I have hypo motility and suffer from constipation. Over the last few weeks I've had a huge swollen bloated tummy...........

[wartsandall]

Does anyone have any tips or ideas to help with these symptoms....... I'm so fed up,... in the morning my tummy is soft and flat....... until I have a cup of tea and breakfast, then end up looking like I'm 6 months pregnant. My weight is stable, but my coat won;t fasten up,,,,I'm desperate to get to normal.....any suggestions please x

[Hidden]

I have had this problem too. After staying with vegetarians for a few weeks, I decided to try cutting milk out of my tea, substituting it for soya milk. The bloated feeling/pregnant looking me has been resolved! I don't feel so sluggish, my eczema is better too, and my digestive system feels less strained. I plan on getting tested for lactose intolerance.

[lilbit]

Please get this checked out. I have diffuse scleroderma. Had been trying to deal with bloating, constipation and diaorrhia for months. Am now very slowly recovering from a bowel resection and complication. Scleroderma had tightened the end if my colon so much that nothing was passing through. Thanks to St Richards hospital in Chichester.

[sylviagreenhalgh]

I have had bloating, constipation and look about 9 months pregnant and my son gets married next year and I think I will need to wear a tent. I was referred to the bowel clinic and the registrar told me I should not be there as there was nothing wrong with me but a scan showed there is a blockage and I am going in for a flexible sigmoidoscopy today. when I told the registrar I had mixed connective tissue disease, raynauds, sjogrens etc he just laughed and said he had never heard of it. How do we make medics who aren't rheumatoogists understand about mixed connective tissue disease. In my case the fatigue is te worst symptom as I used to be very active but now am very limited in what I can do, but the bloating is very uncomfortable. I was intersted to hear about the bowel resection you had and hope all goes well in the future for us all

[zenabb in reply to sylviagreenhalgh]

You need to be referred to a rheumatologist who may refer to a specialist who knows what she/he is talking about.

You don't say what kind of systemic sclerosis you have.

[wartsandall in reply to zenabb]

Hi Zenabb, I have CREST..... I feel so full up today, I have only eaten a light breakfast and had a yogurt around 15.30pm. I am having terrible nocturnal reflux and vomitting, it's frightening when I aspirate and the bile burns into my airways. I have had a recent upper scope and a virtual CT of the colon. My gastroenterologist has arranged upper and lower manomometry tests. I am on maximum PPI's and domperidone. However, I feel so full and bloated, I think I'm going to pop....

[uknlv in reply to wartsandall]

Hi wartsandall, do you sleep sitting propped up? I have to sleep so that I am almost sitting up like in a chair otherwise I have the same issue. Another thing that helps me if I have had a bout of the vomitting is I drink a glass of milk, which helps coat my throat and aleveat the burning somewhat. And I have some hard candy by the bed to take to get rid of the taste. But if I sleep propped up enough I usually dont have the problem. Oh and I only drink water from 9pm on and this seems to help me a lot as well. Hope this helps as the aspirating is horrible, it scares me to death, and the pain in your throat is terrible!

[wartsandall in reply to uknlv]

Hi uknlv, thank you for suggesting the milk. I am having a small amount before I go to sleep and I've found that it does help. I try to sleep propped up, but wake several times during the night with an aching neck and shoulder..... I agree that the nocturnal reflux and vomiting is very frightening, a couple of weeks ago I vomited in my sleep and I aspirated..... the bile poured into my lungs causing me to strain so much that I coughed up fresh blood.... I felt dreadful all the following day, my husband bless him was so worried.....I have also cut my evening meal portion size and this is helping.... thank you again for your advice x

[daniella]

I have raynauds and have suffered with severe bloating and constipation for years. As I am unable to exercise like I used to, this can be a big factor. You should make sure you are tested for food allergies, thyroid, diabetes and vitamin deficiencies (B,D). I have been prescribed Laxido, this is a powder in which you add to water, half a sachet morning and night, this stops constipation in a more gentle way. I also have cut out any form of oily foods, wheat and milk and have kept eggs to eating only once a week. This all helps with the bloating, I too can look like I am pregnant when this bloating occurs, however by cutting out certain foods and eating little and often

does help. I have spoken to my doctor about this bloating etc, you have to go through a process of elimination, although I have considered that stomach problems could be linked to having an auto immune disease. I hope this helps and good luck.

[Kentish_Man]

Amongst other ailments I have Raynauds as well. I get the bloated stomach and have stopped taking milk, wheat, bread and eggs but no change. My stomach is very soft and part of the bloating can be put down to steroids and swollen intestines. Not sure what to do next to reduce my stomach size. I am not able to exercise and have reduced my overall food intake, so I guess that I will have to try the process of elimination advised by Daniella's doctor.

[zenabb in reply to Kentish_Man]

Are you constipated? if so you need to deal with that. I use many things.

[Kentish_Man]

I take Movicol (2 sachets daily) + I take Docusate Sodium tablets 4 times a day and that seems to keep me 'regular' except when I take Morphine as that has a tendency to 'bung you up' !!

[MInerva]

I have Raynaud's, Sjogren's, hypothyroidism and vasculitis. I suffer really badly with bloating and gurgling- the discomfort starts as soon as I have the 1st mouthful of food or a sip of drink. I have constipation but sometimes diarrhea. I don't seem to be intolerant to any food. I take Laxido/Loperamide depending what phase I'm in! I've tried Mebeverine for the bloating but it doesn't seem to help. My rheumatologist says it's caused by having too many auto- antibodies in the gut but can't come up with a solution. Seems like we'll just have to put up with it!

[Toniraquel]

Silica! That stuff has been my life saver! I have MCTD which includes Sclero and so forth. It has affected my bowels and throat terribly. I found silica while looking for a safe flea killer for my pets and the more I read about it, the more I was amazed. I ended up in the emergency room I don't know how many times because I had gone weeks without being able to go to the restroom. Laxatives only made my stomach hurt worse....it was a nightmare! Now I put one teaspoon of silica in my coffee every morning and I have no problems, and you don't get the cramps and so forth. It is also known to help ALOT with arthritis, muscle pain and the list goes on and on. Your hair grows faster and is shiny. Your nails grow better, your skin is brighter-but by far the best result has been being able to use the restroom!! I lost weight within the first week! No diahrea either. Here is a website that you can read on it. Make sure and read the comments people have left about this stuff-never one negative! All so positive! It's a must! earthworkshealth.com Wish you all the luck!

[stevieboy]

try oat milk and glutin free ceral

[marciaj]

I have Fibromyalgia and suffer from interrmitant constipation as well as Raynauds in my fingers.. I just started taking magnesium supplement (250-500 mgs) and in 2 days, I have regular/normal, easy bowel movements and the muscle pain in my body is reduced by 60%-70%. Another friend also tried it and has the same results for muscle pain and constipation. Good luck.

[wartsandall]

Hi marciaj, thank you for your advice. Do you buy the magnesium supplement over the counter or is it prescribed by your GP.