It seems my options are either live with the bloat (27" to 32" waist) which looks ridiculous on my small 5'3 118 lb frame, or be slim but in so much pain I can't function.
When I'm bloated, it's because I consumed carbohydrates. However, when I'm on a low-carb diet then I'm in pain from the meat (i.e., lean, skinless poultry) or vegetables (boiled).
I'm not sure if it's SIBO that's causing the bloat and maybe low HCl that's making it feel like a whole chicken is slowly squeezing through my intestines for 12+ hours, or maybe it's something more complicated. I've already seen 5 or so doctors and was given the IBS label after testing breath (lactose), blood, urine, stool, allergies and ultrasound.
A few months ago the only way I was able to attend a couple weddings was to eat only lactose-free yogurt for several weeks. It seemed like the perfect compromise as it was low in carbohydrates/FODMAPs and had a soft consistency that wouldn't trigger any pain.
Anyone have any insights that might help?
