My belly is constantly swollen/bloated. Very slim otherwise too.
You mention you take ACV. I have just started taking Aloe Vera Complex juice purchased from Holland & Barrett. It is an acquired taste. It does contain ACV, but I think it is not as sharp. It can be mixed with water. I am hoping it may help with my constipation also naturally without having to rely on medication all the time - watch this space! 🥴
Hashies? Do you mean Hashimoto's vasculitis? Just curious as I've got vasculitis too. I doubt that it has anything to do with bloating.
Since this is an IBS forum, how are your bowel movements? Do you take any laxatives? How about probiotics? Personally, I find I get bloated when I'm a bit (or more constipated).
If it's wind, I have a lot of luck with anything that has simethicone in it.
If your bowels are very sluggish, it could be contributing to the bloating since food is hanging around in your intestines for longer for bacteria to feed off, producing gases. Have you tried increasing your fibre intake to get things moving more?
By the way, if you are talking about apple cider vinegar and the bicarb test, I tried all of this myself and it's not really a true test. In fact, I was positive on the bicarb test, I took acid cider vinegar and it made my acid reflux worse.
Also here is some research I did on gas and bloating:
In studies, when healthy individuals are continuously fed gas into the intestines, they normally evacuate all gas without discomfort, passing more easily when a person is standing than laying down. They can tolerate 1.8 litres per hour and distension is related to the amount of gas within the gut. There is a better tolerance to gas when the gut is relaxed and if it is in the large bowel rather than the small bowel. (3)
Daily evacuation of gas in healthy people is around twenty times, depending on diet. Some foods are fermented in the large intestine producing gases, since they are not completely absorbed in the small intestine. This includes some dietary fibres, starches, complex carbohydrates such as beans and sorbitol and fructose sugars. Beans contain a compound that blocks the intestinal enzyme that helps to digest starches in the small intestine meaning more enters the large intestine thus increasing gas production through fermentation. (3)
Many IBS sufferers complain of excessive gas production, but studies have shown that the volume of gas produced by IBS sufferers is normal (1) (3) (7).
However, gas related pain and bloating in IBS sufferers may be connected to impaired transit of gas (3), resulting in gas retention and distension. However, a study using sophisticated measuring techniques didn’t find excessive retention of gas in IBS subjects (3). In contrast, the transit of solids and liquids didn’t experience significant abnormalities (3). IBS patients demonstrate symptoms such as intestinal gas retention, abdominal distension, and/or abdominal symptoms from an intolerance to intestinal gas loads that would normally be well tolerated by healthy subjects (1) (2) (3) (5) (6). Studies that involved the infusion of gas into the intestines of IBS patients showed impaired gas clearance due to abnormal gut reflexes which lead to delayed gas transit and retention (3).
It is often thought that gas is retained in the large intestine. However, a study of those complaining of bloating had the movement of infused gas tracked through different areas of the intestines using radioactive isotope. It was found that the small intestine was responsible for the impaired gas transit. Other studies found that gas infused into the first part of the small intestine, stayed there, since it was not propelled into further parts of the intestine. However when infused into more distant parts of the intestine, it cleared normally. This means that in IBS patients, the total volume of gas is not increased, but it tends to pool in specific areas resulting in a perception of distension and bloating due to IBS patients being hypersensitive (responsive to stimulation) to the presence of excess gas in these areas. Bloating relates to a feeling that can result from fullness after eating, constipation, functional dyspepsia or IBS (8). Whereas, distension relates to the increase in abdominal girth. Often this perception of distension evolves during the day and resolves overnight. Measuring techniques have found that this distension, that is a wider girth, is real and not just perceived. (3)
In healthy subjects, electromyography, which highlights electrical impulses in the muscles, has shown that there is abdominal muscle contraction in reaction to the volume of infused gas in specific areas, that is, the body adapts to the handling of the excess gas. However, in those complaining of bloating, this reflex contraction does not happen which leads to abdominal protrusion, even though there isn’t a true increase in the overall volume of gas. Subsequently, it is the abnormal control of abdominal muscles that causes the bloating and not necessarily gas in itself. (3)
The Rome Foundation explains the mechanics of bloating and distension (8):
Meals stretch the stomach or intestines causing the bloating sensation.
A brain reflex response to the sensation is to move the diaphragm down into the abdomen and relax the abdominal wall muscles.
Due to the increase in pressure, the abdominal cavity pushes out through the abdominal wall leading to distension (abdomino-phrenic dyssynergia).
Bloating and distension are independent. Some experience bloating and no distension and others have distension without a bloating sensation. The Rome Foundation may treat this with rebreathing techniques, central neuromodulators (drugs to reduce hypersensitivity improving brain regulation of the sensation to raise thresholds for bloating and pain), and less commonly biofeedback with esophageal probes. By treating the brain/gut communication bloating sensation may be reduced thus decreasing the possibility of distension occurring as a reflex to the bloating. (8)
10%-30% of healthy individuals experience bloating often, frequently or greater than 25% of the time meaning that bloating is not just limited to IBS sufferers. Some people who have gained weight might complain of bloating perhaps due to a reduction in volume into which abdominal contents can expand due to abdominal fat stores. As mentioned, weakness in abdominal muscles may also play a part. A third of patients complaining of bloating are unable to do one sit up. In addition to abdominal exercises, physical activity generally may help bloaters. (16) Theoretically, if part of the issue is connected with abnormalities in the gut/brain connection, gut directed hypnotherapy apps such as Nerva may help.
Wow that’s a lot of information, thank you 😊 My bowels aren’t great at the best of times and my transit time is pretty slow. I’ve found that when I increase my fibre with more fruit and veg it just makes me more gassy ! My diet isn’t too bad at all and some people have suggested things like wind-exe but I prefer to get to the root of the problem. I’ll read through all your information and see what sounds likely for me. I’m just starting to try aloe Vera so hopefully that might help. Thanks again.
I take Alflorex probiotic which has been scientifically studied for IBS. Since taking it I have become more tolerant to much more fibre. The Bifdobacterium strain in Alflorex helps to digest complex carbs (fibre) and also reduces gas producing bacteria in the intestines. Before Alflorex I was on a highly restrictive diet, with many whole foods causing me gas and pain. I now can eat a much wider range of foods including oat bran, All bran, wholemeal bread, buckwheat pasta, quinoa, and wholegrain spelt pasta, which would have been unheard of for me before. These have all helped with my IBS-C. I still have some food intolerances, but I can eat much more than before.
is it not insane how these genetically modified foods we consume cause digestive issues and then we use pharmaceutical/ over the counter meds to paint over the cracks.. good on you Baboon for trying to solve the issue with Aloe..my brother had natural aloe cut straight from a plant for 3 days and no food for 36 hours only water( while on holiday in a stress free environment) and it’s healed his stomach issues some 20 years ago …but my stomach has some serious healing to do, I find comfort from 36hr water fast, however a lot of fruits and vegs cause digestive gases, natural foods are not as once was .. gas wether through burping or flatulance is not healthy.. don’t take for gospel everything we read or are being told, treat your body as if you was caring for a infant strip back to basics stay away from processed and sugars for as long as possible and slowly introduce different food groups you will soon find what causes upset so long as you take your time, do some research and be mindful alot of mainstream studies are funded .. 🌷
So much information! We are all different and our bodies are dynamic, so ever changing. What helps one day may not help other times.I agree that us humans have lost our way with consuming so much processed food. In a way not really our fault, how powerful are big food companies now.
A simple exercise is, while showering just very gently massage your stomach in circles right to left. This will stimulate peristalsis. It was very interesting to read about stomach muscles.
I am gluten free and dairy free, following a blood test and after years of ibs, restrictive diets, FODMAPDIET etc.
Small meals generally help most people. Go for 12 hours, overnight without eating is also a simple way to rest the gut.
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