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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague's STOMACH!

85 replies

StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 15:14

I am sat here, a mere 6 or so feet away from my colleague and all I hear ALL DAY LONG is their stomach rumbling and gurgling!

Said colleague is for want of a more pleasant word, large, but eats less than I do. Yet all I hear all day is the rumblings and gurglings of their stomach and it makes me feel sick! I actually shudder when I hear it SadShock

AIBU to feel this reaction?!

OP posts:
iwouldgoouttonight · 05/08/2015 15:53

OMG I have IBS and my stomach often makes noises, and I also have a colleague who is partially deaf in one ear. I hope it's not me probably not because I eat loads!

Original poster
StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 15:59

Wooner Because I dont know if another colleague uses this board.

iwouldgoouttonight Did you have green thai curry for dinner? If not, then nope, not you.

OP posts:
Bubblesinthesummer · 05/08/2015 16:02

How long has this been going on for?

Oh and YABU. You don't know why this is happening and mentioning their size is just mean IMO

Original poster
StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 16:04

Bubbles For a good few weeks now. I didnt mean their size in that way but rather in a "theyre larger than me and yet eat less vis a vis they must be hungry which is causing the rumblings - just eat something!"

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/08/2015 16:05

I just hope you aren't making this poor person embarrassed about something they may well not be able to control at all, Stomach.

Original poster
StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 16:12

SDT Not mentioned a peep to the colleague or anyone else for that matter. I know if ever my tummy rumbles, I feel embarrassed and so wouldnt wish to embarrass anyone else.

OP posts:
The5DayChicken · 05/08/2015 16:14

YANBU to be irritated by noises...I'm noise sensitive so I can relate to that.

But I can relate to a noisy gut far more. Due to IBS, my stomach regularly sounds like it's hosting a gig.

You need to get yourself some coping mechanisms.

DinosaursRoar · 05/08/2015 16:14

See, I worked with a regular throat clearer. Every 10 minutes or so. Not noticable much for the first few hours. After a couple of days, annoying. 3 months later, I was sooo happy when an office reorganisation meant I no longer sat near them.

You have my sympathies. Other people's body noises are very irritating after a time. It could be she's on a diet, so eventually her body will get used to less food and the rumblings will stop, but that might take some time...

I would go with the headphone option if you can.

LazyLouLou · 05/08/2015 16:16

VVU - unless you never cough, slurp, sniff, laugh like a weirdo, talk loudly on the phone, chew loudly, crunch loudly, click your finger nails, rustle paper, wear perfume, hairspray, eat smelly food or any of a number of other annoying noises/smells.

AuntyMag10 · 05/08/2015 16:18

I once worked with a hummer. It varied from loud to soft and was very irritating. I spoke to her about it and she tried to stop though.

iwouldgoouttonight · 05/08/2015 16:20

No I didn't have Thai Green curry for lunch. Phew Grin

Quite fancy a curry now...

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 05/08/2015 16:22

Can I just point out there's a very key line here she eats little - re perhaps she's hungry!

Maybe years of being described as large has made her self conscious about her weight and eating so goes hungry!
doesnt everyone's stomach rumble!

Original poster
StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 16:24

LazyLouLou I do whistle to the radio Blush

I suppose its because Ive always been in our office area on my own so am not used to noises really other than my own

iwouldgoouttonight I do too Grin I would have been very Shock if you had HAD Thai green curry for dinner!!

OP posts:
CaptainHammer · 05/08/2015 16:25

It is horrible to hear things like this all day, I get it, I hate the sound of people eating.
However as someone who has actually walked out of things like exams because of my ridiculously loud stomach rumblings, I'd say the embarrassment and worry she has over it is worse. (From my experience)

Tuskerfull · 05/08/2015 16:25

The person who sits next to me has this problem. All it makes me feel is sorry for them. We all pretend we haven't heard anything but he isn't stupid, he knows we aren't deaf and I can see sometimes that he's embarrassed. I don't really understand how the sound can make you feel nauseous, though you're not unreasonable if that's your body's reaction. I do think it would be U to bring this to your colleague's attention in any way or do anything except make sure to hide your revulsion.

Original poster
StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 16:26

LazyLouLou I do whistle to the radio Blush

I suppose its because Ive always been in our office area on my own so am not used to noises really other than my own

iwouldgoouttonight I do too Grin I would have been very Shock if you had HAD Thai green curry for dinner!!

Naught Mine rarely rumbles. As stated. I have also not denoted male or female.

OP posts:
cuntyMcCunterson · 05/08/2015 16:29

God, I hope it's not me! I'm 5ft8 and 13st and suffer from awful IBS, my stomach is ridiculously noisy. I gurgles and growls all day long and there is literally nothing I can do to stop it. It's slightly less noisy if I don't eat but I'm not starving myself for anyone and ear plug material if I do eat. I tend to make a joke about it out of embarrassment now.
YANBU To hate the noise but I suspect your colleague is only too aware of the racket they are making but might be unable to stop it being so noisy.

Original poster
StomachRumblingsDriveMeMad · 05/08/2015 16:33

Thanks everyone, I suspected I was already BU but I've also perhaps learnt some reasons as to why said colleague tum might be rumbling. Thanks again

OP posts:
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 05/08/2015 16:37

I suffer with IBS and my stomach can get very noisy. Also if said colleague is "large" then maybe they are trying to diet.

Sparklingbrook · 05/08/2015 17:02

How does someone's stomach rumbling make you feel sick?

LazyLouLou · 05/08/2015 17:33

Whistling?

There was a man in the supermarket whistling yesterday. He was really tuneful but really, quite unbelievably loud. I hate whistlers but really didn't think it was my place to say anything - even though he was so very, extraordinarily loud. I can't explain how, or why, but he really was so much louder than I thought a human being could be whilst whistling.

Just as I was about to scream a small child looked at him and burst into tears. He cried "Mummy that man is hurting my ears".

A whole crowd of adults turned and smiled. The whistler stopped, looked round and, thankfully stopped.

I won't say there was a round of applause but it was really easy to see shoulders being dropped, jaws and fists unclenched - one woman did say "Thank God" very loudly.

So, damn you and your whistling, I bet you listen to Radio 1 too Smile

AliceScarlett · 05/08/2015 17:52

Please don't ask for CBT from the NHS (not saying you are going too). Maybe it has been suggested in jest but its for people with mental health problems, not for reactions to annoying noises at work Confused.

SirChenjin · 05/08/2015 19:16

It wasn't said in jest. This is causing the OP a great deal of upset - it's a very extreme reaction and one that CBT could really help with.

Myamya · 05/08/2015 19:36

My stomach grumbles really loudly if I eat anything, so I stopped eating at work because it was embarrassing & I felt like people would think like the OP. People have said I was being ridiculous but it looks like there are really people out there that would judge you for it.

It will still rumble because I'm hungry, but nowhere near the noise if I eat. And yes, it does it because of a medical condition.

Sparklingbrook · 05/08/2015 19:43

Mine always does it in quiet meetings. Blush

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