Has anyone experienced the following, or know how to fix it?:

Upon returning from a month in Bonaire, I have developed a problem with my stomach/intestines.

Before leaving, I had a rock-solid stomach that didn't mind spicy food, greasy food, or anything at all. It was quiet and made no noise or um... excess gasses.

During my stay in Bonaire, I got very queasy for about 24 hours, and had to lay down. I had been eating food from Venezuela, via the local grocery stores. Since that time, my stomach has been gurgling, and making odd noises, as well as making a lot of um... excess gas. I have no other symptoms, aside from what seems to be a distillery running in my stomach!

I had a similar problem after returning from Israel one time, but it went away within days. This is now 3 months since my Bonaire trip, and the symptoms are still there. It is loud and actually embarassing.

Any clue?

Thanks!

Before my trip to Bonaire I was very paranoid about the water and the food on Bonaire. After my trip I spend time telling everyone that will listen that the food was great and the water should be bottled and sold internationally.
I assume that you are middle aged and thus worried that something dangerous may be occurring. Indeed, stomach problems can be disguised and very difficult to diagnose. Never the less I believe that if you haven't had changes in you BM and are not experiencing any pain the stomach the rumbles you hear are probably not dangerous. Never the less you should at least check for occult blood in your BM.
The noises almost for sure are occurring in the large intestine. Certain bacteria produce more gas than others and you may have acquired a new variety. The noises may also occur because your body is having a hard time breaking down the food due to gall bladder problems etc. (but you have no pains so this is probably not the answer). Or maybe you have developed an intolerance to gluten, lactose, etc
How soon after eating due the symptoms occur?
Since I am a physician specialized in the field of orthopedics I'm really not qualified to answer your question. Perhaps there is a gastroenterologist amongst the BT crowd
Regards

Thank you for the very informative advice, Carter.

I agree... the water in Bonaire is some of the best in the world, and the food was fantastic.

I'm actually not worried about the problem, but rather annoyed at it. My theory (not having a medical background, but a physical science one) was also that I picked up some new bacteria, of the type that normally reside in the intestines. (or rather large intestine, as you pointed out)

I'm 33 yrs old. Symptoms seem to occur at random times, and are not completely associated with eating. They tend to occur if I skip a meal too. They are on and off, possibly tied to meals I had 6-8 hours prior, but again the correlation is tough to prove.

I had thought that possibly eating something with a lot of local, USA, "good bacteria" like yogurt every morning might help to overpower the Bonaire bacteria. Would this be worth a shot?

Thank you again for the thoughtful input. It is greatly appreciated.

John, I work with a group of doctor's...I'd second Carter's advice and see a gastroenterologist...there are quite a few good diagnostic tests (that aren't invasive) that can determine if it's a bacterial problem...and if it's not that, find out what the problem is. No need to suffer if the problem can be resolved.

And I agree with the group as well about the gastroenterologist. Made a big difference and even though I wasn't having much pain the removal of the gallbladder has been a huge help. OF course the saddest part about the change of diet was no caffeine - but Starbucks decaf can be just as good and feels as powerful.

John, your idea about yogurt is not a bad one. However, be aware that most yogurts do not contain bacterial cultures that are good for the body's intestinal flora. Most yogurts are just good tasting foods. Check to see if the yogurt contains acidophilus, bifodophilis, lactobacillus. There are also other bacterial cultures that are good for the intestines but again I'm no expert in this area.
In Sweden (I live in Sweden)you can even buy pills with these bacteria at the pharmacy. So... try your local drugstore as well. In any case experimenting using these bacterial cultures will not harm you.

Carter,

Interestingly enough, take a look at my local yogurt (produced about 75 kilometers from where I live) and see the link to Sweden in the literature.

http://www.stonyfield.com/Wellness/SixLiveActiveCultures.cfm

It would appear this yogurt might be a good way to experiment with re-population. If this fails, I will reluctantly check with a gestroenterologist. I hate to use my US health insurance for small things like this. I feel it adds to the already spiraling costs we pay here for the care. Alas, that is a thread for another board

Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate your time and effort in replying and all of your input.

John

It is a small world, isn't it? I was totally unaware of that Swedish company. Their office is on the same street as my youngest son goes to school (more coincidences)!
Their research is solid. If my memory serves me lactobacillus reuteri is the most important of the different bacteria and usually remains a part of the flora while the others are temporary.
As I mentioned I don't believe you have any pathological problem but if you ask your gastro dr. he is going to put you through a number of unpleasant procedures.
One difference between Am.dr and Sw. dr is that Am. dr. must "cover their ass" which results in overtesting and heavy expenses. The opposite problem exists in Sweden. Its hard to get treatment.
Keep in touch and let me know how things work out.
Good night (11:30PM)

Good luck, John.

Stonyfield makes the best yogurt there is! I'm so glad Costco has continued to stock it instead of one of the "other" popular brands.

Keep us posted, John. Ayo. Carole

John,

You mentioned eating food from Venezuela. If it was fresh produce and you ate any unpeeled, I would think that parasites are also a possibility making a gastroenterologist a more important, more immediate recourse. That would not be a 'small thing' if let go for too long.Might be worth a call to your internist. Good luck with it.

(Message edited by glenr on November 15, 2004)

John:

I have not heard of visitors to Bonaire getting that problem (although I am not sure it is one that would come up much in day to day conversations!). That said, I agree with Glen -- I would check with a Gastro. Could be all sorts of things (most of them not serious) but why wait?

If you purchase fruit that has been cut open at the fruit market (like they sell watermelons & papaya sometimes), or cut open fruit yourself without washing the exterior well, you run the risk of bacteria, cholera, etc., because it's possible that the fruit-sellers didn't wash the outer skin with soap & water before slicing into it--once they slice it open, any bacteria from the surface of the skin gets a "right of passage" thru the fruit via the knife blade, then onto the next piece of fruit, and eventually your belly. It's best to buy fruit whole & wash & cut it yourself.

If you hadn't posted your age as 33, I would've also asked if you had turned 40 w/in the last few months...(not that I would know from personal experience, but my friends over 40 complain about how their stomach can't handle foods like it used to...booze either).
;-)

Ruth,

And I thought it was just me! (turned 40 in August, although my stomach sensitivity started a few years ago already)

Jake

John- I am a gastro nurse and I second the advise that everyone is giving- see a doctor esp. if you think you might have eaten something unwashed. Parasites can be treated and happen lots more than you think. As to the over 40...well....yes- it DOES happen- and actually I think that our bodies are set to self-destruct right at 40. All those years that I thought people were 'just complaining" (and were just nuts)- well, suddenly, NO caffeine, No fats, don't eat too close to bedtime.. its ALL happening to me!!! (We ALL have irritable bowel in my department- something about having to work with the doctors!!)
Tami

Hm
This subject is getting very interesting. As I read through all that has been written several thoughts occur.
One thought is that stomach problems seem to draw the attention of many. The reason for this is likely to be that so many people have stomach problems they feel they can easily relate to John's predicament.
Another interesting thought is that all the Americans who are writing are giving the advice that John should immediately see a gastroenteroligist. I on the other hand as a Swedish physician have taken a little different approach to the problem. I have suggested John could see a gastro dr., but I'm not pushing that line so heavily as others.
Many are concerned John has a pathological parasite or bacteria. While w/o testing I can not say he doesn't have an infection it is not likely since he has no other symptoms (including diarrhea and pain).
The stomach noises are probably not dangerous, as long as they are the only isolated symptom John is experiencing.
I realize not everyone is as fascinated as I am by the differences in how different populations perceive disease, medical treatment etc.
However, whenever I treat Americans in Sweden I experience this difference, and thus find it fascinating topic.

WOW! This topic is getting more and more interesting every day.

As an update, I have started with the experimental "re-population" of proper bacteria in the interest of science and this debate. (plus, I am not interested in colonoscopies unless it's a last resort) ha ha ha

I am currently eating one container of yogurt from Stonyfield (with the critical types of bacteria) on an empty stomach every morning for 7 days straight. I just want to see if there is a change. This morning, being my first morning on the new "diet", I have noticed some major changes, in the way of more um... "gasseous byproducts." I am hoping this might be the "good" bacteria taking action against the bad. Time will tell.

I also find it fascinating (as Carter does), that Americans are so quick to use healthcare systems before there are any major symptoms. Being simply an arm chair doctor (self diagnosis), I found that by looking up the symptoms of parasitic organisms, you nearly always have to have a bloody stool or some form of unusual stool, as well as in many cases, fever and some kind of malaise. Because I have none of those syptoms, I feel there is nothing life threatening going on, so I at least have time to try an alternative preventative treatment.

Time will tell, but in the interest of this discussion, I will check in periodically over the next couple weeks with updates.

PS: It is very interesting how people on different sides of the Atlantic view problems. Having been in international sales for years, I had to adjust my thinking to work through logic in different countries. This thread really highlights the difference in approaches. Fascinating!

Thank you again, everyone.

Reading John's words just above, brings to mind a quote, all be it from the professional medical community, that 'A doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient'. :–)

That said, Good Luck, John.

(Message edited by glenr on November 16, 2004)

It is interesting how different cultures, and countries approach medical issues. From conversations with my Dutch friends, they use a more holistic approach to treating conditions before seeing a physician. Also, I find it very interesting that drugs that are a controlled substance in the US, are over the counter in England and Holland (codeine for example). Also, that in Holland, you can't get NyQuil, Sudafed, or other "combination ingredient drugs" over the counter, they require a prescription. Those just being some of the interesting differences. I do think that in the US, a lot of doctors over-medicate and don't get to the root of the problem. The problem is, there are a lot of not so good doctors, and a handful of good doctors who actually care about their patient...but I'll not go there!

John, if it's a parasite or bacteria issue, a colonoscopy would probably be one of the last tests they would do. There is the urea breath test, samples from you know what, etc. Those are non invasive, quick, and usually covered by insurance. I think trying the holistic approach is great, let us know what happens. It would be great if the condition was resolved without having to see a GI specialist.

Last, I couldn't have said it better Glen ;-)

P.S....Jake, it's just starting...LOL! If we could all have the constitution of that when we were 20, and invincible! LOL!

True to everyone. I think that one of the big problems Americans have is that we want everything now and who cares the cost? Make it free!! Plus no one ever wants to take the blame for their problems- so physicians have to be perfect of they will be sued- no one believes that medicine is NOT an exact science. Doctors tend to order more tests than people need rather than take the chance of being thought 'wrong'. Horrible pressure to be an MD in the USA- I personally have had patient show up and threaten to sue 'if we hurt them'. (then they laugh and pretend that it is a joke- but it is so hard to work in that cloud of hostility.) Now on the flip side- no one should refuse their responsibility. Mistakes happen and it is up to us to prevent them. But John- as a nurse in the US- if I did NOT urge you to see a physician and you upped and died- your family could turn around and sue. I've KNOWN people who have boasted of doing just such a thing. and they were proud of it!!
So having vented- the yogurt sounds like a wonderful idea- let us know if it works in the end!! (Bad pun!)

Re suing in the US: and then there all the lawyers out there trying to find ways to make money. What better way than to sue and settle-- they get an easy 50%. But I won't go there!!!

Jake, you have so much to look forward to!!! I too believe we now outlive the 'design life' of the human body. Both from my own personal experience of a few years more than 40 and from the fact that 'modern' medicine is only about 60 years old, since the widespread use of antibiotics. Hardly time for evolution to catch up.

I'm Dutch and favor the holistic approach. So does my doctor. But I always see him when something bothers me about my body.
He studied medicine and I did not.
There are 2 possibilities:
- he can reassure me and say "that it is my age" or that it will go away by itself. I pay € 35 and go home happy
- he does not trust it and suggests a medicine or sends me to a specialist. Now I'm sure that a irreversible problem has not occurred because I waited too long to see my doctor.

You only have one body. When in doubt, see your doctor. The stakes are too high.

BTW I'm almost 52 and never had the problems you described :-)

THE CHECK-IN!

So far, I have been eating a small amount of the yogurt with the 6 types of bacteria in it for most of a week. I am happy to report that the stomach rumbling is literally gone! The first few days, were worse than normal, but now I am back to normal.

Thanks again for all of your input. It was a fun experiment, and a successful one too!

Hooray, John!! This is great news. Glad to hear you are back to "normal" again. Good old Stonyfield Yogurts...all natural stuff! I hope whatever it was does not return. Keep us posted, John. Carole

That's GREAT John. Good experiment and no rumblings - I think I'll have to get myself some as well.

Good work.

John...drink 7 beers a night for 2 weeks and only fart while facing your wife in bed when she is asleep...southern holistics

it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a gastro to run a stool sample. if you've got biche, you better get 'em out.(portugese for "bugs")

Wally, you are on a roll...LOL..."Southern Holistics"...