help re extreme bloat (photos): this isnt normal?

AMamaLana

Stalking thread
(Hi, new to the board.)

While I do not share your medical conditions, I experience some CRAZY bloat. Or, at least that's what I would describe it as. I do not yet have a clear answer as to when/why it happens.
I'm 5'1. This time last year I was 119-122 post children and weaning, but over the fall and winter I jumped to 147 and felt awful. I'm sitting at 132-134 at the time being and attempting to adopt some new weight loss methods
So this bloat thing. I am sure part of it looks worse than it is because my belly is SO stretched out from having kids that any bloat is easily noticeable. Sometimes it hurts or feels uncomfortable and sometimes it does not. My belly and even into my hips can swell the difference of two pants sizes or a shirt size. Think Mommy with a soft squishy not perfectly flat belly to 6 months pregnant all over again. I do tend to see as much as 5 pounds gained when this happens.

I *think* I can trace this to too much carbs or wheat stuffs. Still doing some trial and error and just decided to go very low carb in my diet anyway, so I shall see if this continuously improves. My diet has been low dairy for several years now, so not dairy for me. I eat the occasional serving of yogurt or cheese (few times a week?) plus a natural cow milk based creamer in my coffee (tablespoon?) We switched to almond milk 2 years ago.

uchube

Lana: If it helps, I haven't had dairy in quite a few months, maybe 2.5, and never cared for grains because of the severe reflux- and because of the LCHADD I've never even had an egg yolk. But they all came up in the intolerance test. Point is, I would get the testing carried out, it will save you a lot of work. I'm relieved now, and can have more of a balanced intake. It was becoming exhausted just trying to find out what the hell was causing my issues. I never would have assumed yeast or egg whites, for example.
It helps to have a definitive answer and that way, you don't have to cause yourself any more anxiety eliminating foods.

HeidiCooksSupper

Heidi, shame on you for taking such a sanctimonious attitude to a rare and complex disease.

You are right. I re-read my response and it was over the top. I over reacted and got on my high horse. I read some of the comments here and leapt to conclusions. I only spoke so strongly because I was worried based on my own assumptions. I hope you'll accept my apologies.

I do wish you the best and still recommend to anyone that they consult with their physicians before undertaking a special diet, especially if they have an underlying medical condition.'

Heidi

uchube

I accept, Heidi :flowerforyou:

Update: I went to the GP for help: he dismissed food intolerances as quackery, but upon seeing my bloat and acknowledging all the antibiotics and years spent on acid blockers and BCPs, said I ''may indeed have a candida problem and should certainly avoid dairy as many can't tolerate them'' (wait, what? you said it was quackery!), he said he wasn't educated enough to prescribe antifungals for the intestinal candida. He then charged me full for no help. Grr. He did say ''i am not poo-pooing this problem, let me know how you get on''. sigh.

I'm in the process of switching GPs to obtain a course of Diflucan or similar to treat what is becoming clear to me a serious dysbiosis/leaky gut problem. I have also ordered a three months supply of multi-billion probiotics, which I hope to combine with antifungals and avoiding the foods I've been flagged for.

Last night I took the one 150mg diflucan tablet in our house and made it through till dinner with NO bloat or reflux. Despite feeling exhausted, fluey and generally toxic, this was promising.
From all I've been reading, following a triadic protocol of low sugar, antifungals and probiotics, the symptoms that have made me so miserable and listless for the past 6 months should get better.

I will keep you all updated, and please do keep chiming in.

albayin

GP is GP...they might find the right directions for us but when it comes to treatment, we do need specialists...I do wish we had more like dr. House in every hospital.

Good luck~ I have learned a lot from this thread...

commoncents101

What is York Intolerance Testing (blood draw, etc...)? Did you just go to your regular doctor for that too?

BusyRaeNOTBusty

With all your medical issues I do not think the internet is the place to look for advice.

thedarkwombat

I don't think Heidi's response was THAT bad, come on.
I mean, you come on here and ask people for advice and help. She gave it. It might be right or wrong, but she gave her opinion.
I don't think it was "nasty, dogmatic ill-educated, rash, sanctimonious and shameful." I mean come on now. You basically bullied her into an apology because you overreacted in a thread you created to ask for help.

uchube

a new update: I have been following the low-carb diet that obviously eliminates further the yeast, dairy and eggs. Wasn't seeing a huge improvement except my IBS-C moved more to the IBS-D. i did some research into leaky gut and candida, and then made an appointment with a well-respected local GP/PCP who specialises in allergies, sensitivities, inflammation and so on. He diagnosed me with intestinal Candidiasis and I am beginning a course of Nystatin antifungal from next week. For the next few days I am taking a 200 billion probiotic multistrain powder once a day. I will update again in about 5 weeks after my first round of treatment and the follow-up appointment.

It has been a tremendous relief to find a doctor who knows his stuff.

WildCatClimbs

If it helps, I get way more bloated than that I literally look 7 months preggers and it can last for days.

These things trigger it for me:

Artificial sweeteners/sugar alcohols
Gluten
Dairy
HFCS
MSG(along with a lovely lovely migraine)
Corn
Soy
Legumes that aren't soaked


Truthfully MOST processed food makes me sick, which sucks when I do want a treat. I find that if I stick to mostly pastured meat and eggs, veggies, healthy fats(olive, avocado,coconut,grassfed butter), and some grains(rice and oats primarily) I feel fine. But god forbid I have an icecream cone...all hell breaks loose People can react to all kinds of different and unassuming stuff....it will probably take some trial and error and a lot of time. AND it seems like how the food was prepared/raised makes a difference to me, ie: all beef is not created equal kind of thing. BUT I also know I am a very sensitive individual, most people are not. Good Luck!

Mich4871

I get abnormal (and painful) bloating if I eat anything with corn or soy in it. I can look 6 months pregnant for a week or more before it subsides. Since being diligent about products with corn and soy in them I have not had this problem.

SLLRunner

I am lactose and soy intolerant. There are many lactose free foods available, and I can eat one brand of yogurt. I always read packages for milk and soy ingredients.

Lactose gives me a headache and intestinal problems, and soy kills my stomach and makes me feel very sick. I figured this all out by doing an elimination diet.

uchube

Thanks, I've been on a very low-sugar elimination diet including 1 month on fodmaps and never saw any improvement in the stomach issues. My diet has been green veg, oil, and protein via crab, prawns, chicken, turkey and tuna. I've just finished a 7 day course of high dose probiotics and am worse than ever! Starting Nystatin tomorrow; again, the only relief I've had was for three days following a single 150mg dose of diflucan. I hope it is Candidiasis, I've just about ruled out everything else

moldovitsa

Please keep us posted on our progress. Did the treatment work?

EverSinging

You said carb and sugar free foods? Does this mean you're consuming artifical sweeteners? I know many, many folks, including myself, who experience bloat after doing so. Something to consider.