Stomach Issues - I Have a Very Angry Belly!

I would suggest a good probiotic supplement, and possibly some enzymes.
www.simplexityhealth.com is a good place to learn about these things
best of luck
L. Patalon

Dear A.,

Sounds to me like you have a whole lot going on, not the least is that your body is not functioning as designed. A lot of belly problems are really bowel problems in that the bowel doesn't function right so the belly gets back up. You may also be allergic to any number of things. That is the bad news.

Like the Geico commercial, there is good news. Dr. Merkle in Dayton is very good at helping people get their bodies back in balance. He does it by blood and other tests and will then make diet and supplement suggestions to help your body heal. It cost real $ and takes time but you need to do this for both you and your daughter - she needs a healthy mom.

You can catch Dr. Merkle on the radio (WHIO 1290/95.7) or on the net. His web site (www.3000health.com) has old radio shows that you can download and listen to via your IPod. Listening will give you a feel for how he works and what you might expect in terms of results. His office is ###-###-#### and he does everything by blood work and other tests so if you aren't in Dayton there is no need to make the trip.

God Bless,

S.

Dear A.,
Your post does not mention if you have already consulted with a doctor about this situation. As a single Mom, you are the #1 person in your daughter's life and you and your own health have to be a priority for the sake of both you and your daughter. Bloating can be an issue of IBS and a pro-biotic like Align may be all you need but Bloating could be a sign of ovarian cancer. This web page can not replace a professional opinion from a doc. Please don't downplay your symptoms but be on the safe side and find out from a good OB/GYN or an Internist. By taking a pro-active stance with your own health you are serving as a good role model for your daughter. Good Luck. L.

You may need more water. IT doesn't make sense about the bran and causing gassiness.
I would say you need to see a specialist. It may very well be something treatable, and then at least that problem would be solved, or you'd at least know what you are dealing with.

As far as your daughters dad, if he isn't paying support, why does he get her?? I know some parents who the judges say if they don't pay support they don't get visitation.

Have you tried any probiotics to balance your body's digestive pH? The swings from constipation to diarrhea could be that you just don't have enough good bacteria in your digestive tract to properly process what you are eating. I would suggest trying either of the following products to help settle down your angry belly: Isotonix Digestive Enzymes w/ Probiotics or Ultimate Aloe.

Hi A., I too have IBS and I have found if I eat Yogurt it seems to settle down. When I do have an attack it is really bad. I don't know how you can go only once a week though, I don't think that would be good for you either. For me the yogurt helps to regulate me. I also went to a health food store and got some liquid that helped a great deal, you might want to try going there. I can't remember the name of the (2) bottles and it is a bit pricy but worth every penny of it. Good luck

Hi A.! Sorry about your tummy troubles. Several of my family and friends, some of who had been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), have found success with Arbonne's COlon Cleanse. It is an herbal supplement which also has the probiotics you need for a healthy colon. I think it retails for abut $18 a bottle. I am happy to send you a few days supply to test out if you are interested...just let me know. Good luck in finding a healthy solution!

L.

Is it wheat bran that you are eating? If so, you may have a sensitivity to gluten. Gluten can cause a lot of stomach and intestinal problems if you are sensitive to it. Try taking wheat out of your diet for a while.

When I was 20 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC). I was told that I would be on presciption meds (lots of them) for the rest of my life. And had a relatively healthy diet with plenty of fiber. But my symptoms were like yours, but worse. I won't go into the details. After several years of the medication and all the terrible side affects I desperately looked for an alternative. It has been five years this month that I have been off the prescriptions and healthy. I did a couple of things, but the key was optiflora. It is not found in stores, and I ended up becoming a distributor because of the great changes it did for me. I can tell you more about it if you like. I also made some dietary changes. When I changed my diet alone it did not work, it was only after adding the supplements did I get results. But I would suggest eliminating dairy from your diet for a while and see what happens. Perhaps gluten as well. But the gluten free diet is not easy, so I personally would try no dairy and the supplements first. The supplements are also very reasonably priced. There are also some household chemicals known to disrupt the digestive system. I will be lecturing on it on April 21st, if anyone is interested. It is free. I am talking about toxins for Earth Day.
Hope this helps, I know this can be painful and embarassing. Trust me I know. You may want to be checked for Chrons, UC, or IBS. It took about 2 years and 2 colonoscopies until a doctor finally properly diagnosed me. It was a very emotional ride, but I am happy that I can help others, sometimes you just need to talk to someone about what is going on in your body.

I had the same issues when I added more fiber to my diet.. those same gurgling noises and tummy pain.

hope your feeling better soon

Hey A.,

Check out www.greattastenopain.com . My sister is having great success with it.

Blessings!
T.

I think I would suggest seeing a doctor. It could be that you have IBS or something else wrong. It could also be your body adjusting to the bran. Personally..I would call the doc and see what he/she says. There are lots of different medicines out there than can help. My dd has lots of tummy issues and we put her on Miralax and it's done wonders! If you don't want to see the doc, you could also try that Activia yogurt. Or maybe just adding more fiber to your diet. But, I would talk to the doc first.

Hi A.,

I too have had stomach issues with an increase of fiber. I started eating Fiber One bars a couple of months ago and had to stop due to gas and fullness of the stomach. Later I read that fiber should be introduced slowly into the diet. I also take gas X to decrease the symptoms of the increased fiber. This seems to help alot!!

I agree with Debrah R. You sound exactly like me before I found out I was gluten intolerant! It's best to do an elimination diet. Message me privately if you want to know more. :)

M. W.

I think someone else mentioned this but the yogurt that is supposed to regulate your digestive system like DanActive(sp) or something like that might help. Or even regular yogurt because of the active cultures that are in yogurt are supposed to help with digestion.

Deb has come very good advice for you. I would also recommend that you visit an Integrative M.D. for a consultation about your diet and any supplements that might be beneficial. Your doctor would want to test you for Celiac's, which would account for your intolerance of grains.

I do not have Celiac's, but my integrative M.D. put me on a wonderful diet that limits grains to oats only, and I feel fantastic. There are other things about this diet that make it work well (not just "avoid grains). She recommends this healthful diet to all of her patients, and it has worked for every one of them who has stayed with it and followed it honestly and to the letter. We (her patients) soon learn that if we cheat, we're only cheating ourselves.

See if you can find an Integrative M.D. in your area. That is a traditional Medical Doctor who balances treatment between traditional and Naturopathic Medicine (like Dr, Andrew Weil, to name a famous Integrative Doc).

There are too many things that can cause your symptoms. IF you eating more bran are you drinking enough water? I would try doubling the amount of water you are drinking now and see what happens. Are you doing any exercises? SOunds like you have a lot stress. Stress takes a toll on the body. Try walking 30 minutes every night after work with your child. Helps with guilt, gives you time with your child and helps your health. Good luck.

You should first see your doctor. You could have irritable bowel syndrome or some other medical problem. Fiber is neccesary in our diet and most americans do not get enough. You should, probably icrease your intake slowly to lessen the gassiness and bloating. You should look at the amount of fiber on the nutrtion panel and eventually aim for 25-30 grams daily. Milled flax seed is a wonderful healthy choice to add to your diet to increase fiber and omega oils. You can add it to cereal or meat loaf or whatever you like. Good luck

If you have NOT been eating adequate amounts of fiber over the years, your body has adjusted to not having it. When this happens, whether via All Bran or vegetables, gas is more often than NOT, the result. However, there seems to be a transition period. Just like getting used to bad things in your diet.....junk food, too much white flour, etc. it will adjust to the good stuff. The body KNOWS what it needs.

In the meantime, I would CONTINUE to work on adding MORE fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you have to cook or steam them, that should cut down on the gas because the cooking destroys some of the enzymes.

There is a disorder called MALABSORPTION SYNDROME which occurs when there has been a poor diet for an extended period of time. When someone adds good foods to the diet, the result is bloating, gas and diaharrea. HOWEVER, when continuing to keep good food in the diet, it DOES go away.

I've worked w/ clients who've had this and they have turned around their eating habits, energy levels, and bathroom habits.

You might also consider taking some PROBIOTICS with your meals to help, as well. I actually eat a healthy chocolate w/ probiotics sometimes. I don't necessarily have bowel issues, I just know the probiotics are a VERY good things for my body.

You MUST be consistent rather than have some fruits and/or vegetables here and there vs. once in a while. NOT hard, just need to change your thought process and shopping habits. NOT more expensive either if you look at the cost of pre-packaged food and all the preservatives, etc.

A., have you considered you might have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? I read that most people think IBS only caused diahrea but it also causes constipation and gas and bloating. Check with your doctor or try one of the over the counter IBS meds. Hope you feel better soon!

Have you tried probiotics? Go to a Whole Foods or other natural foods/vitamins store and as about what's best. They can make a huge difference in stomach and digestive issues.
Also, have you been tested for things like Crohns and IBS?

I have a friend who had your problem. What they found out was she had a kink in her colon. She had it fixed with surgery and was then ok. You might want to get it checked out.