Newest Threads

RoaringBrewer · 05-19-2008, 10:07 PM

Well, I've been to the doctor for this before, granted it was probably 1.5-2 years ago, and nothing seemed to get done, nor change since I had been there.

Basically, what this boils down to is that I have what seems like chronic "bloating" or abdominal discomfort when I eat. I will admit I don't eat the healthiest diet. I never eat salad for example. So, my diet is high in meats and carbs... I have started eating a serving of vegetable at most meals though. Peas, corn, carrots, etc. Also, being young and skinny, I eat my fair share of fats as well as it doesn't impact my wasteline (and I'm not disciplined enough to stop even though I realize I'm probably clogging arteries). It should be noted that malnutrition is a sign of celiac. For the record I am 26 years old on Monday and I am 5'6", 125lb normally, up to 130-135lb (fat and wet). Otherwise I feel very healthy, am pretty active, and only drink maybe 7-8 beers a week (keeping it beer related).

Anyway, I went to the doctor a couple years back and tried to explain this bloated feeling. This feeling of being filled up to my neck. Having constant gurgling in my esophogus, etc. Anyway, the doctor ran some tests (I drank milky substance and got X-rayed) and gave me some pills for acid reflux. My stomach appeared fine on X-ray and the pills have done nothing, so I've stopped taking them a year ago.

I should note that this is after eating "lightly" compared to most people. Today for breakfast I had some poptarts and milk. I had a 6" sub and some chips for lunch, with a soda. Now its dinner and I'm eating the other 6" of my sub (or trying). I am still bloated from lunch so eating the sub is slow going and I will be bloated until bedtime. Also, I can go all day without eating much and if I drink 3 beers or so, I get this same bloated feeling. It's good in a way b/c I'll never become an alcoholic, but sucks when you want more than 3 drinks in an evening... Anyway, I can't figure out if its the carbs that are causing me problems, carbonated beverages (soda for lunch), or food all together (with some underlying physical condition).

What I'm wondering is if I you can have a 'mild' case of celiac. Or whether this is a chronic case of IBS due to something else. Or what. I don't get so sick from carbs that I throw up or anything, just the bloated, gurgly feeling for sometimes 8 hours plus. If it's chronic irritable bowel syndrom (IBS) what can cause this? Do I have an esophigal deformation or something? I can't belch, but I have a kind of internal "belch" in my esophogus at all times I have this bloated feeling. My bowel movement is pretty normal (sorry guys trying to throw everything out there I can think of). Or what else could this be?

It's not had a huge impact on my life that I've noticed, so I've been letting it slid. I don't get sick often, I still go out to eat and eat the diet discussed above, the only problems are that I cannot possibly gain weight and I get a bloated feeling when I "overeat", even though I am eating like a "bird" compared to most.

Thoughts? Any doctors here? I know I should go back to the doctor and explain this all again and get more tests, so if that's your only advice offer it up and maybe that's the push it will take... He seems like "eveything's fine" the first time though, so who knows?!

In summary, symptoms = malnutrition (small and can't gain weight and can't eat much), constant bloating, constant acid reflux/gurgling in my esophogus... from either too much carbs or too much carbonated beverages or too much food for my stomach period?

**kornkob** · 05-19-2008, 10:19 PM

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb and say one thing very clearly:

You should not be asking a forum or the internet for a medical diagnosis. Go to the doctor and if he doesn't make you confident that he's found the problem demand a referral or get a new doctor.

That being said: some people don't eat much and are just fine. I know several folks who 'eat like a bird' and are healthy and normal.

Soulive · 05-19-2008, 10:26 PM

Go to the doctor and get that acid in check. You don't want it messing up your esophagus...

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=66318

RoaringBrewer · 05-19-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kornkob

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb and say one thing very clearly:

You should not be asking a forum or the internet for a medical diagnosis. Go to the doctor and if he doesn't make you confident that he's found the problem demand a referral or get a new doctor.

That being said: some people don't eat much and are just fine. I know several folks who 'eat like a bird' and are healthy and normal.

As I requested; push me to the doctor!

The not eating much isn't the issue though; it's not eating much and feeling like I've eaten a side of cow and its going to burst out my throat.

**olllllo** · 05-19-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kornkob

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb and say one thing very clearly:

You should not be asking a forum or the internet for a medical diagnosis. Go to the doctor and if he doesn't make you confident that he's found the problem demand a referral or get a new doctor.

That being said: some people don't eat much and are just fine. I know several folks who 'eat like a bird' and are healthy and normal.

I tend to agree with you, Jason, however, I think that some of these first had accounts *might* encourage others to take a hard look at what's going on in their lives and get things looked at.

RoaringBrewer · 05-19-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulive

Go to the doctor and get that acid in check. You don't want it messing up your esophagus...

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=66318

Thanks Soulive, good to read about someone with at least a related scenario. I tried doing prescription acid reflux meds (I think it was called renatodine or something - not sure what the brand name) for probably 6 months before and it didn't help at all. Possible I just need a better/different brand or medication though...

It's just really weird the way my esophogus gurgles all the time. Like I said, I cannot belch (aka its IMPOSSIBLE). Never have, not even when sick and throwing up by accident. But if I open my mouth and do a little breathing technique the internal gargle comes out as kind of a groany-type belch thing. It's just plain weird... wonder if my esoph isn't just messed up/disfigured or something. I know I had an uncle who had to get some "flapper" part of his esophogus fixed due to problems with AR.

RoaringBrewer · 05-19-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olllllo

I tend to agree with you, Jason, however, I think that some of these first had accounts *might* encourage others to take a hard look at what's going on in their lives and get things looked at.

Exactly, that's all I was looking for. I don't expect you guys to accurately diagnose me or fix me once I'm 'diagnosed'. Obviously you can't prescribe me meds or do surgery.

However, if someone has had a common ailment cured and I can take that info with to the doc, it might be helpful. Also, if someone says, "you have a possible stomach tumor", then I'm darn-well heading to the doc within the next week or two...

Could it be an ulcer?

Soulive · 05-19-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoaringBrewer

Thanks Soulive, good to read about someone with at least a related scenario. I tried doing prescription acid reflux meds (I think it was called renatodine or something - not sure what the brand name) for probably 6 months before and it didn't help at all. Possible I just need a better/different brand or medication though...

It's just really weird the way my esophogus gurgles all the time. Like I said, I cannot belch (aka its IMPOSSIBLE). Never have, not even when sick and throwing up by accident. But if I open my mouth and do a little breathing technique the internal gargle comes out as kind of a groany-type belch thing. It's just plain weird... wonder if my esoph isn't just messed up/disfigured or something. I know I had an uncle who had to get some "flapper" part of his esophogus fixed due to problems with AR.

Ask your doctor about having an endoscopy done and try some better meds for it. I recommend Nexium or Prevacid for reflux. The Prevacid is very good at controlling acid and the Nexium controls acid while also healing your esophagus. That "flapper" part of the esophagus is the part that is malfunctioning when you experience reflux. You may have something similar...good luck!

**Dr_Deathweed** · 05-19-2008, 11:11 PM

DISCLAIMER!!!! I do not wish to deliver a diagnosis or practice medicine in any way/shape/or form. I only wish to throw out my $0.02 for something that you may want to talk about with your M.D.

Ranitidine (or Zantec) is a H2 Histamine antagonist which pretty much means that it prevents histamine release in your stomach and prevents acid formation. The thing about this drug is it isn't an overnight cure, and it takes quite awhile before you start to see/feel a noticeable effect (like a month or more) If you stopped taking it after a week or two when you didn't notice any changes, you may have undone any good you might have been doing.

Personally, I am kinda iffy if this is acid reflux. Have you had any injuries or illnesses? Does anyone in your family have a similar problem? have you been taking any medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements? When you are talking about belching, can you not belch at all, it just feels "internal"? When you feel bloated, does it feel low, like in you guts, or higher, like in your stomach?

I agree with ask for an endoscopy, it may help rule out acid reflux. But if you want to do a quick and dirty not-really-reliable-but-may-work kinda test for acid reflux, just increase your water intake. The extra weight pulls down on your stomach and may help to close your lower esophageal sphincter.

A little fiber in your diet may not hurt as well

**Nurmey** · 05-19-2008, 11:35 PM

You can have "slight" celiacs in the form of gluten intolerance. Celiac can range from mild discomfort to OMG, I feel like I'm going to die. The biggest problem to gluten intolerance is that it is in so much of what we eat. It can be hidden in Ketchup, soy sauce, soups, gravies, and pretty much any type of box mixes in the grocery. The ONLY treatment is a gluten free diet.

If you want some reading material on celiacs go to www.celiaccentral.org

Now, get yourself to the doctor and figure out what's going on in there!