Extreme Abdominal Bloating

Jim Wenson · 01-18-2009, 11:11 AM

I am in kind of dire straights right now. All of the sudden, I can not eat vegetables without becoming extremely bloated in my abdomen, which in turn is knock you down painful. The pain typically occurs within a half hour of eating the vegetables. It is centrally located in my abdomen. I was wondering if anyone here has ever heard or come across anyone with this type of problem.

A little back ground. I am 28 year old male, 215lbs, 25-30% fat. I completely believe following IF and Paleo, but am just starting to do it consistently. I have always battled my weight and have craved sugar and carbs my whole life. For the past two years I have been CrossFitting, PM'ing, Oly Lifting, and eating better. I have never gotten eating down consistently. I have been able to eat the veggies in the past. I decided to make a life commitment and change my eating and life style. I haven't had any sugar or non-paleo foods for about 12 days. About day 7, I couldn't eat vegetables anymore. I became extremely bloated. I can eat my meals without bloat and only minor pain if they consist of fat and protein only. I also checked, I am in ketosis. Don't know if that means anything. Also, doing a 15-17 hour daily fast. I drink a a ton of water and always have, thirsty constantly. No soda's, coffee or tea either. I take fish oil and just started ZMA. I also started drinking some kefir after the pain started. I have never been allergic to anything before. It's almost like a switch was flipped.

My diet is based on .7-1g of protein per lean body mass. I then keep my carbs below 100g a day, all from veggies and fruit. Fat compromises the rest of my daily caloric intake.

I am currently doing a 24 hour fast. Thanks MOD for the advice!

If nothing comes to mind, thanks for taking the time to think about.

Garrett Smith · 01-18-2009, 01:07 PM

I have a patient with ulcerative colitis with a similar intolerance to vegetables.

Her trigger is stress, how have your stress levels been lately?

Jim Wenson · 01-18-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Smith

I have a patient with ulcerative colitis with a similar intolerance to vegetables.

Her trigger is stress, how have your stress levels been lately?

Hard to say. I am wound pretty tight naturally and tend to stress normally. Trying to work on it. But, I couldn't say that it is at any greater level than normal.

Garrett Smith · 01-19-2009, 08:08 AM

Is it both raw and cooked vegetables?

Jim Wenson · 01-19-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Smith

Is it both raw and cooked vegetables?

Yes.

Garrett Smith · 01-19-2009, 09:50 AM

Decent article here: http://www.realage.com/GICenter/Articles.aspx?aid=10409

Trying Beano tablets might be a good thing to try first.

What about starchy stuff, like sweet potatoes?

Jim Wenson · 01-19-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Smith

Decent article here: http://www.realage.com/GICenter/Articles.aspx?aid=10409

Trying Beano tablets might be a good thing to try first.

What about starchy stuff, like sweet potatoes?

Good article, definitely things to think about. I tried Beano and it seemed to help, then like a switch was flipped, and it no longer provided the digestion help.

I haven't had an starchy stuff, in quite awhile, so I don't know. Yesterday, I didn't eat any veggies and was fine. Maybe a very low grade pain was present.

Garrett, thank you so much for your time and responses. I really appreciate them.

Garrett Smith · 01-19-2009, 12:04 PM

Give me (and others) the timeline again. When you went strict on the diet plan, when the veggie intolerance started, when you started (or were already doing) Beano and when it stopped working, and any other things you have tried that have helped or made it worse.

Do any other things with fiber in them (nuts, seeds, etc.) cause aggravation?

Jim Wenson · 01-19-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Smith

Give me (and others) the timeline again. When you went strict on the diet plan, when the veggie intolerance started, when you started (or were already doing) Beano and when it stopped working, and any other things you have tried that have helped or made it worse.

Do any other things with fiber in them (nuts, seeds, etc.) cause aggravation?

I have a little issue with the bloating before I decided to make a commitment to my diet. I had been taking beano for a while on and off again. No problems. Eat as many veggies as I wanted. Then on the 5th, I took to my diet seriously (no more cheating at all). On the 13th, the extreme bloating occurred even with beano. Since the 13th, if I eat veggies, I bloat.

The only things that have helped, is to not eat veggies. Protein and Fat seem to be fine. I have been also drinking kefir, but this was after the pain started. I tolerate the kefir just fine. I really haven't tried anything else. I didn't introduce anything new to the diet after going strict. Eating the same stuff as before, but just not cheating at all. I would typically eat healthy all week and then fall of on the weekends.

Garrett Smith · 01-19-2009, 12:44 PM

Have you yet tried eating well-overcooked (mushy) veggies?

Any bloating with any fruit? What about the nuts/seeds?

I'm trying to help figure out whether it is the fiber or something else.