Severe gas and bloating--tummy ache

Hi KS,

my first thought was SIBO.

are you truly having a stomach ache? Or are the cramps pouch related.

with the gasx, pepto, etc any relief from the gas?

I take levsin, similar to bentyl, when I have irritable pouch syndrome and it works to shut down cramps for a while; but for me it won’t help a true stomach ache.

Have you changed your diet to a more tolerable easy going lite diet for the time being? I also wonder if this is upper GI related.

Since  we are not medical professionals here I am guessing somewhat since I have not had the exact symptoms you are describing. I have had similar so I can relate, but it might be wise to reach out to your GI and run this all by them.

Hello,

I have had pouchitis and bacteria infections that have caused the symptoms you mention.

I was prescribed antibiotics - Cipro sometimes together with flagyl over the course of a specific period and that always helped me.

As always, it is best to check with a doctor.

Good luck!

Solomin

KS I suggest doing what Solomin said, or seeing a doctor anyway. If it is pouchitis the longer left the harder to deal with.

For me, whenever I had persistent painful gas, it always was pouchitis or bacterial overgrowth. Antibiotics worked wonders, but I became dependent on them with chronic pouchitis. Starting Remicade infusions took care of it and I have been in remission for at least 5 years.

Bottom line, a trial of antibiotics is a good start.

Jan

Thank you so much folks. They have tested me for pouchitis and its come back negative. My main thing is currently, I have eliminated Milk and most milk products except yogurt. But it doesnt matter--no matter what I eat, the gas is there and its progressively getting worse every week.

Yes gasX and pepto bismal help big time. My gastro says I have IBS and minor inflammation of pouch thats normal at this stage of my pouch (13 years since my surgery).

I would also guess SIBO and / or a partial blockage. You give us little details. Has your digestion / number and quality of BM changed? Was your test for pouchitis just labs (CRP) or a scope?

In case of SIBO antibiotics may help, as others already suggested.

Btw. how was the outcome of your similar post in Jan. 2020?

1. Got complete pouchscopy a month and half ago (if thats the right word), but colonoscopy of pouch. result was all looks good. minor inflammation which is normal.

2. Jan 2020: I started 'IBS clear', along with minor changes like having ginger juice with lemon before meals and it helped immensely. But them symptoms started coming back and this time, its only getting worse.

3. New symptom is tummy ache and cramps in the early morning, which wakes me up from sleep. Am at wits end. Diet hasnt done much. Am a vegetarian and rely on lentils for protein (if am avoiding dairy). Its getting harder and harder on what can I eat and what i cannot

Have you already tried some days on fluids only? There are full caloric drinks with all essential nutrients which can help to get along without food for some time. If a partial obstruction would be causing your symptoms, then such a diet should help to clear it up and reduce cramping and gas.

I'm sorry I have no idea what this could be other than gas that isn't getting out. I say this because I get really bad upper abdominal pain from gas that can't put. I have started using a heating pad and laying on my side. The gas is released and the pain goes away. Maybe it's worth a try since you have been tested for sibo and scoped. It's worded for me.

Aimee

Have you tried Beano? If I ate lots of lentils or beans I’d be pretty darn gassy.

Thanks Aimee, Yes, the lying down, yoga and excercise in general helps in passing gas out. I do get relief once gas is out, but its short lived.

@SteveG what caloric drinks are you talking about? I am not aware of any that I could use without having digestive issues . Please let me know and happy to try those.

Thanks much!

Kanaka

I thought of meal replacements like Ensure or Boost. Here in Germany I always used to have Fresubin Energy Drink (the high caloric version, the high protein drink was not the right thing for me). Such drinks did not help me to gain weight when I had them additionally to food. But when I stayed off solid food for some days I could at least keep my weight that way. I drink that kind of stuff very slowly, about 15 min. for a small bottle. About 5 or 6 bottles a day when I don't eat. Doing so I have no digestive issues.

Thanks Steve. Let me check.
Does colon cleanse/bowel cleanse thing work for us since we dont have colon?