Bloating and Snacking

[marthaalice]

After getting nowhere with my GP I have paid for four sessions with a nutritionist that specialises in gut health. My main problem is bloating, all day every day, I am on PPI’s as I have a Hiatus Hernia so think I probably have SIBO as this is common in people who take PPI’s. My GP had never heard of it but basically it’s an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, now to my point, because of the bloating I stopped eating proper meals as I didn’t want to overload my system, instead I was grazing throughout the day, an oatcake here, a piece of cheese there, etc etc, never sat down and ate properly as I thought my stomach couldn’t handle it. She has told me to STOP snacking as I am constantly feeding the bad bacteria little treats, especially if they are carbohydrates !!! I now have to eat small meals, several hours apart. It’s early days but I do think it is making a difference so thought I would share if anyone else does the snacking grazing thing. Ginger is also another of her big tips, it aids motility through the gut so food does not hang around and ferment. I am downing ginger tea all day long, previously I drank peppermint tea which had little effect on my bloating. I will continue to share any tips. She also has me taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water 10 mins before I eat and a ginger and artichoke tablet after I eat. Watch this space. I had no quality of life due to the bloating, sounds dramatic but I could never eat out or eat with my family and spent all day in a bloated uncomfortable mess. Like I said, early days and I am still fairly bloated and uncomfortable but just having someone listen to me and offer some help gives me a little bit of hope.

[bookeater]

Thanks for the information, my wardrobe is full of skirts I can no longer wear due to bloating so any positive information on how to deal with it is much appreciated. I wish there was a button to press to flatten my stomach area !

[marthaalice in reply to bookeater]

I feel your pain. All I wear is floaty dresses and tops !

[BlackIsleGirl]

This is a really interesting post. Thank you for sharing.

My first thought was that you need a new GP!

Strangly I've been using ginger tea and ginger tablets for over a year now as mint is too acidic for me and actually agrivates my issues, so it's really interesting to hear all this about it.

Hope things continue to improve for you.

[Edgar77 in reply to BlackIsleGirl]

I heard that new research shows that mint is of no help to IBS and can sometimes make it worse! Yet it seems that this info has not reached a lot of Docs who still prescribed peppermint oil ect ect. It sertainly made me worse.

[BlackIsleGirl in reply to Edgar77]

Now that's interesting! I've had several doctors (including a gastro consultant) advise mint and every time I try it I end up in agony. Anything that's highly acidic, like raw tomato or citrus, will irritate me and if you look up low acid diets mint is considered highly acidic.

I take a ginger table each morning and drink ginger tea when I have a flare up as that seems to work best.

[OSCARBOSCAR]

Thank you for the above, I found the same as you SIBO wasn't diagnosed via my GP, I had to pay private to get anywhere!! GP's advise little & often but it is the worst thing to do. During the SIBO & once it is rid of you need to fast inbetween meals & definately no snacking, not even a biscuit with a drink 😀. xxx

[marthaalice in reply to OSCARBOSCAR]

I am going down the private route as GP's just don't seem to have any understanding, have you got rid of your SIBO ? any top tips for doing so.

[OSCARBOSCAR in reply to marthaalice]

It did go after antibiotics but It has come back & I'm back on antibiotics!! After paying private & getting SIBO diagnosed my GP is now onboard. SIBO, in my opinion, is the result of something possibly not functioning as it should & need to find out what it is. It may not be possible but once I've finished this course of meds it's a question I will be asking my GP. Initially I was super poorly & lost 3 stone & 18 months of my life, until SIBO was diagnosed & treat. Fortunately a chap Stuart24 posted a thesis on the forum & it really really helped me - it was him that said about the fasting, no caffeine & dairy alternatives (I do still have some cheeses but not cream cheese) & no alcohol - I don't tolerate alcohol anyway so that bit was easy for me!! I also followed a low FODMAP diet for a while, slowly reintroducing foods to see what was tolerable - milk, chocolate, sugary sweets & cream/cream cheese are massive nono's for me. Hope this helps a little 😊PS you do need to get rid of the SIBO either by antibiotics or herbal method before you can move forward.

[marthaalice in reply to OSCARBOSCAR]

That’s really helpful. I am convinced I have SIBO caused by overuse of PPI’s, I had awful reflux, instead of getting to the route cause the GP kept putting me on higher and higher doses of PPI’s, eventually I had an endoscopy and a hiatus hernia was found. Now I have continual bloating and many other symptoms of SIBO. I have enlisted a private nutritionist who is helping me, but seems to want to sort out my gut motility before she sorts out the SIBO. I have cut out dairy and caffeine and alcohol. I have just emailed her about pushing forward with testing and trying to treat the SIBO. Thanks for your help.

[OSCARBOSCAR in reply to marthaalice]

Your'e very welcome & I hope you get sorted soon. 🤗

[OSCARBOSCAR]

PSS sorry me again - Marthaalice - regular exercise works amazingly for me & almost everyone else. 😀

[60spirit]

Take buscopan for yourbloating

[marthaalice in reply to 60spirit]

I have tried it doesn’t work. Thanks for the suggestion tho x