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What is everyone doing about the bloating????

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Posted 5/1/2009 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
My stomach is bloated all the time and I am hardly ever hungry...  Ive tried everything, probotics, yogurt, digestive enzymes, you name it...  Does anyone else have this issue and if so, can you tell me what works?????  Thanks....
Posted 5/1/2009 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
I usually only have problems with bloating when I take Flagyl. Have you tried cutting out dairy for while to see if that helps? It's harder than you might think because they put dairy into so many things.
Posted 5/1/2009 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
I really am currently wearing a pair of shorts and a "belly holder in" made to keep everything in place. It's excercise wear, but I won't leave the house in them.... about 2 months ago, for about 3 weeks, I was actually able to wear my wedding rings.

In other words, I have no idea how to get rid of this.
Posted 5/2/2009 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
It happens because Lyme paralyzes the abdominal muscles. No matter how many sit-ups one does, how careful one is with diet, etc., if the bug has paralyzed the muscles, the gut will still stick out until the bug is gone. I'm not recommending that one ignore recommendations to eat healthy and exercise, because I believe these things help one overcome the Lyme bacteria, I'm just saying I don't think there's much that can be done about the abdominal distention until the Lyme bacteria are under control.
Posted 5/2/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)

Razzle, THANK YOU for this! I am still awaiting results from my Western Blot (so we already know how THAT will go, but for ins, I had to start w/ a PCP. At least he believes in chronic lyme), but a HUGE complaint of mine is my belly! btw, I'm female.  It was never flat (did have a 6 pack, back in the day....), but I only had a small bulge. SINCE the freaking tick bite, the fat on my belly and sides is growing and growing.  It looks exactly as you describe -- shot abdominal muscles. My thryoid is low, so I understand that is the reason I have put on weight and cannot seem to take it off, STILL, the flab on my belly, sides and lower back are so embarrassing -- they show thru my clothes. I am also bloated most of the time, and live in fear that something's gonna happen (gas!) at the worst time.  If this is another symptom of lyme, then that at least helps. (I did find 'increased girth' in some obscure foreign medical paper while searching online.)

Another question to which I have not been able to find the answer (unless it's deeper in here): Does EM ever occur in disseminated (sp?) or late stage lyme? For example, after 2 yrs?


Post Edited (LymeUnknown) : 5/2/2009 10:40:04 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/2/2009 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.thehumansideoflyme.net/viewarticle.php?aid=62 ~ a comprehensive overview of what Lyme can do to the GI tract. A quote from the above link:

"Another borrelial cause of massive increases in abdominal girth associated with "gasless" bloating may cause diagnostic confusion. Unrelated to gut symptoms from Lyme's disruption of the body's internal "wiring," Bb-inflicted polyradiculopathies of T7- 12 (nerve root inflammations) may result in paralysis of external abdominal muscles such as the rectus abdominus. This in turn can also lead to the appearance, not the reality, of extensive bloating. No exercise "crunches" will alleviate this distention even for a previously well-toned individual. Antibiotic treatment for borreliosis may resolve this symptom (45, 46)."

If there is gas with the abdominal distention, it is likely due to bacterial dysbiosis in the small intestine, probably caused by Lyme-related gastrointestinal dysmotility and/or antibiotics. Probiotics are necessary to remedy this issue.

I've read that the EM rash can pop up at any time during the course of Lyme Disease, and that when it does, it can occur in more than one spot (i.e., multiple bull's eyes at the same time). I don't remember where I read this, though...

Take care,
Posted 5/14/2009 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I had the same problem.  My stomach would be so distended by the end of the afternoon that I would unzip my pants on the ride home in my car.

I am not a heavy person.  I am 5"4 and weigh about 120 lbs.  I exercise daily.  I looked pregnant and was so incredibly uncomfortable. 

I had bloating, gas, stomach rumbling, etc.

It seemed like overnight my abdominal muscles quit on me and my midsection looks flabby.  I have not gained any weight so that is not the reason. 

I went for colon hydrotherapy cleansing and also did a parasitic cleanse, and a coffee enema ( not all at once, over a period of a few weeks).  It worked miracles.  I was also on azith and cefdinir at the same time. 

It is a relief to know that I am not alone in this.  Not that I want company........just makes you feel that you are not imagining these things.

On the down side, it is all coming back.   However, I did stop the abx so that may be the reason.

Posted 5/14/2009 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
There could be a lot of lyme related reasons for that. I had the same issues years ago when lyme caused pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. So in layman terms, my body couldn't digest food or absorb nutrients or calories from it. My issue was meat and vegetables. As crazy as it sounds, I had to quit eating meat and vegetables. I watched what I ate closely and paid attention to symptoms until I figured out a diet that worked. I walked around looking pregnant sometimes and I only weighed 98 lbs back then since I lost weight every time I ate until I found the diet that worked for me.

Diet is important though but it might not make it all go away.
Posted 5/14/2009 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
I also have the same problem. I look 9 months pregnant. I am not an obese person. I thought it was the antibiotics! I have given up as to how to solve this problem. Now I wear oversized clothes to cover it up. Thanks for the company in this. Blesssings
Posted 5/14/2009 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
so funny that this is being discussed because just yesterday evening, i had a woman approach me and tell me i am so incredibly lucky that i am one of those women who only gains abdominal weight when i'm pregnant and stays small everywhere else... when i told that i'm definitely not pregnant, she told me i need to see a doctor ASAP...
Posted 5/14/2009 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
maybe we should ware a sine aroud your necks saying we have lymes ask me about it, what it does to us, i whent from 118lbs to lets just more then i want to be.lol all in my tummy too. havent been able to put on jeins in over 2 yrs now. and yes i have even been told to park in the especent mothers space :(
Posted 5/15/2009 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Rottendog, your idea /your sentence put on a t- shirt saying "we have lyme ask me about it" that is it man- phantastic idea, really!! I love you all for your ideas !!!

Needless to say how much I learn every day when I read here! Yes, I had the plb (pregnant looking belly) also- and agree with Razzle that situps etc do not seem to help; good to know that it is b/c of the spirocete`s muscle attacks there.

AnneRoto- when reading about your counter-measures and that you did not do them all together I had to laugh so much!! And my whole healing clay mask in my face came down! I once was not as wise as you were and thought I could get rid of it (literally) with a mix of a huge bottle of plum juice, sourkraut juice and half a bottle of castor oil. It did not work the way I hoped but instead made my plb swell up to quadruplets size ...autsch!!

Take care all!! dorit
Posted 5/15/2009 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Dorit, Did you drink all that at one time? How did you not get sick?
RD, your T shirt idea is great!
I thought my belly was just from not being able to be as active, not to mention being 43.
Posted 5/15/2009 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Yes!! I did drink it all at one time as a mix!! I was really desperate, tried so many meds and stuff to make the bloating stop. It hurted! I started this one last attempt and hoped I could solve the problem with forcing it out. I think I was sick afterwards....
Posted 5/15/2009 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all.  I look "preggars" too.  One of my few remaining friends (a nurse) said "man Jennifer you are carrying all your weight in front."  Yeah I know, I used to have like a 6 pack stomach,

etc.

So I say screw it, let's all have a drink and just tell everyone we have a "Scotch pregnancy".

rolleyes   rolleyes rolleyes skull eyes eyes devil devil smhair devil devil eyes skull rolleyes rolleyes rolleyes

Posted 5/15/2009 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
hehe can my drink be mt.dew..lol i havent had a drink in over 2 yrs now, last time i drank 1 glass of wine with dinner i thought i was going to die from the extrem headache, thought something burst in my brain.

as for the t-shirt i would have 1 made for each day of the week if i culd afored it. and pass em out to everyone!!!    (hot pink with lime letters for me) hehe

best wishes for everyone for better health,
Posted 5/15/2009 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
Gallows humour. I can't seem to rise above it...... and I've been down here for a while now!
Posted 5/15/2009 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Razzle, I have no abdominal reflexes. Is this becuase the muscles are paralyzed? The left side of my stomache (the muscles) do not work with the right side. I have a hard time engaging the left abdominal muscles to flex and work.--- My old LLMD said that loss of abdominal reflexes is a sign of MS, in my case, LD. Could these muscles actualy be paralyzed???
Posted 5/15/2009 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
It could be due to the muscles being paralyzed. Remember also that Lyme can damage nerves, so it might be a combination of nerve malfunction and muscle paralysis.
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