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I'm not sure if what I have is IBS, but I know there's something wrong. It's been the same way for as long as I can remember, which is only about 4 years (yeah I have terrible long-term memory). I'm 21 right now, and for all I know there may have been stomach issues for most of my life.No matter what I eat, it seems to cause bloating. I also pass gas a lot, and burping too. Burping is usually voluntary, though it seems necessary and seems to be one of the few ways to relieve the uncomfortable bloating. I don't understand what it is. I've had blood tests, an upper GI endoscopy (scope through the throat), stool tests, and x-rays. Everything so far has come up normal. It could be IBS. I have OCD and general anxiety, so that seems to support the possibility of IBS, based on what I've read. Still, some things don't seem to add up. For example, the types of foods that irritate my stomach seem unusual. Like I said, everything I eat seems to cause bloating, but one of the biggest offenders is soup. It's just canned beef and vegetable soup, and it wreaks havoc on my stomach. Even water seems to cause bloating! Also, I don't think I experience either diarrhea or constipation regularly. I almost never have diarrhea, and constipation-- well there could be some of that, but I have bowel movements usually twice a day. I've tried using Miralax, probiotics, extra fiber, and more water, but none of that seemed to do much of anything other than make me have to use the bathroom more. After weeks of using all that, I still experienced bloating. I have a few theories of my own, but they're not very good. I basically just tried to think of things I do that may be unusual.I figured it could have something to do with posture. I've often watched TV in bed, and when I do this I prop my back up so I'm somewhere between sitting and lying down. I'm trying not to do that so much since my spine bends in ways it shouldn't when I do it. It affects my posture for sure-- but my stomach? I don't know.Here's another theory: Maybe it's bacterial? For years I've had a nasty habit of never brushing my teeth. Yeah I know, that's bad. I figure that bacteria from my mouth might get dragged along with my food and cause the bacteria in my stomach (or intestines) to be overpopulated. However, I've been brushing my teeth at least once a day for the past 3 weeks and no changes so far.My final theory: Maybe it has something to do with my respiratory system? I've noticed that my breathing always seems unsatisfactory to me. Maybe that's because of my bloating and not the cause of it, or maybe it's not connected at all. I don't know. I get out of breath after running for just a little while, but that could simply be because I'm out of shape. I do walk a lot, but for much of my life I haven't done much running.Those are really all the ideas I have. All I know is I want to get this fixed. It's very hard sitting down and doing school with all the uncomfortable bloating, so I want to fix this before college. I'd appreciate any help you can give me.

[BQ]

Do you use any digestive enzymes or probiotics?? They may help...

[Alternative Solution]

Do you use any digestive enzymes or probiotics?? They may help...

I did use probiotics. They may have helped...it's just kinda hard to tell you know?

[BQ]

Have you ever been tested for SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)?Here is some info:http://www.medicinenet.com/small_intestinal_bacterial_overgrowth/article.htm

[Alternative Solution]

Have you ever been tested for SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)?Here is some info:http://www.medicinenet.com/small_intestinal_bacterial_overgrowth/article.htm

No I haven't. That could very well be the problem. Although, when I asked a GE specialist if the problem might be bacterial, he dismissed it saying that there's tons of bacteria in the body that we need (no really doc?). Maybe if I bring up SIBO specifically he might not immediately dismiss it.

[somewhereiniowa]

I have the same problem and have been tested for EVERYTHING!! I think my issue is because I don't know how to burp. I hear that it is an actual medical problem that has a name, dysfunction of the belch reflex. Doesn't sound like that's your problem though because you said you do belch. I did the testing for SIBO, food allergies, food intolerances, stomach emptying study, ovarian cancer, you name it, I did it. Everything comes back negative. Which is good!!! But it doesn't give me an answer to my problem. I was also taking Aciphex but this was after I complained about bloating. But I went from being bloated after only eating to being bloated 24/7 due to the Aciphex. I quit taking it. I am not talking about a little bloating I seriously bloat like I am 8-9 months pregnant. I actually have to walk like I am pregnant because of the huge belly. Trying alternative methods now. I am taking olive leaf extract and couple teaspoons of honey each night. I hope you find an answer soon. Please update us if you find anything out. I would really like to know!!! Good luck!

[Kathleen M.]

Sometimes bloating after meals is an inappropriate response to eating. There are meals that will cause any human (even perfectly healthy people) to have bloating.When they feed those meals to people they do find that digestive enzymes (the prescription version) with pancreatin in them can reduce bloating and I find the OTC version can reduce that post meal bloat thing on the rare occasions I get that.You may need to play with size of meals and amount of fat. The meals that will bloat anyone tend to be high-fat and large (like Thanksgiving feast meals). Some people do better on 5-6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger ones.

[Alternative Solution]

I have the same problem and have been tested for EVERYTHING!! I think my issue is because I don't know how to burp. I hear that it is an actual medical problem that has a name, dysfunction of the belch reflex. Doesn't sound like that's your problem though because you said you do belch. I did the testing for SIBO, food allergies, food intolerances, stomach emptying study, ovarian cancer, you name it, I did it. Everything comes back negative. Which is good!!! But it doesn't give me an answer to my problem. I was also taking Aciphex but this was after I complained about bloating. But I went from being bloated after only eating to being bloated 24/7 due to the Aciphex. I quit taking it. I am not talking about a little bloating I seriously bloat like I am 8-9 months pregnant. I actually have to walk like I am pregnant because of the huge belly. Trying alternative methods now. I am taking olive leaf extract and couple teaspoons of honey each night. I hope you find an answer soon. Please update us if you find anything out. I would really like to know!!! Good luck!

Thank you. I will definitely let you know if I find anything.

[Alternative Solution]

Sometimes bloating after meals is an inappropriate response to eating. There are meals that will cause any human (even perfectly healthy people) to have bloating.When they feed those meals to people they do find that digestive enzymes (the prescription version) with pancreatin in them can reduce bloating and I find the OTC version can reduce that post meal bloat thing on the rare occasions I get that.You may need to play with size of meals and amount of fat. The meals that will bloat anyone tend to be high-fat and large (like Thanksgiving feast meals). Some people do better on 5-6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger ones.

I already eat 5-6 small meals with low fat.

[Kathleen M.]

Have you tried the digestive enzymes? Not the all vegetable ones, but ones with pancreatin in them?The enzymes also are signals, and we don't respond to plant signals, but animal ones are close enough.

[somewhereiniowa]

Have you tried the digestive enzymes? Not the all vegetable ones, but ones with pancreatin in them?The enzymes also are signals, and we don't respond to plant signals, but animal ones are close enough.

I know you are not asking me but I went and looked at my digestive enzymes and mine do not have pancreatin in them. You mentioned earlier that it was a prescription kind. I didn't know there was such a thing. What is it called? I will ask my Dr to see if he can prescribe me some. Thanks!!!

[Alternative Solution]

Have you tried the digestive enzymes? Not the all vegetable ones, but ones with pancreatin in them?The enzymes also are signals, and we don't respond to plant signals, but animal ones are close enough.

No I haven't tried that. Maybe I'll bring it up to my doctor. Can I get them prescribed?

[Kathleen M.]

Creon is the prescription version.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10489912 is the article if the doctor wants to look at that.This is a place I buy (have a store near me) and you can order online http://www.vitaminsh...x=mode matchall

[SarahLund]

Have you tried possibly halving the amounts you eat. Just another suggestion really. But i found i don't get as bloated as i used to. Sometimes we eat subconciously.

[Alternative Solution]

Creon is the prescription version.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10489912 is the article if the doctor wants to look at that.This is a place I buy (have a store near me) and you can order online http://www.vitaminsh...x=mode matchall

Well, the article says it's for high fat meals. Would it be relevant to someone who has low fat meals?

[annie7]

omg--185 grams of cookies--what a fun research study--sign me up--lol!but seriously--thanks for the suggestion on the digestive enzymes, Kathleen. i'm a vitamin shoppe customer and i've been looking for a good digestive enzyme--think i'll give it a go.

[Kathleen M.]

I don't eat high fat and it helped with my post-eating bloating.With health controls you have to do something that will cause distress and it takes a lot more to do it to them than it does to us.

[paraAdrian]

I am always bloated , I hate It and It has taken a big toll In my Life. I've gone to see so much GI doctors and no one could come up with a solution , they have done all type of test on me and everything comes back negative witch is good but at the same time It sucks cause I don't have a answer to my bloating problems. I also have taken all type of probiotic and ensymez and nothing has worked out for me , so I feel your pain this ###### sucks.

[Alternative Solution]

I am always bloated , I hate It and It has taken a big toll In my Life. I've gone to see so much GI doctors and no one could come up with a solution , they have done all type of test on me and everything comes back negative witch is good but at the same time It sucks cause I don't have a answer to my bloating problems. I also have taken all type of probiotic and ensymez and nothing has worked out for me , so I feel your pain this ###### sucks.

It really does suck. Can you let me know if you find an answer? I'll do the same.

[pretordan]

Wanted to respond. I have very similar symptoms. I used to get a lot of gas, now it's mainly stomach gas that takes hours to find its way out. In the morning is when most comes out, but it will start building up in the evening. I went on cipro and I was about 90% better some days, 80% on others, but overall I was always >50% better even after the first day. I was never 100% though in that I would always at some point during the day get the rumbling feeling of gas being made.I am starting align now and am renewing my bottle of digestive enzymes. I will take both religiously and will see what happens, but so far they hadn't helped. My symptoms are startingto come back now that I've been off the cipro a few days.