Gas and bloating

Submitted by Naturalgirl on June 25, 2004 - 1:48am
Body: 

I'm not too sure where to post this - whether under Food, Pelvic Health or Lifestyle...

Anyway, I've been doing pretty well in terms of keeping my uterus inside of me. In the meantime, I've been trying to note the times when it descends and to see what are the contributing factors. I've been on a non-strict vegetarian diet for the past few months and ate some chicken for the first time two evenings ago. The following day I had gas, bloating and diahorrea all day. In addition, my uterus descended (was actually protuding outside of my body) and nothing could get it to go back up. (After I'd sat in the posture through a movie it receded a little, but descended when I later walked to the supermarket.) By evening, I was trying to figure out the puzzle.

I have loosely concluded that (i) I may have difficulty digesting meat (flesh) (I had had ongoing problems with gas and bloating that cleared up when I changed my diet.); and (ii) (and more relevant to this forum) that anything that places pressure on the stomach (such as a gassy, bloated, distended stomach) or pelvic organs will aggravate the prolaspe. The lesson is - Eat right!

Just thought I'd share this in case it can help anyone else.

Christine

June 25, 2004 - 5:06am

Your observations could not be more right on and I believe can be generalized to all of us.

sybille

June 25, 2004 - 10:01am

I find that too many trips to the bathroom to sit actually makes me feel worse throughout the day and takes a couple of days before feeling "normal." I wonder if we don't feel better with some left overs in us. Kind of helps prop things up, wouldn't you say? I have heard that some women's rectocele is worse with a bout of diarrhea.

Just tossing an idea.

Sybille

Christine

June 25, 2004 - 10:40am

...diarrhea is an inflammatory process that causes the bowel to become swollen, in turn pressing on the pelvic space. We feel best when the bowel is regularly emptying of lively foods.

Christine

June 25, 2004 - 12:19pm

Hi Everyone,

This topic needs a bit more attention. As head nurse on a medical/surgical floor in Albuquerque I was shocked at how many people have bowel function that alternates between constipation and diarrhea. Because it's so ubiquitous in our culture, the medical profession makes little note of it and many people just assume it's normal. A bowel that experiences frequent bouts of diarrhea is very unhealthy! Diarrhea should never occur except with the occassional bug. Even when we eat irritating foods, we should never have watery diarrhea. All medications (laxatives) that cause watery diarrhea should be avoided. SO MUCH disease first begins to express itself in the bowel and this is an opportunity to take notice and make healthful and lasting changes.

Christine

cwhite0201

June 25, 2004 - 7:07pm

Christine,

What do you think of drinking senna tea to help with consitpation? I have added more fiber to my diet, but I find that I still need a little extra "help." I still have days when I feel constipated and bloated and that makes my pelvic area feel that much more heavy.

Thanks,
Cindy

Christine

June 26, 2004 - 7:56am

Hi Cindy,

Sure...natural senna is fine. Try a couple of peeled Granny Smith apples too...eaten by themselves two or three hours between meals. Ground flax is also very good for this.

Christine

Naturalgirl

June 26, 2004 - 8:43am

In reply to Sybille I just want to say that I think complete elimination is necessary for health. Incidentally, I converted :) to squatting some months ago after reading about it on this site, so I'm not really sitting.

In response to Christine's (hi, it's been a while!) reply, I have also been trying to get answers for my problems with gas and bloating and have 'concluded' that candida lies at the root of all this. I found an interesting web site (I'll post the address) that includes some tests you can do to determine if you (probably) have candida. I was treated for candida repeatedly every month for a long time. When it kept coming back, I just stopped seeing the Dr and tried to find natural remedies. I am pretty sure that the medication killed all the good flora and this is why I have digestive problems. I was also treated for toenail fungus last year - this course of medication I think is also a culprit.

There is a diet that I plan to try (after mango season ;) )

Naturalgirl

June 26, 2004 - 8:52am

Here are the adresses of some web sites that address the issue of candida (I'm not sure why I'm not able to enter them as links).

http://www.candidafree.net/pages/1/

http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/candida.htm

N'Girl

Naturalgirl

June 26, 2004 - 8:56am

One more thing - I've also noticed that incomplete elimination also seems to put pressure on the uterus and aggravate the prolapse. This is further indication for me that it's important to get it all out.

cwhite0201

June 26, 2004 - 2:33pm

Thanks, Christine. I have added the ground flax to my diet, but I hadn't thought about the apples. I'll add that, also.

Just another quick note to let you know how much I appreciate you sharing your experiences and knowledge with the rest of us. I am learning alot from your book and I appreciate the support from this website. It is so nice to know that I am not alone and that I have options.

Blessings,
Cindy

Christine

June 27, 2004 - 8:02am

Dear Cindy,

Thank YOU for seeing the work and doing the work! I'm basically good at whacking people over the head and telling them to wake up. There are so many other beautiful and wise women here sharing support and advise and I give silent thanks for them each and every day.

:-) Christine

Dianne

July 9, 2004 - 1:42pm

For whatever this is worth - I have been trying a "food combining" diet since April because I so often feel bloated. This one happens to be by Suzanne Somers. It really helped me alot. Basically, you can't eat a protein with a carb. It's carbs with veggies, and protein with veggies. Any breads are whole grains - no white bread, pasta etc. Also, you can eat fruit on an empty stomach. The only thing for me is that I ate alot more cheese than I normally would, esp cottage cheese. Then in June I was told I have a huge fibroid. In my research, I read that something in cottage ch. esp. can change the estrogen levels and a difinite no no for someone with fibroids. Between the posture for the prolapse, and my diet (my gut level guess!) this past month was much much better than the previous. I am determined NOT to have surgery!!
My best to all,
Dianne
PS - by 19 year old son calls it "food separating." LOL :)

Christine

July 19, 2004 - 11:12am

Hi Dianne!

I've had a very busy week and have only ducked my head in here a couple of times lately, but wanted to say a word about food combining. I'M WITH YOUR SON! :-) Although I've really tried to get behind the logic of it all because so many of the health writers I respect profess its validity, it just doesn't make sense to me. Our original diet contained just about equal amounts of carbs/fats/protein consumed at the same time. Carbs begin to digest in our mouth, are halted in our acidic stomach and then continue the process in our bowel. These do not hold up or interfere with digestion of protein in any way. It is also my personal experience that the only food combination that is truly indigestible is beans and nuts (lentils excluded.) For a real belly ache, try a bowl of oatmeal with almonds and soymilk!! I eat only grains, beans, nuts, seeds and raw food, and virtually never experience gas/bloating. I believe the answer is in the handling of our food rather than in the combining.

So glad you are seeing improvment!!

Christine