I'm a 21 year old college student and I've had stomach "issues" for three or four years. I'm constantly bloated, with very irregular bowel movements (either none or else diarrhea). I feel pain in my side about 20 minutes after I eat. My stomach is extremely uncomfortable all day every day. I almost never feel the sensation of hunger. When I'm under stress the condition worsens.
I've tried gluten-free, lactose-free (that worked well for a month), sugar-free and vegan diets to see if anything worked. I've been tested for allergies and I stay away from the foods I'm allergic to. I work out regularly. I don't drink or smoke. Most of the food I eat is fruits and veggies, yet I'm heavier than other people who eat "normally."
I've tried acid-reducing pills from the doctor, lactase-producing pills, vitamins/herbal/minerals to supplement my diet and none of that has worked. I've been tested with an X-ray and radiological oatmeal to see what's going on, but the test came up normal.
What could this be? What do I do now??
The following user gives a hug of support to bierdstat: emily2458 (05-11-2011)
I have the same exact sysmptoms. They started out with bloating as if I was on my period for the entire month, now I look perpetually pregnant. The bloating increases with anything I eat, but is exacerbated by certain foods/drinks, such as wine and beans. I will be anxious to see informed responses to your post. I will also continue my research and post anything I come across that may be helpful.
Have you had a gastroscopy (camera into your stomach)? Might be worth having that test done to see if there is anything going on, causing the bloating.
Also, IBS might be one possibility? With you mentionning the diarrhoea as well as the bloating it sounds like one possibility. Can your doctor not suggest further tests?
If you have frequent problems with your bowels, you may need a colonscopy to see if there's anything going on there, and to check it's nothing more serious causing the diarrhoea.
It's also worth being tested for coeliac/celiac disease (an autoimmune response to gluten). It can become serious if not detected, and you have to follow a strict gluten free diet. If you get an endoscopy/gastroscopy or colonsocopy done, ask them to take a biopsy to check for coeliac. You can also get it checked with a blood test, but I hear it's not as accurate as a biopsy.
An ultrasound scan to check your gallbladder may also be a good idea.
Do the dietary changes help a little? What have you found you're allergic to? Too much dairy leaves me bloated, I ate ice cream about 4 days ago, still not gotton over it Bloating is not fun...
Maybe try more acidic food? You may have too little stomach acid.
Hi, I have the same symptoms. Have you had a Colonoscopy to check your Bowel. I was found to have Diverticulitis. As another member replied IBS can cause these alternating Bowel Movements. If I was you I would cut back on the Fruit and Veg. Too much of that is as bad as too little. Learn to eat small and often and try Aloe-Vera juice, I found it helpful. Good Luck, Solofelix.
Yeah, it's an idea to get thoroughly tested first though. Even though IBS is a real condition, in my view it's overly diagnosed when doctors don't carry out enough tests. IBS can mimic other conditions. Not saying what you have is serious or life threatening, especially if you've had it for so long, I'm sure it's not, but if you're having frequent bowel problems, it's definetely worth getting checked out.
Oh, and FYI sometimes Colpermin peppermint oil capsules help me with bloating. They say they are for IBS, but I find they can be helpful for general bloating anyway.
Curious, what color is your tongue? Do you have a white coating on it. A systemic (intestinal) yeast infection (candida) can possibly be the culprit. I believe that there are stool tests for this as well. Any other symptoms?
I would suspect gluten and all dairy as potential problem foods. You can be allergic to milk proteins, not just lactose intolerance and that causes major discomfort, gas, bloating, etc. If your pain is right lower quadrant, I would ask to get checked for Crohn's disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the last portion of small bowel. You really should see a gastroenterologist since this is 4 years of problems. The gluten and dairy free diet must be very strict if either of those are an issue. If you have any history in family of Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, that should be checked (inflammatory bowel disease) often labeled IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) by people who don't check things out thoroughly.
Personally I would cut back gradually on the amount of fruit and veg. Your story is similar to mine, some 20 years ago. I found massaging my stomach and lower back with Neroli oil helped ease the spasms from bloating.
Colpermin, I always forgot to take at right time before meals so was worse than useless for me. If you are organised, does help.
Basically what helped was visiting Doctor who specialised in homeopathy. She suggested a diet where pastries, bread and baked goods were off the menu. This was enough, over a month, to make all the difference though did look a bit strange dissecting a Big Mac and leaving the bun at the side of the plate.
Since when, despite having wheat and baked goods back in my diet, I'm completely free from all those days when I walked around at work, bent over like a half shut knife.
Don't laugh, but I found any slight discomfort or recurrence was kicked into touch by eating a slice of carrot cake - with or without its luscious topping.
Hi Rabit,
Like you I also found almost all my stomach issues e.g, bloating/gas and pains dissapeared soon after cutting out (bread,cakes, pastries) from my diet, plus sugar in my case which was for Candida.
Unfortunately the weight fell of me which I could not afford as I'm very slim in the first place.
I have now introduced some of these things back into my diet on a smaller scale and so far so good.
Domperidone was the best product for bloating for me,
I wish everyone well,
Indigestion/constant bloating 
Bloating is not fun...
