Hi Jeff,Welcome to Healing Well! Glad you've joined the forum. I joined a short time before my surgery because of the positive attitude I found here--I know exactly what you mean!
It sounds as if you're having dumping. I'm not so sure that a barium swallow can show that...at least not in the short term. And, yes, it's a normal part of the healing process. Not everyone experiences it, but it is totally normal after stomach surgery. It's caused by the irritation of surgery.
I had it as well, and its frequency and intensity diminished over time as I healed. I still had it very occasionally at the end of my first year and figured it was a quirk I'd always have to live with, but sometime in the second year I realized it wasn't happening any more.
The loud gurgling was always the warning that a dumping episode was on its way. When I went back to work people thought the grumbling meant I was hungry and would offer me a snack! LOL
Here's a link to an anti-dumping diet. Sweets definitely make it more likely to occur. With a few diet changes you should be able to help the situation, although it'll probably take a lot more healing to get rid of it completely.
http://uvahealth.com/services/digestive-health-1/images-and-docs/dumping-syndrome.pdf/view
BEANO only works if you take it at the exact time you start eating, and yes, it can help alleviate bloating caused by vegetables. Gas-X can help as well, if you're able to burp. If you're anything like me, your stomach decides when and if it'll burp, but it's worth a try!
Stay away from straws and carbonated beverages, and don't talk while eating. These both increase air in your stomach.
Again, glad you've joined us!
Happy healing!
Denise