Bloating

[Glammar]

Im 48 and have plenty of peri symptoms. I have had gastro issues for the last 18/24 months. I am overweight and have been trying to eat 'healthy' for the last few days. It's been the most horrendous few months, think bereavements and ill health of others.

Today I've eaten reasonably well. Banana for breakfast, some nuts, baked potato and tuna for lunch. Greek yoghurt and berries. Dinner was chicken and noodles.

I have just caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror and I look like I'm 9 months pregnant and about to pop. I have awful wind too since I ate dinner.

What actually stops or relieve bloating. A while ago I bought Fybro calm tablets as I was having gastro symptoms a lot but they can only be taken for 10'days at a time.

Has anyone taken anything that actually works in relieving bloating? It's really beginning to get me down, I look awful.

I also forgot to add I have been prescribed Evorel Sequi patches by my GP - I have not begun to use them yet as life has been so chaotic that I have not had the headspace to begin them. Would they help?

Sorry it asking for TMI but are you constipated? You mention bowel issues. What are they?
What I noticed from your food today is there is very little fibre. The recommended amount is at least 30gms a day (there are lots of images online of food and what makes up 30gms.)

Have you seen your GP? If you have possible IBS symptoms, they should run some tests for coeliac or IBD, and maybe refer you to a dietician - possibly trying an elimination diet.

I have IBS mainly IBS D with occasional Constipation. I suffer terribly with gas at times. Not always but every now and then it flares up no matter what I eat. I have increased my water intake a lot the last few days. Would that cause this bloating? Am I retaining water? Fibre seems to aggravate my IBS a lot. I've just ordered a blood test to test for intolerances.

Blood tests don't show food intolerances . If you can stop the order or get a refund that would be best! This explains why https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-intolerance/ They're sold based on misinformation.

It's best to rule out anything serious first (your bowels and ovaries) .

Maybe see your GP and first get things like coeliac and irritable bowel disease (IBD) ruled out - through a blood test for those. And if you have persistent diarrhea they should so a stool (FIT) test too.

If you've got a lot of bloating you should possibly have some screening of your ovaries to check nothing's going on there.

If that's all ok, it's worth trying the FODMAP diet, ideally with a qualified dietician (not a 'nutritional therapist' which isn't the same.)

In the short term you could try cutting out all gluten for a couple of weeks to see if that helps. (FODMAP removes gluten and dairy but also many other trigger foods.)

irritable bowel disease (IBD)
*Inflammatory Bowel Disease

I have had lots of bloods done at Drs for coeliac, CA125 and other things that I can't remember and they were all ok. It seems it is IBS.

I will get a refund on that test 🙊 I genuinely thought it might help rule out anything I'm intolerant to.

Ah, okay you didn't mention that before.
I'd still go back and have them done again if this was years ago.

But you're going to have to try an elimination diet. That's what a dietician would suggest.
Try cutting out gluten for 2 weeks?

For immediate relief, try and mug of hot water. Works really well for me. As does peppermint tea.