics, Acidophilus) If you are lacking, your food can ferment instead of digesting and cause gas. Do some research on it, go to a health food store and get a good quality supplement. Maybe that will help.

Bloating immediately after meals and sometimes on an empty stomach

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