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Is Persistent Severe Bloating A Symptom Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Posted on Thu, 19 Oct 2023

Question: Hi, I have severe bloating ( I always look like 7 months pregnant) which I think is as irritable bowel syndrome. It is really bad and I have tried taking herbal teas such as ginger, peppermint and fennel tea and none of them seem to have helped. I also take probiotics and digestive enzymes but my bloating is still there . It sucks and it has reduced my self esteem as I can’t wear certain outfits due to the fact that my swollen belly will show. Can you please recommend a drug that will help reduce the bloating. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Take treatment for 5 days and tell me how you feel.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I've gone through your details.
I am Dr Kumar and would be addressing your concerns.

Firstly I would like to tell you that IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion which means that when despite doing all possible tests of gastroenterology like Colonoscopy abdominal MRI stool culture etc we can't find anything wrong with the patient we give his symptoms a name which is called IBS. So in layman's language, IBS is just a disorder involving functions of gut while pathologically everything is ok.

Now lets come to your problem. I would label you as having dyspepsia.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine, and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestines causing improper and disturbed food digestion.

Tests suggested-
Small bowel imaging and a gastric-emptying scan.
Stool routine test
Body fat calculation.

Treatment:
Cap Rabeprazole -levosulpiride 1 capsule once daily in morning 7 a.m
Syrup Mucaine gel 2tsf thrice daily 9 am - 9 pm
Tablet Pancreoflat one tablet thrice daily 9 am, 2 pm, 9 pm
You need a prescription from your local physician to buy them.
Let me know how you feel after 5 days.

Hope I answered your query.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (10 hours later)

Okay, this is to add that I currently take seroquel 25mg to help with my insomnia/depression. I was wondering if it would cause an interaction with any of the medications listed. Also, should I stop taking my probiotics?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again my dear patient,
Probiotics as such are always good for overall digestion in body and they are just going to help you so keep taking them.
Any atypical anti pyschotic medication has its own side effects on functions of gut,However there is as such no serious interaction of these drugs with it.
Start taking them.
Feel free to follow up.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (2 days later)

Hello Dr,

I went to get the medications you listed and I was able to get all expect the Rabeprazole- Levosulpiride. I am currently in Cyprus for school and apparently they don’t sell Levosulpiride in this country. They only have Rabeprazole capsule on its own. Should I get the Rabeprazole alone and take it or is there an alternative ?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.
Get Rabeprazole 20 mg and take it twice daily 7a.m 7 pm.
If levosulpiride is not there ask them to give Domperidone 30 mg slow release or 10 mg thrice daily.
Don't stop medicines on your own
Follow up after 5 days
Can send query at this link in case this thread is closed.
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ramesh-kumar/72660
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (43 minutes later)

Alright will do, thanks. I forgot to mention that instead of Mucaine Gel, they gave me gaviscon as an alternative as it also no longer sold here. Is gaviscon a good alternative for the syrup Mucaine Gel because she also suggested I take Milk of Magnesia because apparently it contains it.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.

Detailed Answer:
Its ok.
Something is better then nothing.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how relieved did you feel when ever you take milk of magnesia?
Take VSL#3 as probiotic.
You got pankeoflat?
waiting

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana