OTC gasX works well for brief gas issues. For longer term you might consider taking Beano and probiotics.

I would also record everything you're eating and time of symptoms. This could very well be a food intolerance/developed food allergy. Look for trends. Try to eat same things for 2-3 days then a totally different set of things for the next 2-3 days. Avoid processed foods during this 'testing phase' so you can focus on main ingredients in order to discover which you cannot tolerate anymore.

Good luck!

2scicrazed:

Thank you so much for your reply. That is a good idea to keep track/write down my symptoms. I am seeing a dietitian for my eating disorder issues, but she also deals with GI issues/allergies, so I think it will be good to record when I have my symptoms.

I have been eating gluten free for the past year, and it has really helped an autoimmune thyroid condition I have, so I am assuming I may be gluten intolerant. My stomach was doing okay for awhile, but then all of a sudden, for the past 5 days, I have been in pain like this. Every day, like clockwork. Is it typical for IBS symptoms to appear out of the blue like this? I have not eaten anything different lately, except eating out a few days ago. Maybe it was from that?

I do have Gas X and while it hasn't worked much for me in the past, I am going to try it again today to see if it helps at all. Again, thank you so much for your reply.

I struggle with terrible bloating and gas and it makes no sense to me. I can be without it for a few weeks then it just starts up in the morning and gets worse as the day progresses - eventhough i'm eating the very same foods. there are other factors that can trigger it like hormones and anxiety. sorry you're in such pain - it's miserable and disfiguring, isn't it?

If you can take it, I find probiotics (from the pharmacy- cold storage) can be a big help when taken at night, a few hours after eating. I used to take them daily- now I only take them when I need to.

You can also check your hydration levels. A lot of times, I know this can cause issues with me personally. Walking too can sometimes assist. (And belly rubs).

Good luck and hope you are starting to feel better.

Good advice all around.

Food allergies can develop overnight to foods you've eaten daily for decades. And IBS symptoms are fairly common for 'mild allergy' reactions. Over ten of my current allergies are to fruits/veggies that I ate daily/regularly for 30 years straight. It's pretty scary how quickly and without warning your immune system can decide what's a new enemy!

And now they're finding out that people can become unallergic to the same foods after years of not eating them! Crazy! So I've decided to redo the food allergy tests every few years.

BTW allergy testing is a quick way of finding out which foods are likely culprits for your IBS symptoms. Takes 2-4 hours and most insurance covers it 100%.

Good luck!

I also have bouts of very painful gas and bloating--sometimes it will wake me up at night. Right now I am trying to get rid of gluten from my diet, and it is really starting to help. I have noticed less heartburn and there have been more nights that I have slept through the night. I have just requested a blood test for gluten sensitivity from my doctor. Will see what happens. In the meantime, I have greatly reduced the amount of breads, crackers, cookies, and baked goods I love and am addicted to. Hope you find some relief!!!!!

Thank you so much, everyone. I am new to posting in this group, and I must say, I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions. It sucks that others have to suffer with this as well, but it sure helps knowing I am not alone.

Simon: My pain/gas/bloating gets worse as the day wears on as well. I wonder if this is a common thing?

ravenfish: I actually have taken probiotics in the past. They were good quality ones (at least from the research I did) and high dose (30 billion CFU) but I am unsure if they helped. Im not sure why I stopped taking them, but I'll give them another go.

Vickie: Good luck eliminating gluten! I have actually been gluten free for a year now, and I feel that it has lessened the frequency of my stomach troubles (it obviously didn't eliminate them, though). I had blood tests as well, and they came back negative. The only way to know for sure if you are intolerant is to do the elimination diet and see how you feel. It can take awhile to completely eliminate gluten out of your system, so it might take time. I really hope it helps you!

2scicrazed: That's crazy that you can develop allergies/intolerances overnight! I have considered getting the allergy tests done for awhile now...maybe I should just bite the bullet and have them done. It'd be worth knowing if there were foods that I could eliminate.

Also, I took the Gas X last night, and it actually helped! I am thinking of getting some peppermint oil capsules, as I've heard those can help IBS as well. Anyone ever tried them for gas pain/bloat?

Yes, peppermint oil works for gas n bloating for me. I take the ones from Amazon called tummy drops. They work very well for me, highly recommended.

Best wishes.
Roni

I get terrible bloating and painful trapped gas every time I eat anything. I have tried everything and the only thing that works is lying down for awhile, flat or on my left side...sometimes a heating pad helps. But as soon as I eat again I get the pain and bloating. My doctor told me it's just something that goes with IBS and all you can do is try and find a way to ease the symptoms that works for you. It's awful to get up in the morning knowing that after you start eating it's going to be a miserable day.
I hope you find a way to help your suffering.

Barely and Wild - go get food allergy tested! Like tomorrow!

It's amazing the foods you might find out that come up positive. I thought I was gluten intolerant, since it was the grain free paleo diet that eliminated my symptoms. I'm not. Turns out barley was a strong positive. Guess what flour is almost always in wheat products? Yep - barley!

You're just shooting in the wind until you get tested. Might even be allergic to potato starch. Guess what's in like everything processed, even the binders in meds we take - yep... Pray it's not that one...

Test is covered by most insurance. Feels like cats kneeding your back. Not scary...

I have had food allergy testing and had the breath tests for fructose and lactose intolerances. I am fructose intolerant and have eliminated all the fructose, -ols and -oses from my diet. I am on the low FODMAP diet and have been gluten free for 5 years, by choice. My diet is so restricted that if I eliminate one more thing I will practically be drinking water only. My food intolerances have grown over the years and I can't find any supplements that I tolerate. I have tried all the things like Slippery Elm, DGL, etcetera. My whole digestive system is on life support. :)

Walking for 20 minutes really helps to eliminate the gas and discomfort. Also lying on your left side with knees bent and the knee chest position. I couldn't tolerate the probiotics so took Biobest yogurt and it really helped. Hope this helps. Isabelle1954

I've heard success with peppermint oil in water. I also take a little bicarbonated soda (baking soda) in water with the peppermint. is very calming.

Thanks for all the advice.

I haven't gotten the peppermint capsules yet. I read somewhere they have antibacterial properties, and I am wondering if that's a bad thing? Wouldn't they kill off all the good bacteria too? Like antibiotics do? I am taking probiotics at the moment, and am worried the peppermint oil will cancel them out.

Does anyone have any information on this?