a lot of people have asked what is going on with my guts, so i figured i might as well blog about it. you guys can handle it, right? i mean.. everybody poops.
so, here’s the deal. for the past 5+ years or so, i have always had a distended stomach at the end of the day. some days were worse than others, but there was always a little bloating and protrusion. i have lovingly (okay, not so lovingly) referred to this as my “bump” and never really knew what caused it. i knew a couple things for sure: it was embarrassing and uncomfortable. oh, and sometimes it hurt.
i did body for life and after completing the challenge i was the leanest i’ve ever been (around 14% body fat.) however, i would wake up with a 6 pack and go to sleep looking 6 months pregnant. no, this is not an exaggeration. it was ridiculous! i ended up going to my doctor for my problem (just my GP).. i had a CT scan and they saw nothing. i went to a plastic surgeon because i was convinced that i had diastasis recti (abdominal separation).. um, nope, wrong again. i never went to a gastroenterologist, though. i didn’t really think to do that. since i was cleared by the CT scan i thought it was something i just had to live with and my body was just crazy.
fast forward to this summer, where i was experiencing more pain than usual. my bowels were all over the place. sometimes i’d poop every four days and other times i would poop four times in a day. not normal. also, my stomach was protruding out WAY more than usual. think 8 months pregnant rather than 5 or 6. again, not exaggerating. plus, it hurt.
i got an appointment with a GI on september 19th. that’s when all the testing started. i got an upper endoscopy, a CT scan and a colonoscopy. the first two tests showed nothing unusual. i also got some blood work that came back normal, i am not allergic to anything and there were no strange results. while i may be intolerant to foods (which would take an elimination diet to discover which ones) i am definitely not allergic to anything. (can we get a *yay* for not having celiac disease?) i had my colonoscopy yesterday.. that’s when we got a couple answers.
first of all, i had to do a two day prep for the colonoscopy because i rarely poop. “normal” for me is to poop every other day, or maybe every three days. i realize this is not normal for anyone else. i’m “special”…
anyway, my last meal was monday night around 9 PM. tuesday and wednesday were rough to say the least. i managed to get a sore throat on top of being hungry and having a pounding headache. it was so rad. the multiple laxatives i had to take for the prep were pretty rad, too. it’s ok to be jealous. i won’t go into detail. you’re welcome.
i went into the hospital for the colonoscopy yesterday at 8:15 AM. aside from the needle for the IV, it wasn’t so bad. (i hate needles.)
i woke up and my GI told me that he could clearly see that i have a lazy colon. the colon is a muscle.. and mine is a total wimp. it doesn’t function the way it should, it doesn’t eliminate the way it should. it doesn’t move things along. i accumulate waste and gas in abnormal amounts. my body is a hoarder!
he gave me a prescription to complete a 20 day antibiotic/probiotic regimen to get rid of any bad gas and introduce good bacteria into my guts. i thanked him and was on my merry way. first stop was obviously a restaurant so i could eat my first meal since monday, which was actually the same as my last meal—a grilled cheese and tomato soup. favorite.
about 10 minutes into my meal, my whole insides started hurting like something fierce. i didn’t finish my lunch because i was in so much pain. we (momma b and i) headed to REI to snag my mom the vibrams i promised to get her for her birthday.. and by this time i just wanted to get home and crawl into bed! we got back to my house and, as luck would have it, i was locked out. i forgot to grab my keys on my way out the door earlier that morning.
good thing there was a ladder in the back of marshall’s truck.. and good thing momma b is AMAZING. while i was doubled over in pain on the porch, she managed to hop the fence and go through the back (unlocked) door.
isn’t she the best?
anyway, we got into my house and got in touch with my doctor (i had been trying to get a hold of him since the pain began—i also tweeted about the situation and a few awesome ladies told me that NO, this pain was in fact not normal and to see what was up.) my doc told me to meet him at the emergency room right away so he could see what was going on. he was actually on his way out of town, but said he couldn’t leave town without making sure it was nothing crazy.
so.. it was BACK to the hospital! we got to the ER and my doc took a look at me.. listened to my abdomen with his stethoscope.. had me jump up and down.. and then escorted me to radiology so i could get an xray. worst case scenario, i had a perforation in my colon. i won’t leave you in suspense and just tell you right away that that was NOT the case. i know my mom, deb & missy were worried sick that it was—i hated to worry them, but it’s also nice that they were so concerned. love you guys!
what it turned out to be was TONS and TONS of gas. way more than a person typically has after a colonoscopy. it’s normal to be gassy, but it’s not normal to be doubled over in excruciating pain. turns out, my body hates me and hoards gas like nothing else. this is what causes the pain and distended abdomen.
i took some photos post-colonoscopy (around 11 AM) and then post-xray. the only thing i had ingested between the two photos was the bit of sandwich and some soup. the photos on the right were right after the xray, when the pain was at about a 8 (down from a 10+!) you can clearly see that i am waaaay distended. it hurts just looking at these!
oh.. and hope you don’t mind the bra shots. these are all relaxed shots—no sucking in, flexing, or pushing out.
while this is definitely the most painful my issue has ever been, it’s not the worst (visually) the distention has been. it’s been far worse on days i have consumed five meals and a gallon of water. those are the “i look 8 months pregnant” days.
today i woke up with a pain level of a 2 or a 3. i have had a protein shake, a simply bar, a chobani yogurt, a kombucha and quite a bit of water. the pain is hovering at a 3. it’s annoying. the bloating has gone down quite a bit from the photos above, but i am still a bit distended.
to be honest, it’s a little embarrassing to share all this with the world wide web—even though i have NO control over what is happening with my body, i am still very uncomfortable with it. it sucks to work my ass off with clean eating and working out, only to have a huge, bloated gut by the end of the day. i am not comfortable wearing tight shirts simply because i look like i have a beer belly when, in fact, it’s a bunch of air. it’s frustrating and i really hope to get to the bottom of my issues soon.
but it’s like my doctor said… the journey has just begun.
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in other news
- the winner of the better breakfast challenge is #9—tiffany with her okonomiyaki.. a VERY unique breakfast that deserved to win. congratulations, tiffany! please email me your address so i can get your package shipped out before the new year…
- marshall’s birthday is on sunday! wooooo! we are having a mexican fiesta tomorrow (saturday) night for the birthday boy. super stoked!
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have a great weekend! can’t believe october is already halfway over!
xo. janetha g.
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Hope you get some answers soobn! I have weird patterns as well. Sometimes I go multiple times a day and sometimes it is like once every 4 days. It sucks!
Geesh, Janetha, that’s crazy stuff! Thank you for being so forthright about what’s going on with you. You’re right; everyone poops.
I hope the antibiotics help to sort your colon out and it gets to a point of functioning “normally” (whatever that is, right?) in short order.
Have a great Mexican birthday celebration. :-)
Janeetha, thank you so much for sharing this. I have been having this problem for about 3 years now. It has progressively gotten worse and no one can give me any answers. I went to the doctor about a year and a half ago and he wasn’t able to tell me anything. I have since thought that it was all the gum I chew or that I might need to try a gluten free diet. Now that you have shared your story I would really like to look into going to the right doctor. Reading your story makes me realize that I am not the only one who works her arse off eating the right things and working out and still cannot get my stomach to look right at the end of the day. Thanks again for sharing!
No problem. I hope that by me sharing my experiences it helps others figure out their own issues. Good luck to you!!
I really commend and admire you for being so open about your medical issues. I’m actually a 2nd year medical student, and, coincidentally, we just learned about the 3 gas syndromes, including the one you have, TODAY. It’s so enlightening and moving to see how this really affects a person, physically, mentally, and emotionally, rather than as bullet points on a powerpoint slide. I appreciate how brave you are to tell your story, and you find a remedy soon! I think you are gorgeous and look fit in both the befores and afters, by the way!
That is a crazy coincidence! Thank you for your comment and kind words.
Yikes, girl! I hate that this is causing you so much pain. At least you and your doctor are taking steps to resolve the issue. I hope he figures it out sooner rather than later!
Sorry to hear all you are going through. But, at least you have something to work with. It would be way worse if the Dr. had said, “Sorry, don’t know what’s wrong…”! Thanks for sharing your story. I’m sure many can relate. And, I’m sure the Docs will figure something out! That’s their job! :)
Oh wow, what a difference! I’m so sorry about your pain. I hope you figure it out ASAP!
I’m glad Tiffany won, her breakfast idea was fab. I hope she shares the recipe with us soon. :)
I will be sure to ask her!
Hope you feel better soon! I’ve had similar issues, though not as severe. I did notice that probiotics really helped me, hopefully they help you too! What happens after the 20 day treatment?
We just see what happens and go from there. I have an appointment for a month from now.
I’m so glad that you have gotten some answers and some ways to hopefully make it better.
I hope you feel better soon, I’m praying for you.
Get better soon! Honestly, don’t be embarrassed by those pictures. You should see my stomach after I wake up compared to when I go to sleep. It looks almost like yours! I never thought anything of it in a health/medical sense, but I’ve always complained about it and definitely get sad because of it :-/. I once seriously thought I was pregnant just by the look of it.. Haha
Uh, yeah. While I knew I wasn’t pregnant, Marshall MADE me get a pregnancy test haha
I’m sorry that you’re going through this- no fun! The probiotics will DEFINITELY help (also, I don’t know what kind the dr gave you, but there are definitely different kinds, so I would recommend trying out different brands and seeing if one helps you more than another). You might also have a fungal imbalance- did your dr say anything about that being a possibility? They can prescribe anti-fungal meds if that’s the case, and you can also try that anti-fungal diet I told you about! :) Hope you start feeling much better soon!
Thanks for all your advice, Megan!
Janetha, my dear Janetha. You are not alone here. I have several of almost the same photos – I wake up with a flat tummy, but by the end of the day, I am so distended, I feel and look pregnant. I drink teas at night for their laxative effect, and also fart like a mofo. (my poor husband) … do you think it’s because we are short? My husband is also pretty short and suffers from the same gassy/bloating thing, even though we eat cleanly. I’m 5’2, he’s about 5’4, you’re 5’nothing … maybe our bowels just suck because we’re so small? I’ve tried several diets – I cut out breads, I went Paleo, I cut my sugar down, down, down … Water makes it worse, but I mean, c’mon, we need water! I tried to get fiber just from greens and veggies, then I was never going to the bathroom … So, I’m here with you on this journey — because I’m hoping it will give us a little insight as to what is going on down there!
I am sorry to hear you deal with it too! ALSO congrats on the June 2010 wedding :)
Look forward to hearing about your progress. I thought I was the only one who almost always gets distended by the end of the day. My pain factor only goes up to about a 6. Maybe I should keep up with my probiotics.
Any pain is bad pain :(
I am so sorry you are going through this!
I had similar experience when I was 19 and ended up seeing a GI specialist like you and getting a colonoscopy (the prep is just so fun! NOT.)
And like you nothing was really abnormal. I had to take a look at my diet.
For me it has been about eating foods that make me feel good. Sometimes I am really good at it and sometimes I am not. All I know is that i have to eat a high fiber diet (well, I guess it’s considered a normal amount : 25-30g…but previously at 19 I didn’t even know what the word fiber was!)
I know what foods really bloat me (I also start the day out feeling very lean in the stomach then at night feel huge and bloated…and gassy).
I stay away from any raw veggies (which sucks for a health nut), but it’s a huge culprit for me! I also have to lay off gum and ANY artificial sweeteners.
I drink plenty of water too – which I am sure you are aware of…but it does help me “go” more often.
I hope you can figure things out soon! I know it sucks not to have a real name for a stomach issue, but it also can be quite the learning experience with food and the effects on your body.
Thanks for your input! I definitely need to try some elimination dieting.
Janetha I am SO glad you’ve posted this. I am having very similar issues so it’s oddly comforting to know I’m not the only person who goes to sleep looking pregnant only to wake up looking like I have delivered the mystery fetus in my sleep :P
It is SO frustrating, so I really hope you can find some answers soon! I’ll be keeping an eye out for updates!
Hahaha mystery delivery! I love it!
don’t be embarrassed. i have never gone to the dr. about it, but right down to the pics, you have described every day for me. i eat healthily, exercise like a motha, and still – stretchy pants and tops barely hide the bloat. i also get super bad, stabbing, crippling gas pain more often than i like and my belly is known for making gurgly, air-filled, embarrassing sounds…i teach 6th grade, so…yeah. good luck! i hope you get to the bottom of your tummy troubles.
can i just say i adore your user name :) haha you are the BEST ice cream guide! and yep–totally with you on the gurgly sounds. ugh! thanks for the comment and relating :) xo
Seriously, this is exactly what my tum has been doing. It was BAD this past weekend (when you were here.) Mine is obviously different due to stupid celiac (so glad you do not have it!) and it’s annoying. but pain is a whole different story, I’m sorry you’re hurting. Hope it goes away NOW.
Hope you start feeling better asap and that the 20 day treatment helps. I’m still waiting for my insurance to approve more testing for my gut. Fun times.
Oh my gosh, what a day huh? I hope you get feeling better and so glad you got some answers. I have the same sort of thing happen sometimes. It SUCKS. Take it easy girl. Happy Birthday to your man! My son’s birthday is tomorrow. We will probably end up eating pizza… again.. since he would choose that every day for every meal if he could ha ha! Hugs!
happy birthday to your little man!
Lady, I can relate. I went to the instacare, then the emergency room a few months ago in the same excruciating pain. The instacare was sure it was my appendix and sent me right to the ER. After countless tests, ultrasounds, and an X-ray, the embarrassing result… gas! My husband about died (mostly because of our ER copay and the bills that added up to over $600).
I’m like you in that I poop very irregularly and rarely and am always gassy and bloated and uncomfortable. I’ve been suspecting, for years, that I should go on an elimination diet (no wheat, dairy, sugar) and see what happens. I’m fascinated in your journey, since you might do some of the work for us both! Keep us all updated.
I will for sure!
oh my gosh that’s crazy! I’m glad your doc was good and went back in to see you. Good luck figuring it out and let me know if my dad can answer any more Qs:)
Thank you so much for your help!
Lady, I am right there with you. I have been dealing with this for years and it is extremely annoying. I finally went to the doctor yesterday actually, got some blood drawn for tests and I’m going to go through a round of antibiotics too to get all the bad bacteria out and good bacteria back in. I hope this helps the both of us!
And btw, I don’t know what you do to help it at night when it’s at it’s worse…but I’ve learned that laying on my belly helps A LOT. Haha…sounds crazy but it does!
I agree! I always lay on my belly and then make marshall sit on my back! hahaha. Good luck to you! xoxo
Yikes. I know how you feel. My body does the same thing, too, and I know how embarrassing it feels.
Gluten was a big problem for me. I still don’t know whether I was just highly intolerant or actually have Celiacs disease but cutting that out helped somewhat.
I’ve also found eating foods on the FODMAP diet has helped. The idea is that some people’s stomachs don’t digest certain sugars properly causing gas and build up. For the past 2 weeks I’ve cut a lot out and found that certain fruits and vegetables(apples, sweet potatoes, brussels, honey, cantaloupe, beans) I just can’t eat or I’m in pain and running for a toilet. Meanwhile, if I only eat crap like chocolate and candy my stomach is flat. I don’t understand this at all. But it might be something worth talking to your doctor about if you haven’t already.
Evan, same here! My body prefers rubbish to some degree than healthy foods- crisps and sweets no problemo. It’s crazy. Hummus is a kicker as are raw crackers etc.
Most likely it has to do with the complex carbs and insoluble fiber. Juicing might be helpful.
I have looked into the FODMAP diet a few times in the past but never committed. Thanks for sharing your experience–good luck. Just survive on chocolate and candy… come on…
I hope the pain goes does to a 0 soon. I’m glad you at least know what the issue is now. Now work can be done to ‘fix’ it.
Good luck!
I’m so glad you brought this up! Gas can be so very painful!
The one thing that keeps me regular is Natural Calm. I drink it after dinner or before bed as a hot “tea”. The raspberry lemon flavour isn’t so bad, and it is sweet so it kind of finishes off my day (and starts my day!).
Thank you for the tip. I will look for it!
You POOR thing. I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how painful that is. I’d equate it to feeling like you are in labor. I hope it doesn’t interfere with Marshall’s birthday fiesta too much…and I’m also curious what changing what you eat might do and what may help or hurt your situation? And even with the bloating–nice abs. :)
Praying for you!
Thank you, friend! I think I need to change what I eat–while I may not be allergic to anything, I am sure some foods make me, ahem, gassier than others.
Thank you thank you for the update! So happy you have an ANSWER though and can now start taking steps to make it better. I can’t believe you couldn’t eat for two days. I’ve done it before but only ever high on painkillers so it was a little more bearable. You poor thing. I had two hospital roommates do overnight emergency colonoscopy preps. They had to guzzle back 4 litres of some liquid and would be up all night in the bathroom. Just awful.
Anyways, I can’t give you any advice on how to make it better, just tell you I love you! xoxo
Oh, and the shot of Momma B hopping the fence? Priceless.
I love you, too! I shouldn’t complain about one needle. Ugh.. you have to deal with so many needles. Barf.
I’m glad you got some answers, but I’m hoping you feel better soon.
Mine and my husband’s stomachs do something very similar. We both have food allergies and intolerances, so with all the damage to our intestines, they are just warn out by the night. I’m sorry you’ve been in so much discomfort. I hope you get better soon!
Janetha.. why have you never told me this before.. we are tummy twins! No joke. I’ve been seeing a gastro doc since I was a kid.. and all they’ve found was basically the same as you. Still no answers :( Been on tons of prescriptions and nothing helped.. blah!! At least I’m not alone!
it’s so fun! not.
I hope you get some relief soon! don’t feel silly for sharing this, look at how many people just in the comments that can relate to you! feel better!
I bet the mexican is really going to help with that gas- Haha! Probably a TMI comment, but hey- it’s a TMI post ;) ~ I bet you and Marshall have some good 12-year-old-esq laughs about the gas… that is if you’re able to pass any of it.
Even though it is the start of the process I am glad you’re finding some answers and getting things figured out.
What a bummer to go through all you have and not have a definitive solution! I hope the elimination diet narrows it down for you without much trouble.
A couple of things…
1. I’m glad you’re ok and that it’s nothing TOO major!
2. Eden just had five orgasms because you used the word poop so much in this post. And yes, I just said ORGASM. Everyone poops, everyone has orgasms…right? no? Maybe people should read my guest post for Eden.
3. I’m interested to know what this probiotic formula is..because I, too, have issues with pottying daily.
4. Happy early birthday to Marshall, the Great!
you can have mine. I potty way to much. or for eden…POOP!
Girl, you just don’t know how worried I was! I didn’t want to mention perforation at first but the more you hurt, I got scared! My hubby (GI nurse) said it was most likely air, but still…
Kudos to you for posting this, it’ll help many people I’m sure.
I myself have a transverse colon that hangs lower and I have issues with distention, has and emptying properly. I am to take miralax daily.
I hope you are painfree soon and can get that ice cream! But no choc covered insects, m k?
Love ya lots too!
Ok I didn’t read the comments before I posted, but obviously this post has already helped a bunch of people!
You really are the bestest!
Oh gosh Janetha I’m so sorry! That sounds terrible. It’s no fun to be in pain and I’m shocked you’ve been able to deal for this many years. I hope you keep us posted on your journey. I’m really glad you sought medical attention! I’m keeping you in my thoughts.
Oh my gosh girl!!! New reader here, but I hope you get answers soon!
thanks for reading!
Hey girl. I’m so sorry you have had to go through all of this. I have actually had a lot of the same problems as you (+ a few more) and would love you talk to you about it more if you want. I don’t mean this in a judge-y or preach-y way at all but going vegan has really helped get my bowels moving more like they should. Animal protein and fat in general really slow down the gut. I’m not perfect now but a heck of a lot better than I was. I’m not trying to push veganism on you at all – you have to figure out what works best for you. If you want to discuss it anymore feel free to email me.
thanks for your input, meagan! i will be trying an elimination diet here in the next few weeks.. hopefully that helps figure out which foods my body doesn’t love.. both meat and otherwise!
my god. you poor thing! seriously. it looks painful! :( well, i used to get the painful bloat as well (obviously due to the gluten allergy but my gut bac was low since i wasn’t eating dairy). every morning, i drink warm lemon water & down 2 jarrow probiotic pills. it seems to “set” me up for the day and bring about a regular bm :) also, i do NOT drink booch if i’m in a period of tummy distress. the carbonation can cause further gas build up. try peppermint tea in the evenings instead!
i have been doing the warm lemon water when i remember for about 2 months now.. it DOES work a bit! thanks for the tip on the kombucha. good one!
Your bravery for posting all of this is amazing. I know that your story will help others and that’s awesome. For them :) And for you, you get the gold star of the day for sharing all these details and no doubt being the motivation for other’s to figure out what’s wrong with their own situation.
As for your situation…major hopes and wishes for you that you get to the ROOT cause of all of this. Probiotics, fermented foods, ie. kefir, kombucha, low/no gluten, low/no dairy, low gassy foods like beans (I wish I could do hummus like everyone else) but those are the things that have worked for me over the years. We are all so different and I wish you so much luck figuring this all out!!
I’ve had this problem with stomach distension! Like a commenter above I’m also a second medical student. Check out the FODMAPs diet. hungryhungryhippie is trying it right now. There are also good sources on the web and this wiki article helps with understanding the biochemistry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FODMAP. I did it, and my gas went away and so did my constipation! You just have to do your research and be SUPER strict! No more simply bars for example..they have inulin (i.e. the fiber) (a fructan, undigested by the body and goes to the colon where bacteria digest it) which definitely causes gas!
I could go on but try reading up on this and seeing what you think:) Lots of research on it currently, it’s not bogus.
i have actually been following elise’s fodmap experimenting! thanks for your input and advice.
Owww, those pictures look painful – although I can completely relate!! I have serious bloating issues. It doesn’t happen every day, but it is more frequent than I would like. I don’t know what’s wrong with me either, but I haven’t had any tests. Wearing tight clothes seems to make me bloat instantly. For example, last night my husband and I went out for dinner and I wore jeans that were comfortably tight. We were only out for about an hour and a half, but midway through I had to unbutton my pants because it hurt so bad. When I got home, I had to lie on the bed for 20 minutes because I felt so awful :( I always get the 8 months pregnant look!
haha i love that you unbuttoned. totally something i have done.
I also have the extended tummy. I have pretty much cut out gluten and that has seemed to help. I need to make time to go to the dr. though. I had been thinking that my stomach was from having 2 kids, but since you haven’t had any and have this issue it spurs me on. I do go at least twice a day, mostly in the morning before I drink my coffee. Good Luck
JG,
I feel ya. And you know what, you are even more awesome for sharing this because somewhere out there someone is wondering the same thing about their stomach. I have had colon problems due to a parasite and gluten allergy so I know. It ain’t pretty. But dang, its worth the answers. Praying for an answer and good recovery!
love you.
So sorry you are going through such a rough time, Janetha :( Sending you hugs and speedy healing! xoxo
I had THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM as you! Down to the horrible distension (sp?) and bloating all the time. At the end it was so bad I was missing work. I did a food elimination diet. I’m soy and beans in the soy family intolerant. Please please please try food elimination, because my issue never would have shown up on a blood test.
I hope you find relief soon!
thanks! i plan to!
I really, really, really hope you get some answers soon. I can’t imagine going through all of that. Although on a bright note – you’re looking banging as always. ;)
Thank you–I feel the same about you! Always bangin.
ugh. that stinks, janetha! GI problems are absolutely and horribly embarassing (at least I think so). You definitely made the right move to start figuring out what is going on. I also really hope you get some answers soon. Crossing my fingers that some probiotics and vitamins gets things going along for you!
Sorry to hear your situation has gotten worse!!! I hope you are feeling better now though. Like a few others have suggested I would give the low FODMAP diet a chance and see if it does anything to improve your symptoms. I have had BAD lower gi issues pretty much my entire life. On this diet I have managed to eliminate a lot of the bloating, nausea, constipation, and other IBS symptoms. Also there is an over the counter product you can get which helps to eliminate gas and bloating that I use. It is entirely safe and there are no known side effects. It is known here as ‘de-gas’ but has many other names. The active ingredient is Simethicone. For more info go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simethicone.
Really hope you do feel better soon!!!!
thank you for the link! off to check it out.
I’m so sorry for all the frustration and pain you’ve been dealing with, but I am also happy that you now have an idea what is going on and can start a plan to fix it. Tummy troubles are the worst. I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and happy birthday to your hubs! XOXO :D
oh babe, i’m so sorry to hear about all of these issues…i know you’re helping peeps by sharing your story though who must be going through something similar. my thoughts are with ya…
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