The participant who replied first reported having the exact problem since childhood. It would occur after drinking anything (water, soda), so the suspicion was raised that the problem might be related to drinking fluids and digestion. This participant noted that he/she has the same problem in his/her forties. Another participant who joined the discussion suspected that fluid may be the cause.
Has your daughter been drinking a lot of fluids over the course of time when this was happening?
However, the discussion starter didn't reply to this question, but others who joined later tried to identify the possible cause. Many reported the "sloshing" sounds right after eating, which indeed may suggest a problem with digestion. Others said that they hear sloshing sounds when moving. One participant described the sound as grumbling in his stomach. Beside the watery sounds, some reported stomach aches. Another common symptom was getting full very quickly, as well as loss of appetite. Several participants noted that they don't have daily bowel movements. Others mentioned that they sometimes felt hungry even after eating.
Other symptoms noted were uncomfortable feeling in the stomach, bloating, stomach cramps, gas, etc. A lot of participants said that this problem is irritating and embarrassing especially in public.
One participant reported that his doctor said that the problem is caused by drinking too much (water, soda, juice) while digesting the food. Several other members noted the connection between drinking fluids and digestion. This is most likely the cause.
This is very normal when you drink much your stomach is like a bag so when its full of liquid so when you jump the water goes all around the stomach. That's why you hear that sound for.
Some participants, however, said they got a medical diagnosis that could be a cause behind the strange stomach sounds.
The conditions named responsible for sloshing stomach sounds were a leaky gut and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Leaky gut had one participant more sensitives to food making her/him more irritable when consuming certain foods. There was also another medical condition that was mentioned in this discussion more than once.
I am not sure whether or not your daughter has received a diagnosis since your post two months ago, but I thought it might be helpful to let you know that I have struggled with very similar symptoms for a few years now, and was recently diagnosed with gastroparesis, which causes delayed emptying of stomach contents.
Many participants mentioned that they or they loved ones who have this problem were diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach cannot empty itself of food in a normal way, usually caused by damage to the vagus nerve, which regulates the digestive system.
What do experts say?
Abdominal (bowel) sounds refer to noises made within the small and large intestines that typically occurs during digestion. They can be described as hollow sounds that may resemble the sounds of water moving through pipes, or often as splashing or sloshing sounds, whenever the stomach is filled partly with liquid and partly with gas that both make these sounds by striking the abdominal wall. This sound is often audible at a short distance.
The abdominal sounds we hear are most likely related to the movement of food, liquids, digestive juices, and air through our intestines. Most of the sounds we hear in our bowels are most often a normal occurrence after digestion. Abdominal sounds alone are not usually a cause for concern. However, frequent, unusually loud sounds, the lack of abdominal sounds or abdominal sounds with accompanying symptoms may indicate an underlying condition within the digestive system.
Symptoms
These symptoms may include:
- excess gas
- heartburn that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatments
- feelings of fullness
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- frequent diarrhea
- constipation
- bloody stools
- unintentional and sudden weight loss
Another name for this 'sloshing sound' phenomenon in medicine is a 'succussion splash.' Anyone can experience it after drinking a glass of water on an empty stomach, and moving the stomach in and out quickly, preferably in a quiet room. You will certainly hear the fluid in the stomach sloshing around, even without a stethoscope.
If the stomach gets very distended, as in gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach doesn’t empty normally, the succussion splash, i.e. sploshing sounds can be abnormally prolonged.
Could gastroparesis be a cause of sloshing sounds in the abdomen?Many in the discussion mentioned that they or their loved ones have been diagnosed with gastroparesis and that it was a most likely cause of sloshing, watery sounds in their stomach. Gastroparesis is a medical condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement of the muscles (motility) in the stomach, thus the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. As a result of this, the stomach doesn't empty properly.
Sloshing abdominal sound alone is not a sign of gastroparesis. However, it can be one of the symptoms. The symptoms of gastroparesis may include:
- heartburn or reflux disease (GERD)
- nausea
- vomiting of undigested food
- feeling full quickly when eating
- stomach bloating
- stomach pain
- reduced appetite
- weight loss
- poor blood sugar control
Gastroparesis is not only an uncomfortable medical condition, but it can also cause a variety of complications, some of which can be life-threatening, such as undigested food that hardens and remains in your stomach as a solid mass called bezoar that can prevent food from entering the small intestine.
Treatment of gastroparesis
Treatment often involves treating the underlying cause of gastroparesis. Medical treatments may include medications that help the stomach to empty, such as anti-nausea medications or drugs to increase stomach muscle contractions, or surgery.
People diagnosed with gastroparesis should also make changes to their diet, by choosing foods that are easier to digest, as well as their eating habits.
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Discussion highlights
What symptoms have been reported?
- Its an uncomfy, bloaty feeling and i want it gone.
- As I type right now, its as if I have 5 gallons of liquid in my stomach and Ive barely drank anything.
- I realized when eating things with "high fructose corn syrup" or casein products it would kill my stomach or Id fee sick, bloat get gassy etc.
- Well, tonight, she was jumping up and down and she said said, "Hey mom, listen to this!" And when she jumps, her stomach sounds like there is water sloshing around inside her abdomen like water in a bathtub.
- My stomach makes that noise as well, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Possible reasons for sloshing sounds in stomach
- yea that happens to me also however my doc says that its from drinking to much as your digesting.
- Doctor told me I likely have a leaky gut.
- I also have a sensitive stomach / ibs.
- Went to the doctor a while back and they said I have gastropariosis .
- Leaky gut has me more sensitives to food and I'm more irritable when comsuming certain foods.
What diagnosis has been made?
- I am 14 and i had belly pain since i was out of the womb and i recent Got dianosed with a rare kind Of ulcer and my stomach Is doing the same Thing And i also HAve depression But I would Take Your child To the doctor ABout it.
- yea that happens to me also however my doc says that its from drinking to much as your digesting.
- Doctor told me I likely have a leaky gut.
- I also have a sensitive stomach / ibs.
- Went to the doctor a while back and they said I have gastropariosis .
In conclusion
A watery, sloshing sound in the stomach is normal and usually nothing to worry about. It may occur if we drank too much fluid or if we drink while eating. However, sometimes this sound may indicate a medical condition, such as gastoparesis. You should visit your doctor if the sound worries you or if it's accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal pain.