Digestive Disorders Community

having done all that have they told you it is IBS?

One thing I have found extremely helpful for all symptoms is
Fennel Seed tea.
You can also get the seeds and munch on them but they get stuck in my teeth.

Are you taking a probiotic like align? That worked the best for me but be warned the first week on it , it will increase your gas. but it does work.

For me it took several GI doctors before I felt like I was taken serious and listened to.

Another thing you can do is see if its a food intolerance. You can get food testing but that tends to be fairly expensive. The way I found my corn intolerance was through a food journal. It seemed so random at first until I started noticing the smaller things like i could eat apples but not drink applejuice. I could eat pizza but not other bread like things.

Start with what time you ate, what you ate and when the symptoms started. and what they were. It took me almost six weeks of journaling to find it.

Good luck and i hope this helps.

It's sad because the last GI dr. I went to told me when I was feeling nauseous and upset to my stomach I should go for a walk or find a hobby to keep my mind of of it. So that night as I was dry heaving into a bowl I told my husband I guess I should do what that idiot said and go do my hobby now. What a joke. Why don't doctors take people serious. I am nauseous 80% of the time. I will have a good day and then 3-4 bad ones. I hope to one day get to the root of the problem.

Find another GI doc. Dry heaving and nausea are not in your head. And you know your body better than anyone. Many, many people have had to see multiple GI docs; I am on #4. There is nothing wrong with a second opinion, or even a third or fourth. But I encourage you to see another doctor.

There are several great medications for nausea, including Zofran (no side effects, but expensive) and phenergan (cheap but makes most people sleepy). Most GP's will prescribe either or both of these; hopefully yours would until you can get in to see someone else.

Please feel free to join us on the IBS/undiagnosed board. This one moves pretty quickly, but we try to keep up.

Thx! A lot of good ideas. And no they never diagnosed me with anything. Cant find anything wrong so i look crazy but ill try anither doc. I ran into one who wanted to give me a drug that cost $300 and she couldnt tell me why she wanted me to take it. Just a crook.

I have found it helps to go in well armed.

I type out all my symptoms and what I am doing for them currently and bring that with me.

Its crazy but its like once it is in writting they take you more seriously.

NOT CRAZY AT ALL. I WILL DO THAT AND IM TAKING A FRIEND OR TWO AS WELL.

Definitely take someone with you, preferably someone as familiar with what is happening to you as you are. It has worked for me in the past to have that person sit quietly for the most part, only asking questions when (s)he feels like I'm not quite "up to par". That person can also remember a lot more than you can.

I had to go in the hospital recently, and I was admitted through the er, although my doc called ahead. My husband was out of town, but on his way back, and I sent my little bro home with my daughter once they called me back. (I didn't want her there any longer than necessary, and he wouldn't have been much help anyway.) My friend decided,for reasons I still don't understand, to come straight to the hospital from work. She arrived 5 minutes before the doc came in. This doc was nutso at first, asking why in the world I was there, etc. I got very upset, because I was so ill. She finally agreed to admit me just for observation for 23 hours (my doc said she must have been having a bad day or something, because the whole thing was just bizarre!). My friend stepped in and said, "I'm just wondering, her medications were switched three days before these symptoms started. Could that be the cause?" I had been told no to this question by so many specialists, I'm not sure I would have ever asked. But that doc stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, closed the door, and started over with me. She turned out to be the best doc ever, and I was in the hospital for 5 days. She was aggressive in her treatment, etc.

Long story to show you what having someone there can do for you. Plus, my husband arrived about 3 minutes after the doc left, so my friend was able to fill him in completely, including how "witchy" she had been, which my hubby would never have believed coming from me. I'm sensitive to that kind of thing anyway, especially when ill. So her info for him helped him know how to deal with that doc in the coming days (although she came in the next day as my biggest supporter.)

I'm not sure I would have ever thought to ask that question after having been told no so many times. My friend may very well have saved my life.

(I've also taken my hubby or a friend to almost all my appointments, but that's my "dramatic" story!)

I also still had my typed notes from my doc's visit, so when I went to read them to the er folks, they decided they just wanted a copy for my chart.

If you have pretty extensive notes, make a copy for the doc, so (s)he can listen more and write less. (I had to start doing this with my endocrinologist, because he liked to try to "read ahead" by reading my notes upside down!)

You might consider asking your Doc to test your for HPylori bacteria. You would be surprised at how easy it is to get, but it can be cured/treated with antibiotics and pepto bismol of all things. The bad thing is that once tested positive you will always test positive, at least for now until they decide to make an effort and find a better way to test. I lost 4 pounds after treatment because of the bloating and gas. I still have flare ups if I don't watch what I eat. Tip: If you buy a bagged salad it won't hurt to rinse it in a collander. Hope yu feel better soon!

Regardless of the cause, I know you want relief! I too had extreme gas, pain, bloating, nausea, diarrhea. Mine was caused by IBS and lactose intolerance, as a result of gastric bypass surgery. What works for me (after trying many, many things) is a med called Methscopolamine Bromide, and occasional Maalox extra strength (have to take several) for flare-ups. Good luck!

I know what you are going through. I have struggled with chronic gas for over 20 years. I have had to spend a lot of time in the house, too. I have been to several GI doctors and other specialists. Nothing they have ever given me has helped. I have been told that I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Celiac disease, GERD, anxiety and depression (among other things). I have pretty much had to go it alone when it comes to my health care. You need to be your own advocate. Don't let anyone tell you that you are crazy. Your symptoms are real, and unfortunately--you will probably have to figure this out for yourself.

Some things that have helped me are the following:

*Keep a food diary. Eliminate one food at a time from your diet until you figure out the foods that trigger your gas. It may be more than one. Some common allergens are wheat, dairy, soy and corn. I am lactose intolerant and do not eat any dairy. I am also gluten intolerant and have eliminated wheat from my diet. It has helped me tremendously. Wheat is in pretty much every prepacked food out there--so you really have to read labels. I also cannot eat certain fruits and vegetables. I absolutely cannot eat even normal amounts of apples, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccholi. I can eat very small amounts of these foods when they are cooked very well and when I use digestive enzymes with my meal.
* Check out the science of food combining. There are certain foods that you should never eat together, such as proteins and starches. Also you should never eat fruit at the same time that you eat other foods. Always eat fruit by itself.
*Try to avoid soda pop, coffee, anything with carbonation and caffeine as these are triggers.
*Try to eat organic, unprocessed, and whole foods only: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat (not related to wheat), amaranth, millet, etc., use rice, soy or almond milk, eat lots of low fat fish and poultry. Try to avoid eating red meat, especially fatty cuts as these can be triggers. Whatever you do, don't eat fast food, candy bars, chips, cookies, etc. If you must eat junk food occasionally, then go to a health food store and try to find some gluten free, dairy free, organic substitutes. If you must eat at a fast food restaurant, then eat something like a salad, plain baked potato, skinless chicken breast, etc. Drink water or tea with your meal. When you go out with friends, eat very little beforehand or while you are out. Eat rice, plain baked chicken breast or fish with no oil or very little oil.
*Eat very small meals every 3-4 hours. Take snacks with you in your purse that you know will not cause you problems. If you are invited to someone's house, don't let someone pressure you to eat something you cannot eat. Bring a dish to pass that you know you can eat.
*Take digestive enzymes with your meals, drink very little while you eat, use dairy free probiotics every day, take vitamin supplements, take a tablespoon of flax seed oil every day. If you can tolerate it, take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water every day.
*Drink peppermint, fennel or ginger tea to help eliviate gas and/or take supplement capsules.
*Occasional use of charcoal tablets and products like Gas-X will not hurt you. Just be careful not to take antacids like Maalox--as these can actually make symptoms worse.
*If you have problems with constipation (which can cause gas), try taking some acacia fiber every day. Don't use commercial fiber supplements as they can cause chocking or produce even more gas.
*Exercise a lot. Exercise relieves gas pressure and gets your bowels moving.
I hope this advice has helped. It has take me over 20 years to figure out all this on my own--mostly through extensive reading and personal experience. I still struggle somewhat with gas, but IT IS NOWWHERE NEAR AS Bad As BEFORE! I can acutally have a life now! Good luck.

Wow yes yes yes everything starfish said.

Although i never make it three to four hours for meals. I tend to eat something every two hours.

Dear Mag Princess, Thank you for sharing your story, it kind of hit home with me. In June of last year I needed to undergo Open Heart Surgergy, now I am donig better, but now I have other health problems besides al the one I have before the heart. After reading your piece< to have been told by the dr. that I have IBS and he recommended Align also. He also told me to exercise daily, put more fiber in my diet, watch my weight, and to try to destress myself.
If you know of any other things that work for you, Please let me know.
thank you and have a blessed day
cane1

Has anyone ever been tested for a parasite in the intestines?! I use to experience bad gas which eventually led to not having much gas besides burps and severe nausea...Everyone thinks its all in my head, but I don't want to believe that.

So keep fighting. I have to go against my family whom says don't go to the doctor its a waste of money...

Hi vanglin, If you havent done so already...scroll down to Starfish96 and absolutely give everything he/she said a try. I agee 100% with that post and it is the best advise you will get. If this is a chronic problem that is progressing over years I would bet it is somehow food related.
First thing to do...Think about getting a colon cleanse. I suffered with severe abdominal cramping and pain for over a year...back and forth to the doctor, several tests done with no definative answers. I finally took it into my own hands and did a lot of research and started with a simple colon cleanse. I used a very simple formula called 'The Original Colon Cleanse" made by HealthPlus. You can find it in your health food or vitamin store and the cost is under $15. It has 100% pure psyllium husk. Very simple. I must of had a blockage because after using this product for only 2 days I was feeling sooo much better. The severe pain was gone. It's worth a shot, nothing to lose.
Next...Start out by staying away from all bread, bakery and pasta products for 2 weeks. If you have a problem with wheat or gluten you should see a difference within the first week. If no change then take all dairy products out for at least 2 weeks. Still no change...go back to the doctor. In the mean time research the symptoms of gluten and/or wheat intolerance. I had every single symptom on the list and NONE of the doctors ever even suggested that this might be my problem! Sad.
I truly hope you find your answer. Good luck.