Bloating getting me down

[Syd35]

I started experiencing sporadic bloating over the last few months. I have seen my GP who referred me for an abdominal and pelvic scan. The scan showed up a simple cyst which I have been told is harmless. It also showed up copious amounts of gas and I have to go back for a further scan in 3 months time but there is no apparent concern at this stage.

In the meantime the GP has told me to take peppermint oil tablets to relieve the bloating. I have also cut out all sweet treats, upped my intake of water and am already keeping fairly active.

Whilst the bloating is not painful it is very uncomfortable. I didn't eat much yesterday as I worry this will make it worse but woke up with the bloating again today. Today I have bought some charcoal tablets and ginger tablets as I read these can help.

I am grateful for not experiencing any pain but the constant heaviness is getting to me and I feel as though something isn't right. Does anyone have any experience of this problem and any tips on how to relieve the bloating?

Hello Syd, I have nothing helpful to add but I am due an ultrasound on Monday, I have some really worrying symptoms the latest of which is bloating. Mine only goes off for a couple of hours in the morning then its back. Despite losing over a stone, my waistline is still the same. Its sort of verging on painful, but uncomfortable as you say. Mine is both upper and lower abodmen, mostly upper. So what's the background for you, how did it all start? Are they going to check the cyst again?

Hi Syd, I had exactly these problems, and my dr also prescribed peppermint tablets which did absolutely nothing. I also did a wheat free thing for a while, also nothing. I would recommend a food diary for a while though, in case that helps.
The only solution I could find in the end was, cut down on stress, and eat little and often. I found if I didn't eat for hours and hours, and then had a snack, my stomach would bloat in the next 5 minutes and could last the rest of the day and all night.
Oh, now I'm pregnant, and it seems to have resolved itself, which is nice :)

Thanks BurningBridges Sorry to hear of your problems, I know how anxious you must be feeling.

Mine seems to be lower abdomen. No background really, it just started up out of the blue a few months back. Dismissed it initally as having eaten too much and joked with DH that I looked pregnant but when it kept reoccurring I decided to get it checked out.

Yes they will check the cyst again in 3 months time though my GP doesn't think this is causing the bloating. She reckons I have IBS but I've looked this up and don't have any of the other common symptoms. Even though they saw lots of gas when I had the scan done, I'm not particularly even windy. There was talk of doing a colonscopy if things don't settle down which doesn't exactly cheer me up.

Good luck for your scan on Monday I hope they can find the cause, the not knowing what's wrong is the worst. Do come back and let us know how you get on.

trilottie it's great that things have calmed down for you especially being pregnant. How long did you experience the bloating for before it seemed to settle down? Do you think it's stress related as it has been a stressful few weeks for me?

Syd I'm sorry to say it was with me for years! And yes, I looked pregnant too. And now I am, and I don't!
I get stressed really easily (road rage!) so wfh a few days a week did help. My doc also said IBS but the bloating was the only symptom with me too, and as I said the usual peppermint tablets did nothing (except for after eight flavoured burps).
She was rather dismissive really so it sounds like you've got a better one - if the peppermint doesn't help I'd go back. You could also try meditation and yoga.
I sometimes used to get my bloating while i was doing triathlons - you try running a half marathon while your stomach is huge and flopping up and down with every step! I used to have to run along holding onto it!
Oh btw my MIL did give me some tablets which helped once or twice, I've just dug them out and they are called 'Enzyme digest' - 'Protein, carb and fat digesting enzymes' I think she got them from the health food shop.
HTH.

Oh no very disheartened to hear yours lasted for years *trilottie". I get stressed pretty easily too so will have to keep that in check and see if it makes a difference. Thanks for the other tips, I will try anything to get rid of this!

Hi Syd, just updating, I had scan - nothing! But I am still bloated so came back to search for this thread and see if anyone had any other ideas? I was hoping someone would say peppermint did the trick, but I think that's a triumph of hope over experience. Maybe my "bumping" this will mean someone else will come on with a fab easily available pleasant tasting anti bloating remedy .... !!

Anyway, how are you?

Hi Burning, thanks for coming back.

Well I must say I'm feeling a whole lot better. I persevered with the peppermint oil capsules and also started taking ginger tablets as well as the Actimel probiotic drink thingy and after a week my body basically had a good clear out! I was never away from the toilet that day and was extremely windy. The next day my stomach was much better than it had been for ages.

It's difficult to know which of the three are making a difference but I am still taking all daily and I thought I'd keep it up for a full month. I am feeling much better although the bloating hasn't totally gone just eased off a huge amount. It does seem to depend on what I have eatern and although I vowed to eat better it's easy to slip back into having the odd treat when I'm not having any symptoms but I seem to pay for it the next day so I am trying to watch what I'm having.

It's great that your scan came back clear. Why not give it a try too and do come back and let me know if it's made any difference. Best wishes

Am off down the health food shop tomorrow Syd and hope I have a good result like you. Thanks for tips.

try giving up (or at least cutting down on) wheat, I was amazed how quickly bloating goes :)

I had doc appt this morning for bloating after eating,being tested for helicobacter,just wanted to put that on here in case anyone else wanted another option of bloating problems as there seems to be so many causes. I had to google it as never heard of it before.

Thanks sixkids. Gosh there are so many suspects out there that could be responsible for the dreaded bloat! I will need to google that too it's a new one to me also! Hope you get on ok.

syd35 ive got to do a poo sample tomorrow and blood test thursday,lucky me! Hopefully one of us will find the cure for the dreaded bloat :)

Any news on bloating from anyone? I saw my GP on Friday last, and she told me it wasn't bloating, it was fat !!

I asked her in that case could she explain why the "fat" had all moved to my stomach, on one day in July, and stayed there ever since (that did happen, one day I was OK, next day I had swollen up) even though I'd lost 2 stone, and she said, wait for it "fat moves around as you get older". So in fact, its not bloating (or distention because mine is constant) - I have the Incredible Moving Fat Disease. I suppose I am lucky I didn't wake up and it had all moved to the end of one arm.

Hi Burning, how patronising of your doctor. Did you try the peppermint oil or anything?

I will continue to take the peppermint oil and ginger tablets and the Actimel for the rest of the week. I will then stop and see how I am as that will be a month and I'm not keen on taking anything long-term.

I am managing to keep the symptoms at bay for the most part although had one day last week where I thought it was coming back and funnily enough it was after eating fast food the day before so I think mine is more to do with diet so just trying to be sensible with my food choices and curb my sweet tooth! Also upped my water intake and I think that's making a difference.

Hiya Syd, yes I've been on the peppermint, but I keep forgetting to take it. Will persevere though, it can't do any harm. Glad you are feeling more comfortable.