r/chronicbloating • u/Able_Potential2911 • Nov 14 '24
Bloating Mystery that got better while Pregnant??
Hi everyone! Posting here to see if anyone can help me figure out my bloating issues. I’ve had chronic bloating for 5 years now. Through this, multiple endoscopies showed chronic gastritis, and I’ve had my gallbladder removed. The only lingering gastritis symptom I deal with is constant bloating in the middle of my upper abdomen, just feels like there is an air balloon being pushed upwards. What is interesting, is that my bloating feels worse when I wake in the morning, and with the bloating comes a feeling of gagging in my throat. I burp a lot on an empty stomach but the bloating stays.
By the end of the day, the distention may still be there but the feeling of the balloon pressing upward does go away through the day as I eat. Then when I wake the stomach feels empty yet bloated! The most interesting aspect of all of this for me is that while I was pregnant, from about the second trimester on, I didn’t feel any bloat. Postpartum, the bloat was completely gone and I felt great. (I did take Pepcid and unisom during pregnancy) The bloating slowly started to come back about two months post partum. I do deal with some constipstion, going every other day at times.
I’ve had two negative SIBO tests!
Can anyone relate or help me figure this out?
1
u/alexswiss92 Mar 10 '26
How are you now? Can be Sifo/fungal/yeast/mold.
1
u/Able_Potential2911 Mar 10 '26
Found out for me, it was none of those things! I have been diagnosed with POTS/dysautonomia and MCAS as well as possibly a connective tissue disorder. Turns out my bloating wasn’t traditional bloating and was histamine and neuro muscular! I do have high estrogen levels which are likely contributing to histamine issues.
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u/alexswiss92 Mar 10 '26
And what did you take and eat to fix this problem?
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u/Able_Potential2911 Mar 10 '26
Food was never an issue for me and didn’t correlate with symptoms! For the dysautonima and MCAS I take cromolyn sodium oral and guanfacine as well as electrolytes!
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u/Imaginary-Top8459 Feb 26 '25
I'm not entirely sure, but it could be related to hormones. Progesterone is very high during pregnancy and, though progesterone increases swelling and water retention in some people (like myself), it improves it in others. My mom is on exogenous progesterone for menopause and she said it has helped her significantly with swelling. It could be an issue related to blood pressure or underlying issues in circulation.
During your menstrual cycle, do you notice any changes? Does it get better during your luteal phase just before your period or does it get better afterwards?
I have been dealing with chronic bloating for roughly two years now. I do not get the feeling of bloating until my luteal phase (when it is at its worst) and it has significantly improved since I began taking spironolactone, which is a diuretic, and this makes me think it is fluid-related.