stomach feels like a balloon has been placed inside

That doctor who told you gastritis has nothing to do with food allergies is full of hogwash.

Food allergies can cause gastritis, and gastritis can make food allergies worse or even lead to more food allergies (because food can leak through the inflammation into the bloodstream, increasing the chances of developing antibodies to the food).

Are you taking a high quality probiotic? If not, it would be a good idea because one side-effect of inflammation and reduced stomach acid (Zantac reduces stomach acid production) is the increased chance for developing yeast overgrowth.

Yeast overgrowth can cause the sensation of fullness you describe.

Lyme/coinfections can also cause the fullness sensation you describe.

A better treatment is a combination of Vitamin B12 (get methylcobolamin), DGL (take 20-30 min. prior to meals), marshmallow root, and probiotics.

Ginger tea is also helpful as it can reduce inflammation and also soothe nausea and indigestion (if no gallbladder problems). Peppermint tea may also help. It is best to make your own tea from the bulk herb (ginger root or peppermint leaf), as the pre-made teas often have other ingredients that may not be helpful.

For Ginger tea, I put about an inch of fresh ginger root (peeled) in 2 cups water, bring to a boil, then let it sit with the lid on but the stove turned off for about 20 minutes.

For Peppermint tea, I put a tablespoon of the dried peppermint leaf in a tea ball. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then toss in the tea ball and turn off the stove. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes with the lid on, then pull out the tea ball.

The longer you let the herb stay in the water, the stronger the tea will become. If the tea is too strong, you can add plain water to dilute it after making the tea.

Might also be good to avoid spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus, vinegar, and any other foods you know cause problems or to which you are allergic.

Turmeric is another good anti-inflammatory herb that many find helpful for all sorts of Lyme-related issues. Lyme is good at causing lots of inflammation in the body.

Oh, and have you been tested for H. Pylori?  That bacteria is also known to cause a lot of issues with the stomach, including inflammation or even ulcers.  Blood tests are not accurate - a breath test, stomach biopsy, or aspiration of fluid from the stomach are the most accurate ways to be tested.

I hope this helps...take care,

mumma, I had the same symptoms that you describe. I went to my GI doctor and he did an endoscopy. He found that I had gastritis, H. Pylori, and an inflamed Esophagus. He put me on a PPI (Omeprazole) for the inflammation & gastritis. As for the H. Pylori, he prescribed Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin (which is what I take now for Lyme) for two weeks. This was even before I knew that I had Lyme.

I continued to suffer from a "swollen" stomach and found that I am lactose and gluten intolerant. As soon as I eat or drink something that contains gluten or lactose, my stomach gets like what you described. I have been doing a lot better since I started to watch what I eat.

As for the losing weight part- I went from 189lbs to 158 lbs.

I just re-read all these posts because I am STILL dealing with this issue, it is the only really bad issue I have from Lyme and Bart other than my heart problems and my blood pressure and the other little things. I can deal with those things but my gut is so screwed up. I really appreciate all the advice here and I am going to print out this thread and bring it to my LLND this week to try to find a way to get myself some help with my stomach. I have been on probiotics all along but for a while I wasn't on a good kind and my LLND switched me to a better kind.

Razzle, your advice was dead on with what my LLND has prescribed for me to help me. Very good advice and it does help a little I just think that I am still eating foods that I am unaware I am allergic to which stinks because I have eliminated so many foods already that I have very few choices in terms of what to eat now as it is. Thanks for all the good advice from every body here. I am also going to ask about possibly taking aciphex Mike thanks for that advice. I have been working 45-50 hours a week and i think the stress is also taking a toll. I am in retail, I have been looking for a new job. My poor daughter never sees me and I never rest. I may have to give up this job and go on disability which would mean I would probably lose this house but i guess the trade off would be that I might have more peace in my life and maybe I could focus on getting well instead of running around like a chicken with my head cut off every day.... acharms I think that i also have yeast overgrowth. did you end up clearing that up yet???
healing 98 I have a question for you, how did you know you were lactose intolerant? I really don't have symptoms of that but I do have a lot of dairy and I am wondering if that could also be something I am intolerant to ontop of all the other foods? How would I know? ok, just checking in here, sorry I took 3 months to reply for this post I did read it all though and have been working on this issue and I have been trying all the advice here and think that everybody has made good points....

By the way, I agree with Mike that PPIs can make a huge difference. I too had an inflamed esophagus, inflamed stomach, my esophigial valve was not closing properly and allowing the acid to back up into my mouth. I could not bend down because the acid would come up to my throat and into my nose. My GI doctor put me on Omeoprazole and within a few weeks, the symptoms went away. I also cannot eat any citrus, tomatoes, spices, garlic, MSG, chocolate, or anything spicy because my symptoms return.

The stomach problems that I described above did not make me bloated. They made me feel like I was having a heart attack from the chest pains. You know how you feel when you eat very spicy hot food? that's how I felt with every meal. Even the food traveling down to my stomach cause a burning sensation and chest pains. The good thing about PPIs is that they allow your stomach to heal were Zantac just minimizes the acid in your stomach.

You may also want to ask your doctor about Carafate. It coats your stomach lining to minimize inflamation.

What a accurate description of what I am going through! Its so hard to really explain how it feels to people who don't experience it, but now I've got a better way. Is it possible to have a yeast overgrowth and a food allergy? I treated my supposed yeast overgrowth (by starving it) but I'm wondering if that is enough... I am currently trying to get tested for a food allergy. I'm wondering if it is even worth it...

From Dr Jones: (scroll to #29)

Can bi****h be used for Lyme patients?

Studies have shown that bi****h will penetrate Borellia cyst walls. Intestinal
problems are especially common in children with Lyme disease and bi****h
compounds may eventually prove to be effective in treating the cyst form of the
bacteria in the intestines. Check with your doctor for updated information concerning bi****h and other cyst busters (Tindamax).

https://sites.google.com/site/drjoneskids/faq-answers

I definitely now believe it is a yeast issue and a stress issue along with the infections my body is fighting and which these infections probably are living in the lining of my stomach and irritating it. I believe the bacteria can penetrate any organ and live in any part of your body and I believe a lot of the lyme and bart are focusing on my gut and lining of my stomach. I have started pepsid 2x a day, and have been taking DGL a couple times a day as needed. I am also taking someting for anxiety, and taking pepto bismol when needed. I have been trying to eat bland foods. It feels somewhat better and I am afraid to say that because I don't want to jinx myself but it really does feel better. I still feel full after eating but not so badly anymore. I also and taking c aprylic acid when I can remember to kill off the yeast. and of course my massive doses of probiotics. Is there anything else I can take? LOL

mamma, what bland foods do you eat?

Azo yeast tabs 3x a day really helped me.

How are all my friends today? Hope you have a better day today...

I went to my LLND yesterday for my 6 week follow up and she gave me a product called GI Revive. It hasn't come in yet but that is something she feels will coat and soothe my stomach and help with the gastritis I am dealing with. I will update everybody once it comes in and I start using it. She also thinks I am suffering from possible yeast as well and gave me nystatin in a liquid version to take 4 times a day. hopefully between these two products I will see some results. I feel so bloated and uncomfortable. I did however manage to gain 10lbs in the past 6 weeks, went from 109 to almost 119. YAY!

I also have many stomach issues such as described....for years. Took PPI's for awhile several years back (2 x day plus Zantac before bed) but have been off a long time. Diet triggers for me also included onions (which we cooked with almost daily) which I had not suspected....I avoid them now. I could eat complete junky & feel better than when I was strict with my diet so I kinda think lyme or mold illness or candida just flares & calms....no rhyme or reason sometimes. I do have alot of food intolerances that have been hard to pin down. An elimination diet is a good way to figure out, however I've had a hard time avoiding everything I don't tolerate. I do think lyme/mold/candida creates inflammation in the stomach as well as lyme bugs may have imbedded there. Bloating is a huge issue for me as well. Have had silent reflux for years w/o knowing. I am still searching for THE cure but am much better with occasional flares (now actually). I use DGL, kefir (presently no other probiotics), Zantac at night (reflux worst during night....hate using meds but it's a must at this point since cutting all PPI's). I'm rifing for lyme & other issues...when rifing for "reflux" it does temporarily lessen my reflux symptoms. Someone told me they rifed for h.pylori & got rid of it, however that apparently wasn't my issue as I tried it. You're not alone & I do hope you find relief. Please keep sharing as many are looking for their answers, like myself. :)

Mumma -

I have experienced (and posted about) the same digestive challenges you're experiencing. It is likely that you have several issues going on - not just yeast or food allergies.

I thought all my problems were stress and diet related. But I haven't worked for 6 mos. and have been on a very restrictive diet for 2 and I am only about 40% improved.

Yeast overgrowth in the GI tract often inflames and damages the mucosal lining of the entire intestines. This leads to digestive issues and "leaky gut" syndrome, where toxins from fecal matter leak through the lining and into the blood stream and elsewhere throughout the body causing the food sensitivities and allergies. A stool test easily detects antibodies the immune system creates in response to the presence of food proteins where they shouldn't be.

It's likely I have had yeast/fungal problems since birth - I suspect my father had issues and/or my mother may have passed issues in utero. From everything I've read, it's likely that once you have these issues you will always have them. A restrictive diet that eliminates all sugars, simple starches (potatoes!), and foods that turn into sugars by the digestive process is part of the solution but you will likely need a GI anti fungal (Nystatin works specifically in the GI tract is fairly safe and can be taken long-term) as well as a systemic anti fungal (like Diflucan), which isn't as safe long-term and you'll need to have regular blood work done to test liver enzymes, etc. Exercise and physical (lymph drainage, for example) and dietary detoxing (adding a binder to your diet like charcoal or bentonite clay) is important, too.

<<ETA: Probiotics are also absolutely necessary, although I question how effective they are in people w/ GI issues like we have... still looking into this>>

With leaky gut, you're going to have problems digesting food properly and getting proper nutrition. Food that everyone else can eat (all kinds of grains, corn, GMO foods, non-organic produce) might challenge you. Your intestines will remain inflamed, which gives you that incredibly uncomfortable bloating sensation. Consider yourself a little lucky, however - many people also LOOK horribly bloated.

I think my severe GI issues started with a bacterial infection from something I ate. Almost suddenly, I started having horrible pains whenever I ate. I later learned that I was not producing enough stomach acid ---- which can happen even when you are experiencing acid reflux. Without knowing what is specifically going on, anti-acids can exacerbate the problem. I'll try to post more on this.

It is also likely that you have some bacterial infections that your gastro isn't addressing (and to put it bluntly, your gastro clearly hasn't a clue about lyme and you might do well to find someone who does). What I'm finding in my research is that people like us with GI issues have yet another layer of challenges in treating lyme - because if your digestive track is not functioning, your immune system, which is rooted in the digestive track will not be capable of helping you heal, regardless of whatever genius protocol and due diligence on your part to stick to it. It's also possible that the antibacterial protocols can damage your GI tract even further.

I am seeing a gastroenterologist in a couple weeks. My expectations are to have him do diagnostics to determine the condition of my GI tract but I am not expecting him to know what to do about it... I think that's going to be on me and maybe my LLMD (although she hasn't been much help yet, either). I will continue to post about my progress.

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 5/19/2014 9:03:29 AM (GMT-6)