Help me deal with this embarrassing ailment

My stomach always feels full, and I have been belching and passing a lot of gas. I also have rumbling in my tummy, which is sometimes so loud! I have taken medicine for worms and flagyl, but there is no improvement. PHOTO | FILE

Dr Flo, I have a very embarrassing problem.

For the last two months, my stomach always feels full, and I have been belching and passing a lot of gas.

I also have rumbling in my tummy, which is sometimes so loud! I have taken medicine for worms and flagyl, but there is no improvement. What could be going on?

Embarrassed

 

Dear Embarrassed,

What you are experiencing is referred to as bloating. There is a feeling of  fullness or tightness in the abdomen, and there may also be pain, rumbling, excessive gas and belching.

The most common cause of this is gas building up in your gastrointestinal tract, either from swallowing air as you eat or drink, and also from the breakdown of undigested food in the intestines. It can also be because of constipation, intestinal infections, hyperacidity or peptic ulcer disease, other intestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, intolerance to certain foods, poor absorption of food, excessive weight gain or hormonal changes e.g. in pregnancy, stress, anxiety and depression. Other more serious, but rare causes include heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, and pancreas insufficiency.

Most of the time, you can manage the bloating through lifestyle changes like losing weight if you are overweight. Also avoid chewing gum, carbonated drinks (like sodas), artificial sweeteners like sorbitol, fatty foods and “gassy” foods like the cabbage family and legumes. Don’t overeat, eat slowly, chew with your mouth closed, don’t talk and eat at the same time, eat while seated upright, and avoid drinking using a straw. If you have problems with dairy products, avoid them. If you have constipation (very hard stool, or rarely passing stool), take a lot of fibre and roughage in your diet, take eight to 10 glasses of water per day and exercise regularly. For some people, massaging the abdomen provides relief.

 If the cause is an infection, or any other medical condition, once you are treated, the bloating should reduce. However, avoid treating yourself because you do not know what specifically you are targeting. Moreover, some medications may actually worsen the symptoms in some people, so don’t take it if you do not need it. Medications that contain simethicone or dimethicone can help to reduce the gas.

***** 

Dr Flo,

I get muscle cramps in my legs at night and sometimes they are very painful. I have been using Deep Heat to massage and it helps a bit. What can I do to alleviate the pain completely?

Rotich

 

Dear Rotich,

Muscle cramps are caused by sudden tightening or contraction of a muscle and they last for a short time. Sometimes you may see a swelling of muscle under the skin. It may be caused by too much exercise or injury to the muscle, not stretching the muscles before you start exercising, standing or sitting for long, putting the legs in an uncomfortable position while you sleep, dehydration, mineral deficiency (calcium, magnesium or potassium), poor blood flow to the area, nerve compression, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease and the use of some medications e.g. antipsychotic medication, steroids, some blood pressure medication, some cholesterol lowering medicines, and contraceptive pills. In many cases, the exact cause may not be known.

When you get a muscle cramp, walk around or move your leg, you can stretch the muscle, and then massage it; take a warm bath; use a hot or a cold compress e.g. a hot water bottle, a towel dipped in warm water, or an ice pack wrapped in a towel. You can also take painkillers or muscle relaxants prescribed by the doctor.

To prevent muscle cramps, take a lot of fluids, reduce alcohol intake, eat a balanced diet to get all the nutrients you need, stretch the muscles before and after exercise and before going to bed. Also keep your bed sheets and blankets loose on the bed. If the cramps are persistent despite all this, visit a doctor to find out if there could be an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. You might also need mineral supplements if you have any deficiencies.

****** 

Dr Flo,

I am 20 years old. I have pain in my chest and it feels congested. Sometimes I find it difficult to breath. I also have a persistent cough, especially in the evenings. When I take hot water the congestion reduces. I was treated for pneumonia when I was in high school. Could this be a sign that the pneumonia is back?

Anne

 

Dear Anne,

You seem to be over-reacting to cold in what is called hypersensitivity or allergy. In most cases, someone is born with the hypersensitivity. It can show up in different ways, by affecting the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), the nose (allergic rhinitis), the sinuses (sinusitis), the chest (asthma), the skin (allergic dermatitis or eczema), or even the gastrointestinal tract. Someone can have one or more of these. The things that cause the hypersensitivity include cold, dust, pollen, grass, dust mites, fur, feathers, smoke, perfumes, some foods or exercise.

In your case, the trigger is cold, and the hypersensitivity reaction is happening in the airways in your chest. That is why you have a recurrent cough, and pain and congestion in the chest. This is called asthma. When you are exposed to cold, the lining of the airways becomes inflamed; a lot of mucus is produced, and the muscles in the wall of the airway contract. All this makes breathing difficult, and you also get the urge to cough, to remove the excess mucus.

To manage it, you need to always dress warmly, cover your mouth and nose when it is cold, and also avoid other irritants like dust, smoke, strong smells and mould. When you visit the doctor, you will be put on medication to reduce the hypersensitivity and also to open up your chest when it becomes congested. Asthma can be managed very well with proper follow-up, so that you can stay for long periods of time without any symptoms.

BLOATING TIPS

Avoid the following things to reduce gas:

  •  Chewing gum

  •  Carbonated drinks

  •  Artificial sweeteners

  •  Fatty foods

  •  Gassy foods

  •  Overeating

  •  Eating quickly

  •  Drinking with a straw

  •  Talking while you are eating

  •  Chewing with your mouth open

  •  Dairy products if you are intolerant

  •  Self-medication