Digestive Gas

[malakaix]

I seem to have an excess of digestive gas building up in my stomach, which makes it very hard to breathe.

It's really become worse in the last three weeks, after eating or drinking i will feel bloated which is usually followed by an extreme shortness in breathe, i can barley do anything because it's so difficult to breathe, its as though my lung capacity had shrunk significantly.. after a couple of hours ill go through at least 10-30mins of big bellowing burps which give relief to my airway and i can breathe normally again.

I can't quite pinpoint what is causing this, but i believe it may be milk.. i've never been lactose intolerant but is it possible to develop an intolerance to it over time? I'm probably going to see the doctor anyway because what started out as a simple inconvenience is quickly becoming increasingly frustrating.

 

[euphoria]

yes, its totally possible (and common) to develop lactose intolerance over time. You could try cutting out dairy products for a week or so and see how you feel. If you have the ability to go see a doctor, that's an obvious choice. Another cause of excess digestive gas building up is acid reflux.

 

[malakaix]

Thanks euphoria, i've decided to go with your advice and cut out dairy products for a week or so and see if it makes any difference.. i havn't had any since i posted this and so far i feel great.

 

[Samadhi]

Keep a food/symptoms diary - it's the first thing a doctor/nutritionist or even a naturopath ask you to to - map out when/what you eat and then the symptoms. I've had digestive issues for almost 10 years, and it's finally been worked out that I had a bout bad bacteria in my gut, which feeds predominantly on sugar (this is after having hospital tests for lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption, glucose intolerance and also procedures testing for coeliac disease, crohn's and ulcers). I've now cut out ALL sugar (including fruit) and so far my gas/bloating/reflux has gone. I also notice that when i eat something that's high in sugars (i.e i had indian for tea last night) i get bad gas, bloating and reflux.

I hope you feel better and i hope you can work out what it is quickly! If cutting out lactose is the answer, that's fantastic!