Constant stomach gurgling & depression

Astro27 · Feb 7, 2016

I've had crohn's for about 15 years now, but in just the last 2 years my stomach started making incredibly loud and embarrassing gurgling noises. Before anyone says, "it's not as loud as you think", it is. People hear it, animals hear it, im not making this up and it's not in my head.

I cant keep living this way. Forget even bothering with dates or any of that crap, I can't even get through an hour long meeting at work without numerous embarrassing gurgles which are impossible to explain. I was recently asked to sit on a panel to interview job applicants; which would be a great opportunity, but I know I have to turn it down. There is no way in hell I'm going to sit in a quiet room for 8 hours with a handful of people I've never met, all while it sounds like I'm shitting myself. It's bad enough when these noises start around people I know!

My doctor just keeps brushing this off like it's no big deal and doesn't think anything can be done. I haven't had this problem for most of the time I've had crohn's so I don't believe how that even can be possible. Something started this so something should fix it.

Obviously the constant noise of my stomach eating itself hasn't exactly helped my outlook in life, and the depression I've been battling for years is only escalating. The only respite I have found was going skydiving, which I only did for a few months, (it's pretty expensive to go through the training, buying gear, etc). I don't know if that's the best way of dealing with these issues, but something about facing death head on gives you a different perspective.

I really don't know where to go from here. I just recently started remicade in the last few months, which so far hasn't done a thing. I've also recently started to lose my appetite and energy so I already know I'm on a path back to the prednisone seesaw. But prednisone didn't stop the noises the last time I was on it so I doubt it will do anything for that this time.

This rant went a bit longer than I was expecting, but to get to the point; does anyone have any success in stopping loud stomach noises?

ronroush7 · Feb 7, 2016

I am sorry for all you are going through. What does your doctor say about the progress of your disease? Maybe you need a different biologic. Be sure to ask Jim.

Eridon2002 · Feb 7, 2016

Are you sure the noise is coming from your stomach? Do you know where your Crohn's disease is located?(ileum, colon, duodenum, etc?) Does it make a difference whether you have eaten any food recently or for several hours? I have a very loud gurgling noise that will fill a room. It sounds like my stomach but I know it is emanating from my colon where I have a severe stricture. Strictures can cause this type of noise. Pain and nausea are other signs of strictures. You would need a colonoscopy and/or MRE to identify a stricture. If it is a stricture nothing will stop the noise unless you have that part resected.

Walt · Feb 7, 2016

Sorry for your struggles.
I just wanted to add that there is a name for what you describe.

borborygmus!

wishing you only well,
peace
w

ps

teeny5 · Feb 7, 2016

I get the gurgling, but it isn't constant. Seems to be worse when I haven't eaten, have eaten anything fibrous or even breads, after a salad, or when stressed. I have never found a way to control it. GI was never concerned unless the noises were accompanied with pain.

matt82 · Feb 7, 2016

I had the same kind of noises for years. Some times it would be a crazy gurgling sound that would be ever 10 seconds and last for five minutes or so. I have now found out it was caused by narrowing of my intestine where the disease is. After 17 years I guess this part has had enough. And actually turned into a fistula, then abscess. Now I'm going to have surgery to remove this part as it is pretty much shot. And even if it were to heal is going to keep causing me problems. My mistake was I should have went to see my GI instead I probably left the noises and then pain for over a year. But if you have no pain your doctor is right. But I would maybe ask for some kind of imaging to make sure it's not the beginning of a blockage, if caught early you stand a better chance of not having a major flare or problem.

ronroush7 · Feb 7, 2016

matt82 said:
I had the same kind of noises for years. Some times it would be a crazy gurgling sound that would be ever 10 seconds and last for five minutes or so. I have now found out it was caused by narrowing of my intestine where the disease is. After 17 years I guess this part has had enough. And actually turned into a fistula, then abscess. Now I'm going to have surgery to remove this part as it is pretty much shot. And even if it were to heal is going to keep causing me problems. My mistake was I should have went to see my GI instead I probably left the noises and then pain for over a year. But if you have no pain your doctor is right. But I would maybe ask for some kind of imaging to make sure it's not the beginning of a blockage, if caught early you stand a better chance of not having a major flare or problem.

I agree

DEmberton · Feb 7, 2016

I can sympathize. Job interviews, meetings, visits to the dentist, all times I had to apologize for my gurgling stomach.

Surgery to remove the stricture fixed it.

Layla · Feb 7, 2016

I have the same, also due to strictures. Maybe you can ask about some imaging being done to rule that in or out?

I just make fun of it, can't do anything abut it so when it happens in meetings at work I just say something along the lines of my belly having an opinion too or whatever comes to my mind and suits the situation which is sometimes nothing at all. It turns out most people aren't bothered by it at all and just carry on like normal.
I tell them I can't help it if they ask, that it's just one of the fun bits of having Crohn's and that's that.
If I'm with people I don't know I just say something along the lines of having eaten something that disagrees with me and move on. I find that if I don't dwell on it they won't either.

Why don't you discuss your fears of rumbling all through the interviews with your manager or whoever is organising them and see what they say? They might not be bothered and at the very least they'll understand why may decline something that is good for your career.

Justanothercp · Feb 7, 2016

My guts did the same thing. For me, it was as my stricture got worse and worse. I eventually had a bowel resection and that resolved the issue. Hope that's not what you're headed for, but it was actually a huge relief to get the diseased bowel out. I got my life back, and felt so much better.

ronroush7 · Feb 7, 2016

Layla said:
I have the same, also due to strictures. Maybe you can ask about some imaging being done to rule that in or out?

I just make fun of it, can't do anything abut it so when it happens in meetings at work I just say something along the lines of my belly having an opinion too or whatever comes to my mind and suits the situation which is sometimes nothing at all. It turns out most people aren't bothered by it at all and just carry on like normal.
I tell them I can't help it if they ask, that it's just one of the fun bits of having Crohn's and that's that.
If I'm with people I don't know I just say something along the lines of having eaten something that disagrees with me and move on. I find that if I don't dwell on it they won't either.

Why don't you discuss your fears of rumbling all through the interviews with your manager or whoever is organising them and see what they say? They might not be bothered and at the very least they'll understand why may decline something that is good for your career.

Good attitude

Astro27 · Feb 8, 2016

I should have also mentioned it's not just noise, but my stomach actually goes through some crazy contortions when it gets noisy. You can literally see liquid get blocked up and build up pressure in one area, then eventually blow off with some loud noises. Since losing weight you get a really close look at things normally only seen under an x-ray. The location isn't always the same and you can see food moving around to different pressure points. It basically looks like a fist sized object working around under the skin.

I've tried to film my stomach deforming, but it always seems to calm down once I focus on it. It looks like an alien is crawling around in my gut. The first time I saw it it scared the hell out of me, because it doesn't look like something possible for a living body. My stomach has also taken on the starving kid look as its puffed out, despite that ive dropped to about 137lbs, (contrast to 205lbs 2 years ago). None of this seems to worry my doctor. Other than the noises I don't usually have pain, but sometimes do especially if I eat rice or pasta, or too much bread. I also don't have any problems with multiple rushed visits to the restroom that I usually have during a flare.

As far as whether eating affects it, it does get worse after eating, but not that much. I usually skip breakfast and it's about as noisy in the morning than it is after lunch. I really haven't been able to pinpoint any specific food that worsen the noises, it just seems constant.

I did have a colonoscopy recently but my doctor didn't really seem concerned. Before that I had an ultrasound, but the staff must never had someone with crohns. One was confused about what was on the screen, then another said it was just food, whether that was blockage or normal, I don't know. I might ask for a berrium xray soon though, maybe that will give a better view of what's going on inside.

DEmberton · Feb 8, 2016

Mine would visibly swell up on the lower right for 4 or 5 seconds, then go down with a sound like flushing the toilet. Quite entertaining really. Of course it would never do this in front of the doctors.

It was about 15 years since my first symptoms that things got worse for me too. If it's a stricture caused by scar tissue from years of inflammation you don't need to have any active inflammation for it to be a problem.

I think you should ask for a scan.

The Real MC · Feb 8, 2016

Have you tried a bland diet?

Not as bad as a liquid diet.

After a period of cramps, my piping can be noisy with residual cramps. I found that if I am on a bland diet for 3-4 days then it calms down. Your issues may call for longer than 4 days.

Anything to avoid invasive surgery is worth a try. Especially if it doesn't involve more prescription drugs.

I am managing my CD well through diet, having finally isolated the trigger foods. No two CD patients have the same triggers and it can be a frustrating process (sometimes painful) to isolate the trigger foods.

Layla has a good attitude. I had the rumbling happen during a meeting, to which I quipped "I'm going to go with my gut instinct" which got a chuckle and we moved on.

mamalana · Feb 10, 2016

I have the exact same thing! Lol, I never give it a second thought because it's been happening for a while now. My kids find it hilarious that they can hear my stomach "being cranky" from upstairs! No pain, just the moving, growling, flushing sounds that everyone else mentioned. SO glad to know it's not just me! Thanks for the additional quips- they'll be great to use when I'm working in the library (and yes, super quiet library + cranky stomach noises does = moments of awkwardness)!