lower abdominal pain distention
Is this really Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
I have a few months history of terrible lower abdominal distention and swelling. I am very thin, so it is quite obvious on my lean body when my belly protrudes and it is very hard. I sometimes get very gassy with this. I NEVER have diarrhea. I am NEVER constipated. I do, however, have 1-2 VERY large bulky stools of normal consistency. My diet is whole foods, veggies, fruits, grains, lean meats, soy products, and no dairy. I do drink coffee and I use splenda. I excercise vigorously 5 days per week and I drink approx 100 oz of water per day.
How can this be IBS or a food intolerance considering I NEVER get diarrhea, cramps, spasms or pain? It is only distention and gas.
Gas is also a sign of IBS, as is distention! IBS is a diagnosis based on exclusion, it means that your intestinal issues don’t have any underlying disease or physical problem as the cause. Many intestinal issues fall into this category!
Gas is caused by fermentation of foods in your intestine by the organisms that live there, however, so you might want to try something that will shift the balance of the microflora to something more comfortable. Try taking inulin (a soluble fiber, some fiber supplements are inulin!) or eating lots of yogurt, these help some people. Inulin has been shown in studies to cause bifidobacteria (the good kind!) to become the dominant intestinal organisms when taken regularly.
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