How to Combat Bloating…Or Try To

Last week on Instagram, I shared a very personal and honest struggle I deal with behind closed doors. I touched on my main symptom in the videos I shared, but chose not to go into detail, until now. For as far back as I can remember, I have suffered from IBS. IBS is a painful gastrointestinal condition. The main symptom I suffer with specifically is severe bloating. There has not been one full day in the past, let say, 10 years that I have not suffered from sharp pains or intense stomach pressure. My bloating is very predictable. The only time I feel comfortable throughout the day, is early in the morning before I eat anything. From breakfast to bed time, my stomach gradually bloats. With the intent to share my story with my followers, last week I decided to take before and after videos to compare the drastic difference of my pre-bloat/bloated tummy. By doing so, I  gained some insight into what others who are also suffering do, to alleviate their pain.  Below, I will share a little bit more about my story and what has/hasn’t worked for me as well as list the recommendations I received.

There is little research surrounding IBS and hence, no cure. In fact, I had been suffering for years before I was even diagnosed with the condition. I have been prescribed countless medications, undergone numerous invasive procedures, and tried several diets,  but the severe bloating still persists.

In all honesty, the side effects caused by IBS are a constant disruption to my quality of life. There are afternoons/evenings that the pain is so bad, I have no other choice, but to lay in bed in fetal position until the pain passes, and often times it doesn’t. Even if I am stressed out from something completely unrelated, I see a simultaneous reaction in my stomach. Turns out, stress can affect your nerves, making your digestive system overactive. My diet is so restrictive that planning meals or eating out can seem like a chore. Finding restaurants that cater to such delicate stomachs are not easy to come by, y’all! Although I have a general idea of the specific foods that heighten my bloating, there are times when it can be completely unpredictable.

What frustrates me the most about the condition is that IBS tends to be a paradox. We are told that increasing our fiber intake can treat symptoms of IBS but yet one of the biggest causes of bloating is dietary fiber -____-  Due to necessity/desire to stick to a healthy diet, I ate a lot of fiber so tons of oatmeal and quinoa/brown rice. Turns out, I had been consuming way too much fiber, and after cutting the fiber sources out completely in this past week, my bloating has gone down significantly. But again, this is a catch 22.

Okay well enough about me..

Foods I stray away from:

• Onions
• Garlic
• Tomato
• Spices
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Oatmeal
• Dark Meats
• Fried Foods
• Cow Milk
• Beans

Remedies I find helpful w bloating: 

• Green tea w Honey & Lemon
• Fresh pressed juice: Carrot, OJ, Ginger
• Alka-seltzer
• Pho (believe it or not, the ginger in the broth helps settle down my stomach)
• Hot compress/water placed directly on my tummy
• Reduce fiber intake

Recommendations my followers have believed to have helped them:

• Rx Select- Turmeric Capsules
• A shot of Apple Cider Vinegar in the AM
• Warm water w honey
• Digestive Enzyme
• Ginger Pills
• High fat/protein / low carb diet
• No gluten
• Salt water

 

Now, I’m obviously not a doctor, but I hope to have shed some light on this incredibly frustrating condition. Remember ya’ll, if life gives you lemons, add some to a warm cup of water, ha! Xo