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Stomach distension, bloating?

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Posted 8/7/2011 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone else get this quite bad? I've always had it really since being diagnosed with colitis, basically bloating as in my stomach distends right out, the very lower stomach and it looks like a big pot belly almost but then eventually goes back down, even after going to toilet it still is there and takes a good few days to go down.

The other issue is bloating, getting a really puffy face and cheeks so its like hamster cheeks but it just happens out of the blue, I can't seem to put it down to a certain food? I have a fairly low body fat sit around 10% at the moment visible abs etc so it's not fat. Goes away but always come back, but then I also get very watery stomach at times, where u can literally grab it and jiggle etc like jelly, drives me nuts.

Anyone else get this?
Posted 8/7/2011 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Also not sure weather to put this down to hormones? or the colitis issue as it seems to happen quite often almost like my body has a water issue? I drink tons of water etc so there is no issue there. Even if I pee a lot im still water bound.
Posted 8/7/2011 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
tank, unfortunately, this bloating seems to be a normal symptom of inflammaion. When I am flaring, I tend to feel bloated after I eat. It doesn't matter what I eat.
Posted 8/7/2011 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Im not sure if im flaring up though? I feel fine and toilet is generally fine, still on the pred at the moment though. Just a nightmare eh.

Also went to see GI about those spots on chest, back, shoulders, arms etc said it's prob a rash from the 6-mp so i've to go to a dermatologist next week to possibly get biopsys of it.
Posted 8/7/2011 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
it's the pred, plain and simple.

q
Posted 8/7/2011 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
only on 5mg though
Posted 8/7/2011 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
I'm inclined to agree with quincy on this matter tank89. I am myself a thin person with visible abs yet I also get this distended stomach, exactly as you describe it. When I finished taking the pred, it went away. Pred's notorious for bloating and encourages water retention. Even at 5mg. Take it from me, as soon as you've tapered off the Pred this distention issue will go away.
Posted 8/7/2011 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Well I'm not on prednisone or any other medications and I always have a problem with bloating. Sometimes I feel like I look 6 or 7 months pregnant. I hate it. I asked my GI doc about it and his snarky response was "you and every other woman out there has bloating". I hate when I have a valid question and kit isn't answered. This is one reason why I'm looking for a new doctor.
Posted 8/8/2011 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
chrissy have you tried reducing the amount of salt in your diet?
Posted 8/8/2011 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
tank89,

IMO,  it's food related tank.

When I used to eat improperly - i.e. non-SCD, I'd always get lots of bloating, stomach distension.

And once I cut out all the "bad" foods and went on SCD, I no longer get those symptoms. My belly is flat, no distension, no bloating.

What diet are you on?

Are you on SCD?

If you're eating regular foods, then it might be simple food mis-combining.

Here's some good info on it: http://cureforulcerativecolitis.com/step-1-methodology-to-eating

Hope this helps.

Posted 8/8/2011 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
I have/had IBS. That is I have IBS if I eat certain foods, in particular fructose. When I consume fructose, my tummy gets huge. It's all gas. If you have a ton of gas with the bloating, then it could be food related.
Posted 8/8/2011 7:20 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with those who said it is most likely the pred causing the bloating and definitely the water retention.
That said, if you find you're still bloating a while after you're off the pred, you could try taking fennel after meals. It has helped me a lot with gas and bloating.
Posted 8/8/2011 9:02 AM (GMT 0)
The food wouldn't cause the puffy cheeks or face as also experienced.

It's the pred.

q

Posted 8/8/2011 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
It's just weird id be getting puffy etc when im down to 5mg pred, when I was on a higher dose I was fine to be honest.

InSoFla said...
tank89,


IMO, it's food related tank.

When I used to eat improperly - i.e. non-SCD, I'd always get lots of bloating, stomach distension.

And once I cut out all the "bad" foods and went on SCD, I no longer get those symptoms. My belly is flat, no distension, no bloating.



What diet are you on?

Are you on SCD?



If you're eating regular foods, then it might be simple food mis-combining.

Here's some good info on it: http://cureforulcerativecolitis.com/step-1-methodology-to-eating



Hope this helps.

Will have a look at that link, don't know what scd is?
I just eat around 7 meals per day, carb loaded into the first 4 meals. No junk food etc, lots of fish, chicken and have steak every other day usually. Carbs are rice + oats + fruit.
Posted 8/8/2011 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
tank89,

Will have a look at that link, don't know what scd is?
I just eat around 7 meals per day, carb loaded into the first 4 meals. No junk food etc, lots of fish, chicken and have steak every other day usually. Carbs are rice + oats + fruit.

SCD is specific carbohydrate diet, you can probably google it. Lots of folks on this forum, as you probably have noticed talk about that particular diet as being helpful in controlling their symptoms. Many have been helped by just switching to that diet. I have to tell you though, it's pretty rigorous, so I always suggest that once you read up on it, if it's too tough, you should at the very least stay away from dairy, and wheat and see if that makes any difference.

Sounds like you're eating well, but if you're improperly combining foods, i.e. proteins + carbs, carbs + fruit - that will enormous intestinal and stomach distress.

Let me know what you think.


 

Posted 8/8/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
The bloating only happens if I consume the wrong food/bad water. It takes a few days to subside and when I'm back to normal, eating carbs + protein doesn't bother me at all. I've been keeping food journal everyday for the last 10 weeks now.

I ate a few raw eggs about a week ago and they caused some uncomfortable bloating for 3 days. I'm sure I'm not able to digest it yet and kill off the bacteria in the raw eggs probably so that's what caused the bloating.

In the meantime, you should lean toward consuming more protein in your diet.
Posted 8/8/2011 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
^Im eating around 350g protein per day, i'd say anymore is overkill? im 15 stone 7 as weighed in this morning...
I've been using mt2 for the last week maybe thats causing some slight bloat? when i inject stomach get a bit of tightness, maybe start pinning my thigh instead.

Carbs im eating around 200-250g... average fat at about 80g or so, comes mainly from eggs, fish, peanut butter, fish oils etc. Very watery at the moment but not on face now lol, it's around my hips and stomach, should go down though. pretty paranoid coming off the prednisone end of this week :/.
Posted 8/8/2011 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Food allergies and reactions can also cause bloating via water retention, gas or both. They can cause swelling and water retention throughout the body - including the face. If you're experiencing the classic "moon face" shape that stays pretty much constant, I'd say that's prednisone. If the facial swelling/puffiness comes and goes, I'd say that's caused by some food(s) you're reacting to.

Check out the book The False Fat Diet for a real eye opener about how food reactions can affect us and a list of the most common offenders.

Of course, simple gut dysbiosis that's often if not always a part of UC can also cause gas and bloating. This will be most noticeable after consuming a meal high in simple carbs and sugars.
Posted 8/9/2011 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
i am totally off the prednisone for 3 months and it is taking time for the bloat/puffy face to dissipate. each time i have had a course of pred this has happened. i have read that it can take up to a year for the pred to leave your body/side effects to go away. so give it time, and hopefully it will subside. good luck!
Posted 8/9/2011 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
According to my GI's office, some people actually experiencing worsening bloating/moonface as they taper down on the prednisone. My moonface didn't EXPLODE until around 10mg (I started at 30)...I'm at 5 right now and hoping it's the worst it's going to get. My bloating has also continued to get worse (except for the last few days, knock on wood), so I guess some people just react this way.
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