What Is Going On When Your Stomach Bloats?

[srfjeld]

I found out I was intolerant to gluten at the end of April and I'm pretty sure I'm Celiac (waiting on test to come back). I did a great job of transitioning to an all gluten-free diet and had immediate positive results. I'm a teacher and this diet was easy to stick to while I was doing my regular work schedule. Once summer hit, however... I had no schedule, I was sleeping late, not eating 3 square meals, and I began eating out more and more, rather than diligently preparing my own foods... always ordering gluten-free options but somewhere along the line I got glutened... and I think it was over a steady period of time. Yesterday, my gut just couldn't take it anymore. I had the full-on distended hard belly that I was formerly accustomed to, I've been gaining weight like crazy, been exhausted, and depressed. (I should mention I was also trying to do a Candida diet but I was over-indulging in sugar as well)

So, I know what to do to get back on the right track but my question is this... what exactly is happening in my belly to make my stomach protrude so much... and why is it hard? It's not gas. Are my intestines swollen or something? It's the strangest thing! When I was making my own food I couldn't believe that I was able to eat and not get bloated beyond comfort... I just thought that was a part of growing older. But now that I know that it's not normal to feel that way.

Any ideas?

Thank you,

Stephanie

[Graci]

Good question! I've always wondered that... The bloating gets so bad it makes it impossible for me to continue to do whatever I was doing.

[Dancer9982]

I have the exact same problem!! It's so frustrating!

[lischro]

I wish I had the answer.... I have been having this for the last 2-3 years and have just started eating gluten free (jus 5 days so far)..... VERY curious! Anyone have the answer??

[K8ling]

I was told it is our intestines swelling but it wasn't from a doctor, it was from my bio teacher MiL...so take that with a grain of salt. My husband says it's a "poo baby" lol

[tandt]

I was just diagnosed not too long ago and i suffer from the bloating also but i was also dianosed with ulsertive colitis and was told to take lialda for the swelling. It come and goes. very frusterating that i dont know if its a glutening or bad food for the other. Ha guess im no help either but i hope someone can give insite. Pluss im a new user so i hope ive put this in the right spot.

[Aphreal]

Oh my gosh K8ling I am cracking up because that is what my husband calls it. Dorks.

I don't know either. I know it's not fecal matter because I will have already evacuated and still have the bloating. Sometimes I can't even fit my jeans.

[conniebky]

All I know is that I wake up every morning with a flat tummy and get in bed every night looking like I'm 4 months pregnant.

I don't know either what causes it. As soon as I come in from work, I take off my jeans that fit me that morning and put on my comfy britches.

It can't be from ingesting gluten throughout the day - who has an answer??

[Glamour]

I think gas, as well as slow digestion causes mine. Mine has improved since going gluten-free.

Some theories are candida, soy, diary, wheat as well as food allergies cause bloating.

[K8ling]

Poo baby FOR THE WIN!!

[lcarter]

Here's an article from a medical source on the subject of bloating. It sounds like no one knows for sure what causes it. Since celiac disease is an inflammatory disease, it must be an allergic swelling response. Before going gluten free, I have had to go to the ER because my intestines were almost swollen shut [which is a very serious medical situation]. I still experience mild bloating at times, but never again anything like before going gluten-free.

ARTICLE FOUND AT: Open Original Shared Link

Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2002 Nov;16(11):1867-76.

Review article: bloating in functional bowel disorders.

Zar S, Benson MJ, Kumar D.

OGEM Department, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Abstract

Bloating is a frequently reported symptom in functional bowel disorders. It usually occurs in combination with other symptoms, but may also occur in isolation. The severity of bloating tends to worsen during the course of the day and improves overnight. Although frequently considered to be a subjective phenomenon, recent studies have shown that bloating is associated with a measurable increase in abdominal girth. The pathophysiology of bloating remains elusive, but the evidence supports a sensorimotor dysfunction of the bowel. The possible mechanisms include abnormal gas trapping, fluid retention, food intolerance and altered gut microbial flora. Further studies are needed to define the sensorimotor abnormalities associated with bloating, which might be segmental and transient rather than generalized and persistent. The lack of understanding of this symptom is paralleled by a limited availability of therapeutic options. Conventional medications used in functional bowel disorders are not helpful and may indeed worsen the symptoms. In future, new drugs with activity against serotonin and kappa receptors, or novel approaches such as the use of exclusion diets, probiotics and hypnotherapy, may prove to be useful.

PMID: 12390095 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

[vbecton]

Poo baby FOR THE WIN!!

Pooh baby! I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. HI-LAR-I-OUS!

[vbecton]

All I know is that I wake up every morning with a flat tummy and get in bed every night looking like I'm 4 months pregnant.

I don't know either what causes it. As soon as I come in from work, I take off my jeans that fit me that morning and put on my comfy britches.

It can't be from ingesting gluten throughout the day - who has an answer??

You have just quoted my life to a tee! I wake up with a flat tummy and go to bed pregnant every night. If I'm out and about, I cannot wait to get home and get out of my clothes and put on my comfy clothes. Geez! So glad I'm not alone.

[ravenwoodglass]

I had a CT done at one time after a severe glutening that I didn't realize was a glutening. I hadn't been gluten-free for very long at the time. The only things they found were that my intestinal wall was thickened and of course I also had excess gas. For me soy and glutenings will give me what I call 'pencil' stools, very thin and narrow so in my own case I think it does have to do with actual swelling of my intestines. I usually get excess gas at the same time, about the only time I do get gas now. I sure do hate the 'step bubbles' when that happens. It can be really embarrassing when walking beside others as they really sneak up without warning.

[RiceGuy]

I do believe inflammation is at least a part of it. From my own experience, I'd guess poor digestion and leaky gut contribute to irritation of the digestive system.

I have noticed some improvement with supplements like magnesium, omega-3s, and possibly B vitamins. Magnesium can help improve blood flow, as well as reduce inflammation, among other things. The effect of the omega-3s is understandable, as they tend to down-regulate the immune system. As I understand it, inflammation is caused by an immune response (like the bump that develops after a mosquito sucks your blood). That's why omega-3s can be helpful to those with cardiovascular disease.

More recently, I've notice further reduction of the bloating from taking digestive enzymes. This would seem to support the premise that poor digestion is a factor.

[RiceGuy]

I forgot to mention curcumin, which is a primary component of the spice turmeric. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Turmeric is a popular spice in Indian cuisine, and is often one of the spices in curry powder.

I've found the capsules of curcumin extract to be very helpful for many things, bloating being one of them. I also use turmeric in various recipes, but I think it'd require quite a lot of it to have the same level of benefit that the capsules provide.

[jackay]

My stomach was flatter when I was consuming gluten. I lost close to 40 pounds and my stomach actually caved in. Right now it is filled out enough to look normal and I've gained back 5 lbs. Would love to stay at my current weight or gain just a few more lbs.

[kayo]

Poo baby and pencil stools are cracking me up!

I think inflammation is the swelling of the small intestine which is essentially a 22 foot long sponge.

My pooch didn't start to really deflate until I went on the FODMAP diet. It went down a bit when I went gluten-free but the real progress seems to be when I cut out the excess fructose and fructans.

[K8ling]

Poo baby and pencil stools are cracking me up!

I think inflammation is the swelling of the small intestine which is essentially a 22 foot long sponge.

My pooch didn't start to really deflate until I went on the FODMAP diet. It went down a bit when I went gluten-free but the real progress seems to be when I cut out the excess fructose and fructans.

I am FLAT as a BOARD as long as I stay away from gluten. If I get glutened I swell up reeeally bad. 22 feet of sponge is right! A few days later (and lots of poo's) I am back to flat, just...worn out lol.