Bloating with gas

[POZY]

I wanted to know if there is anything over the counter I can take for my bloating. It gets so bad I can't even button my pants sometimes. My doc does not even want me to take milk thistle. Anything would help!! I am on ursodal and I know not to take any antacids. Thank you for any help

[jdavies51]

The only OTC medication is for trapped wind that causes painful spasm. As you clearly have bloating the wind is to some extent trapped so the medication may be helpful providing there is no contraindication with your existing medicines.

I'm surprised your GP has not been forthcoming with advice but an excess of gas is basically caused by fermentation of digested food in the gut. We all manufacture about 2L a day. The classical culprits are beans, pulses, some medicines, sprouts and fruit if eaten after a meal but different foodstuffs effect different people so its very much a case of experimentation.

I listened to a radio 4 programme recently and this was discussed. The doctors theory was excess gas was caused by an imbalance of beneficial bacteria in the gut and that a course of probiotic drinks or yoghurt may be helpful. Hope you manage to resolve this soon.

[POZY in reply to jdavies51]

Thank you. I did stop my yogurts and started back on the bread. So yr right just experiment I guess. I'm in the middle of switching docs as well.

[Hidden]

Hello POZY.

I got bloating when I first started on urso Dec 2010 which lasted a few months and I didn't think that was very nice but for me mine dispersed.

I did get heartburn when I started on urso too, never had prior to urso and have had it since with tablet brand changes (I only take urso). I bought some calcium with vit d tablets cheaply as they seem to work for heartburn as had it of recently. Not sure if this would help for bloating at all.

This might sound drastic but have you thought of having a 'light day' with hardly any food (soft boiled egg would be good), drinking just water and seeing if that makes any difference?

The funny thing is that certain good for us foods as jdavies51 has stated too: ie pulses, fruit, etc can all cause wind in the gut. Even for someone not used to a high fibre diet can have temporary problems with bloating and wind.

Sorry I cannot be of much more help.

[POZY in reply to Hidden]

Thanks peridot. You are always so helpful. I did stop eating for a day or two once and it did go away. I love my fruit though. I thought maybe the use was doing it but now I'm thinking the bread.

[Hidden in reply to POZY]

Me too I love fruit and veg also. I have been stewing eating apples just to softness with a tablespoon of water, my thoughts here are that they are easier to digest. I did lose around half a stone before diagnosis and then did lose a bit more after. I put it down to itching at night and all the fidgeting about I do. I find I can't eat after the evening meal (might have a drink with a couple dry biscuits around 9p.m) and I probably do burn energy then. So I think that altho' a few apples stewed are more than likely higher in calories than the one apple, I can get away with it and in my mind probably far better than sweet biscuits or chocolate.

Gluten can be a bit tricky really. It's thought that it is actually wheat gluten that can be to blame and not gluten from oats and other cereals. My son a few years ago when he was in his earlier 20s started suffering from diarrhoea and after investigation it was deemed unexplainable but the consultant asked him to leave wheat gluten out awhile and then see him at a later date. The consultant did think the problem was brought on by over-use of antibiotics for a minor skin problem he kept having and it can affect the digestive system.

I started buying gluten-free self-raising flour and I still use it today. We have all got used to using it. My son did start to recover considerably and every now and then when he has a lapse (ie a pizza) he says he feels it somewhat later. He seems fine eating porridge that is just standard and not gluten-free (which is rather expensive) but I still try to accommodate him whilst he is still living at home. I prefer eating rye crispbread (UK Ryvita) as opposed to bread if I can. I don't eat much in the way of bread but I doubt with having it all my life I can totally quit.

I always think one of the best cereals to eat has to be rice. I remember back in the latter part of 1980s when I started weaning my first child, I was advised to start with rice as it was one of the most easily digested ones and easy on the system.

Please keep posting on how you are.

[dianemle]

Try Buscopan. It sounds like you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome commonly known as IBS. Antacids are OK to take. My gastro doc recommends Milk Thistle and antacids in moderation.

[Val02]

Try a probiotic drink daily - it has worked for me