You Experience Stomach Pain And Bloating After Eating Certain Foods
Up to 70% of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome report that certain foods trigger their symptoms.
These intolerances are not allergies, and the triggering food doesnt cause measurable differences in digestion.
Some common ones include gas-producing FODMAPs, as well as lactose and gluten, but its unclear how these specific triggers actually do so.
One thing that helps is keeping a food journal. That way you can determine which foods are best for your IBS and digestion.
Since everyones body is different, their body will react differently to certain foods.
Keeping a food journal is a great way to determine what works best for you.
What Causes Sudden And Severe Abdominal Pain
Sudden and severe abdominal pain should never be ignored. Steadily worsening abdominal pain may also be a sign of a serious condition.
If you have these symptoms, go immediately to your nearest hospital emergency department or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance.
Some of the causes of serious abdominal pain include:
Ibs Pain Under The Ribs In The Left Side :
IBS pain occurring on the left side is more commonly present in the left lower part of your abdomen. Less commonly, IBS pain occurs under the ribs of your left side. This area overlies the stomach, spleen and the pancreas.
IBS pain in this area can be confused with:
- Functional dyspepsia: a sense of fullness and bloating for hours starting after meals. Unlike IBS, It is more like discomfort, not colics. Functional dyspepsia is associated with nausea and maybe vomiting.
- Pain from Gastritis or stomach ulcers:
- Pancreatitis: severe agonizing pain associated with vomiting. The most common causes of pancreatitis are obstruction of its duct by stone or tumor and alcoholism. The pain from pancreatitis usually becomes relieved when you lean forward.
IBS pain in the kidney areas :
IBS colics can occur all over your abdomen the kidney areas are not exceptions.
IBS pain in the kidney area can be confused with:
- Kidney stones: renal colic is different from IBS pain.
The renal colic resulting from a Kidney stone is:
- Colicy in nature but usually confined to the kidney area.
- Not related to meals.
Tags: Digestive Health & Disorders, Gastroenterology ,
The symptoms of IBS can be embarrassing, but you dont have to suffer in silence. IBS is more common than you think, especially in women under age 45. Up to one in five adults in the United States experiences irritable bowel syndrome at some point in their lives. Could you be one of them?
Don’t Miss: Can Ibgard Make Diarrhea Worse
What Can Someone Do If Their Ibs Is Causing Weight Gain
Since the bloat, pain, and discomfort are the main reasons why some people are disconnected from their body’s natural hunger cues leading to overeating, Wong said that learning to manage their IBS is the first step to stopping the weight gain.
Oftentimes, people are told to just live with their IBS, but in reality, there are effective treatments that can help you identify what is causing your IBS, and you can learn to manage it, she said. “It usually requires dietary and lifestyle changes, and sometimes working through the FODMAP protocol to identify personal food triggers,” Wong said.
Try this:
This isn’t something you have to deal with on your own! “If you suffer from IBS and are struggling with weight loss or weight gain, it’s always recommended to work with a dietitian who specializes in gut health to help you with weight management,” Wong said.
Why Are People With Ibs Often Bloated
People with IBS often report having a bloated stomach, especially in the evening. The situation might get quite extreme, requiring them to change into loose-fitting clothes to minimise the discomfort throughout the day.
Contrary to popular belief, the cause for IBS bloating does not necessarily seem to be excess wind, although the exact reason is not clear. The main one is believed to be erratic propulsion of contents through the bowel due to disorganised peristaltic contractions. The propulsion can cause sudden, explosive elimination of stools, or can delay any elimination, which results in bloating.
Problems with defecation may cause a sudden, explosive stool excretion or postpone the excretion of the content, which eventually results in bloating. The answer to the question whether IBS causes bloating is, unfortunately, yes. However, we can give you some tips on how to deal with this symptom more easily.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for IBS but bloating can be quite successfully managed or even prevented by avoiding common triggers and changing your diet.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Leaky Gut Fast
When To Seek Medical Help
Most abdominal bloating should resolve itself with time when the excess gases, liquids, or food can move through the stomach and intestines. However, if your abdominal bloating and shortness of breath last longer than a day, seek medical attention.
The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a primary care doctor.
Also seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms along with shortness of breath and abdominal bloating:
Medical treatments for abdominal bloating and shortness of breath will address the underlying condition. For example, over-the-counter medications may help resolve abdominal bloating. Bronchodilators can help to open the airways and improve breathing.
How Can I Best Take Care Of Myself If I Have Ibs
IBS will likely be with you for life. But it doesnt shorten your lifespan, and you wont need surgery to treat it. To feel your best, try to identify and avoid your triggers, including certain foods, medications and stressful situations. A dietitian can help you plan a nutritious diet around your specific needs. Talk to your healthcare provider if symptoms dont improve.
You May Like: Microbiome Pronounce
You May Like: Can Eggs Make You Constipated
Why Does Ibs Cause Bloating
The exact cause for bloating in IBS is not always clear. However there are some possible explanations.
If food arrives in the large intestine having been poorly digested, for example because of a food intolerance, naturally occurring bacteria in the large intestine begins a process called fermentation, which produces gas. Fermentation naturally occurs in the bowels as our diet contains certain indigestible elements known as dietary fibre. However, if food appears at the large intestine that should have been digested beforehand excess gas may be produced as a result. The bowel is likely to become irritated with the presence of excessive undigested food and populations of bacteria feasting on it.
Leading on from this, research has suggested that people suffering from IBS may actually have different populations of bacteria residing in their gut. The intestines, in particular the large intestine, contain thousands of different strains of bacteria which vary from person to person. It is possible that bad strains give rise to undesirable symptoms, a lot of which are associated with IBS, such as bloating and flatulence.
For severe or recurrent bloating please refer to your doctor as there may be a more serious reason for distension of the abdomen.
Kassinen, A. et al The fecal microbiota of irritable bowel syndrome patients differs significantly from that of healthy subjects. Gastroenterology 133:24-33
Bloating And Swelling Of The Stomach
Abdominal distension is a common complaint of IBS sufferers. Often describing a flat stomach in the morning which becomes more distended during the day, this may be linked to excessive abdominal gas.
Naimh suffered from IBS-related bloating and wasnt aware that food intolerance could be the cause of her problems. Following a yorktest she began to see improvements in the first week, It was almost immediate, after about 3-4 days I felt a huge difference. Bloating had gone down and I lost 5lbs in a week.For more advice on how to treat a bloated stomach .
You May Like: Why Does Peanut Butter Give Me Heartburn
Read Also: Does Anesthesia Make You Constipated
When To See A Doctor About Ibs Pain
If youâre experiencing any kind of pain associated with IBS, it may be a good idea to make an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss treatment options. Your doctor can ensure youâve received a correct IBS diagnosis, check that youâre using the right treatments, and help you identify any red flags that might indicate a condition other than IBS.Red flags of potentially serious conditions include:
- Rectal bleeding
- A family history of colon cancer
- Late-onset of IBS symptoms â
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Is Diagnosed Only After All Other Causes Of Your Symptoms Are Ruled Out Can A Swollen Belly Be Caused By Ibs
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, you may have noticed that your stomach is swelling or has become bloated.
IBS can be associated with bloating, and this may be related to slow bowel transit and possibly bacterial overgrowth, says John E. Pandolfino, MD, Director of the Esophageal Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology at Northwestern University.
The bacteria break down food and create gas which can distend the stomach.
To help remedy this problem, include live culture bacteria yogurt and/or kefir in your diet. The good bacteria will help balance out the bad bacteria in your intestines.
If you have not been diagnosed with IBS but have noticed that your stomach is looking a little swollen lately, dont automatically assume that this is new-onset IBS.
A swollen or bloated abdomen can have other causes.
Read Also: What To Give Infants For Constipation
What Is The Outlook For Genitourinary Prolapse
Left untreated, GU prolapse will usually gradually become worse. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes it can improve with no treatment. The outlook is best for younger women who are of a normal weight and are in good health. The outlook is worst for older women, those in poor physical health and those who are overweight. GU prolapse can return after an operation. About 29 in 100 women need another operation at some point. For 13 in 100 women this occurs within five years of the original operation.
What Causes Bloating In The Stomach
Gas
Gas is a natural byproduct of digestion, but too much intestinal gas means your digestion is gone awry. While you can ingest gasses by swallowing air or drinking carbonated beverages, these gasses mostly escape through belching before they reach your intestines. Gasses in your intestines are mostly produced by gut bacteria digesting carbohydrates, in a process called fermentation.
If theres too much fermentation going on, its because too many carbohydrates werent naturally absorbed earlier in the digestive process, before reaching those gut bacteria. That could be for several reasons. Maybe you just ate too much too fast for proper digestion. Or you might have a specific food intolerance or gastrointestinal disease. Some possible causes include:
Digestive Contents
These can include solids, liquids, and gas. Digestive contents can build up in your digestive system when there is a backup or restriction in your digestive tract or when the muscles that move digestive contents along are somehow impaired. Any build-up of digestive contents along the digestive tract will leave less room for normal amounts of gas to process through. It also leaves less room for other things in your abdomen, including circulatory fluids and fat, making everything feel tighter. Causes of build-up can include:
Hormones
Other Causes
Recommended Reading: What To Do For Severe Heartburn
How To Reduce Ibs Bloating Or Get Rid Of It
The nutrition with low FODMAP mentioned in the previous text can serve as good prevention for solving problems with IBS. However, if you would like to help yourself in some other ways whether by going easy on your digestion if you are expecting stressful events or by additionally decreasing discomfort follow the tips below.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
The patients with IBS who specifically complain of bloating have been reported to have increased gas production from bacterial fermentation caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . Pimentel and colleagues had established the concept that SIBO might be a major pathogenesis of IBS.44 Moreover, several studies found significant improvement of symptoms such as abdominal pain or bloating, when they were treated with antibiotics.44–46 These findings, however, have not been supported by other studies 47–49 they found mildly increased counts of small intestinal bacteria by culture to be more common in IBS, but the breath H2 concentration was not significantly different between IBS patients and controls.48 Also, there was no correlation between bacterial alteration and symptom pattern, and even lactulose breath test was considered as an unreliable method to detect an association between bacterial overgrowth and IBS.47,48 In another study, breath hydrogen concentration was similar in IBS group and control group, and did not correlate with pain ratings in IBS patients, owing to the lack of objective diagnostic measures and inconsistent data.51
It is unclear whether changes in small bowel bacterial flora could contribute to bloating in IBS patients, thus further studies are required to confirm these observations.
You May Like: How To Reduce Stomach Bloating
Working With A Doctor
It is important to speak openly and honestly with your physician to express a clear picture of your experiences and symptoms. FGIDs present special challenges when communicating, specifically because of their vague symptoms and sensitive subject matter.
There isnt a diagnostic test for bloating or distension however your doctor may run some tests to rule out underlying problems or associated disorders.
For more information about GI tests and how to prepare for them, see our website www.aboutGIMotility.org or see IFFGD publications #111 or #510.
What Can I Try At Home For Bloating
There are a few easy things you can try at home to keep the bloating in check:
- Chew your food: If your body is struggling to digest certain foods then help it out by consciously breaking down the food as much as possible. The larger the surface area of food fragments, the more likely it is to be effectively attacked by digestive enzymes. In your mouth there is an enzyme called salivary amylase which begins the breakdown of carbohydrates very early in the digestion process. Read our blog on the importance of chewing produced by our expert in digestion
- Keep a food diary: If you feel that eating certain food groups leads to digestive issues, write these down. You can slowly start cutting out and reintroducing foods groups one at a time to try and determine where the problem lies. In addition to this, try to cut out any obvious foods or drink that add gas directly, such as fizzy drinks
- Exercise: Exercising gets your blood and muscles pumping and with any luck, allowing any trapped gas to become dislodged. It also encourages more rhythmic contractions of the intestines allowing for some regularity to return.
Also Check: Is Magnesium Good For Ibs
When Should You See A Doctor
If you suspect you have IBS, cramps, constipation or diarrhea, and bloating are some of the main symptoms to look out for. If bloating and other IBS symptoms are getting in the way of you living a productive and happy life, it’s time to see your general practitioner. They may be able to determine the cause of your bloating and rule out any other issues.
There are a number of other serious conditions that can cause bloating. If you have any other symptoms, especially blood in the stool, history of gastrointestinal cancer, fever, or constant feelings of fullness, seek medical attention immediately.
Your doctor is the only one who can diagnose you with IBS and can also suggest different treatments that might work for you. In addition, they may suggest that you visit a specialist like a gastroenterologist or a nutritionist, who may be able to offer more specialized treatments or diet plans.
IBS is known for causing flare-ups, which are periods when symptoms worsen. If you experience frequent flare-ups, it may begin to affect your relationships, your performance at work or school, and your general enjoyment of life. It’s important that you seek help from a doctor in order to learn how to best manage your symptoms.
Many people with IBS are able to find relief from their symptoms when they learn about what triggers flare-ups. Your doctor can help you uncover your triggers so you can avoid flare-ups and related symptoms like bloating.
Other Causes Of A Growing Belly
Did you take a home pregnancy test? All it takes is one intimate episode, even if both you and your partner were on birth control.
The only 100 percent effective birth control is abstinence. Plus, a home pregnancy test can yield a false negative.
You may also simply be gaining excess fat.
If you have an official irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis and are noticing a new swelling or bloating in your abdomen, dont make assumptions. See your doctor.
Dr. Pandolfinos practice covers a wide gamut of GI disorders including GERD, Barretts esophagus, benign and malignant tumors, swallowing disorders and esophageal disorders.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Read Also: Is Ice Cream Good For Constipation
How Can My Doctor Help
If home and herbal remedies fail to give you the help you need, a trip to your doctor may be required.
There are other causes of recurring stomach pain so it is always best to get your symptoms checked out. Medication for indigestion such as antacids, H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors may be prescribed if indigestion is the main issue.
Please be aware of any side effects on these medicines read our blog Hard to Stomach to find out more. Anti-spasmodics, anti-diarrhoeal or laxatives may also be needed depending on the IBS symptoms experienced.