Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Jody on 14/08/2006 19:10:34

Title: Why does my stomach rumble and growl, constantly?
Post by: Jody on 14/08/2006 19:10:34
My doctor is clueless with this question.  Maybe some of you medical wizards can answer this for me:

My stomach growls like I'm starving to death WAY to often.  This is true whether I'm "dieting" or not.  For example, around 9:00 am, after a breakfast of a large bowl of oatmeal eaten around 7:15, my stomach starts growling.  I eat a baggie full of veggies.  The growling doesn't stop.  I eat a handful of crackers.  The growling stops but starts again half an hour later.

Another example:  This weekend, around 2:00 in the afternoon, my stomach was growling so I stopped at Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.  Fifteen minutes later, my stomach was growling again.

My doctor can only tell me that, if my stomach is growling it means it's empty and I should eat.  If I ate every time my stomach growled, I'd weigh 900 pounds!!  And I'm not talking about little, "gee, I could eat something" rumbles.  I'm talking about gigantic, "I'm <i>starving</i>, this is VERY uncomfortable" growls.

I've tried taking ant-acids, but they don't help in the least.

What's the story here?  How can I make it stop?  Any ideas kids?  I'm taking Zetacaps to help lose weight, but it isn't doing anything for the growling.  I could really use some help.

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: neilep on 14/08/2006 20:10:25
Jody,

This is fascinating. I wish I had an answer for you except to say that your tummy is talking to you. Probably thanking you for the food.

May I ask a delicate question ? Does the growling expedite the evacuation of bottom-burps  ? [:)]....

I assume it's gas that makes the growling  eh ?

Do you get indigestion ?

Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 14/08/2006 22:41:02
"Bottom-burps?"  [:D][:D]  LOL!  Nope.  An occassional small "top-burp", but usually no other symptoms.  No indigestion, etc.  My doctor says it's churning acid, but antacids don't do anything to stop it.  (Maybe if I ate 20 of them?[xx(])  You'd think I'd have an ulcer by now.

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: ROBERT on 15/08/2006 13:37:35
The medical term for stomach growling/rumbling is Borborygmi.

" Rumbles may also occur when there is incomplete digestion of food that can lead to excess gas in the intestine. In humans this can be due to incomplete digestion of carbohydrate-containing foods including milk and other dairy products (lactose intolerance or the use of á-glucosidase inhibitors by diabetics), gluten (protein in wheat, barley, and rye) (celiac disease), fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and high-fiber whole grains. In rare instances excessive abdominal noise may be a sign of digestive disease, especially when accompanied by abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borborygmi

The zetacaps could be responsible for your borborygmi:-

" Zetacap Review
It’s called Visco-Fiber and here's how it works. Visco-fiber is delivered in capsule form and is a super thick non-digestible fiber. It’s not a stimulant, a fat blocker, or a diuretic. It contains practically no calories and is fat free."
http://www.tritonhealth.com/zetacap.php

Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: neilep on 15/08/2006 14:52:06
I think Jodys rumbling started before she took the zetas.

Jody, is your rumbling so loud that others can hear it ?...does it make you feel queasy ?...is it like butterflies in your tummy ?

Roberts information is interesting !...perhaps all of this started with a change in your diet perhaps ?

certainly, sudden changes in diet can cause tummies to be upset and protest !...how long has this been going on for ? I am glad that there is no increase in ' bottom-burp' activity  [:)] cos even though I am here in the UK it sounds like you could  ' parp ! ' out a few meany ones !!! [;)]

Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 15/08/2006 15:43:29
Robert - Thanks for the info.  I've often wondered what the medical description of this was.  Unfortunately, per your quote above, it sounds like everything you can eat that's good for you can/will cause this.  [}:)]

No, this is not a recent phenomenon and has, in fact, been going on for years.  I don't think the Zetacaps have anything to do with it.  Yes, like anyone else, sometimes the growling is audible.  Occassionally, when it's REALLY bad, it does make me slightly queasy.  Most of the time it's just uncomfortable, not at all like "butterflies."  [xx(]

Interesting thing about Zetacaps - some descriptions of them call the fiber "non-digestible."  Other descriptions call the fiber "easily digestible."  Which do you suppose it is?

Neil - You're too funny!  Yes, you'd be safe even sitting right beside me. [:D]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 15/08/2006 15:48:41
Hmmmmm.  I just had a thought.  If this growling is caused by LACK of digestion instead of OVER-digestion (as I assumed) maybe taking some digestive aid would help.  Aren't there some enzymes you can take to help with digestion?  [?][?][?]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: FuzzyUK on 17/08/2006 01:21:20
"My stomach growls like I'm starving to death WAY to often."

Try cutting out wheat for five days and report back
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 18/08/2006 16:50:05
I'll try that, although the amount of wheat that I normally eat is virtually nil.  I have also been reading that a cup of yogurt each day is beneficial for digestion.

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 23/08/2006 19:50:04
Well, I've been taking the enzymes for 5 days now and the growling is almost gone.  [:)]  I have also been giving them to my cat and they seem to be clearing up her chronic diarrhea.  This is a REALLY excellent thing! [:D]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: neilep on 23/08/2006 21:57:36
JODY...that is FANTASTIC NEWS !!!!.....Thank you so much telling us....Good luck and please keep us updated !

It would be interesting to know if after a month or so that you stopped taking them to see if the growling comes back !!...I'm not saying do it...but it would be intersting. I suppose these enzymes are Ok to take all the time.

INCREDIBLE !!...and you've had these rumbles for so long now !

WELL DONE...really really happy for you..


Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: ROBERT on 24/08/2006 14:34:03
quote:
Originally posted by Jody

Well, I've been taking the enzymes for 5 days now and the growling is almost gone.  [:)] I have also been giving them to my cat and they seem to be clearing up her chronic diarrhea.  This is a REALLY excellent thing! [:D]

Jody


Human foods can cause pets to become ill, so presumably this is also true of human medications:-

" Human Foods that Poison Pets  
Feeding pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets.

Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly. "
http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/storytemplate_process.cfm?story_no=257  
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 23/08/2006 19:50:04
Well, I've been taking the enzymes for 5 days now and the growling is almost gone.  [:)]  I have also been giving them to my cat and they seem to be clearing up her chronic diarrhea.  This is a REALLY excellent thing! [:D]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: neilep on 23/08/2006 21:57:36
JODY...that is FANTASTIC NEWS !!!!.....Thank you so much telling us....Good luck and please keep us updated !

It would be interesting to know if after a month or so that you stopped taking them to see if the growling comes back !!...I'm not saying do it...but it would be intersting. I suppose these enzymes are Ok to take all the time.

INCREDIBLE !!...and you've had these rumbles for so long now !

WELL DONE...really really happy for you..


Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: ROBERT on 24/08/2006 14:34:03
quote:
Originally posted by Jody

Well, I've been taking the enzymes for 5 days now and the growling is almost gone.  [:)] I have also been giving them to my cat and they seem to be clearing up her chronic diarrhea.  This is a REALLY excellent thing! [:D]

Jody


Human foods can cause pets to become ill, so presumably this is also true of human medications:-

" Human Foods that Poison Pets  
Feeding pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets.

Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly. "
http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/storytemplate_process.cfm?story_no=257  
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 23/08/2006 19:50:04
Well, I've been taking the enzymes for 5 days now and the growling is almost gone.  [:)]  I have also been giving them to my cat and they seem to be clearing up her chronic diarrhea.  This is a REALLY excellent thing! [:D]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: neilep on 23/08/2006 21:57:36
JODY...that is FANTASTIC NEWS !!!!.....Thank you so much telling us....Good luck and please keep us updated !

It would be interesting to know if after a month or so that you stopped taking them to see if the growling comes back !!...I'm not saying do it...but it would be intersting. I suppose these enzymes are Ok to take all the time.

INCREDIBLE !!...and you've had these rumbles for so long now !

WELL DONE...really really happy for you..


Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: ROBERT on 24/08/2006 14:34:03
quote:
Originally posted by Jody

Well, I've been taking the enzymes for 5 days now and the growling is almost gone.  [:)] I have also been giving them to my cat and they seem to be clearing up her chronic diarrhea.  This is a REALLY excellent thing! [:D]

Jody


Human foods can cause pets to become ill, so presumably this is also true of human medications:-

" Human Foods that Poison Pets  
Feeding pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets.

Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly. "
http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/storytemplate_process.cfm?story_no=257  
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 30/08/2006 15:08:38
Hi Robert!  Thanks for the info, but I am VERY well aware of how different dog, cat and human physiologies can be.  In fact, I have a whole list of no-no's posted on my fridge (including chocolate, macadamia nuts and, don't forget!, unbaked yeast dough!!  Also, keep the cats away from the Poinsettias around Christmas - VERY dangerous!  [xx(])  The enzymes, however, were actually recommended for the animals.  In fact, since starting on the enzymes, my "sickly" cat actually jumped onto the table where I keep her food.  [:0]  She hasn't done that for years (she's 15,) but always makes me pick her up.  I told her she's a BIG FAKER!!  LOL! [:D]

BTW, her diarrhea and my grumbles are still gone!  [^]

Neil - Yes, the enzymes are very good to take all the time.  In fact, I understand that they are highly recommended even for people who don't have obvious digestion problems.  They are supposed to help increase energy levels (a big problem for me) since your body doesn't have to expend so much energy on the digestive process.  They claim that they are also excellent for people who are overweight, since eaten fat that is not properly digested turns to body fat easier than fat that HAS been digested properly.  In my case, that has yet to be proven, but I've only been taking them about a week and a half.  So I guess we'll see!  [;)]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: sammy on 31/08/2006 20:16:45
JODY!!! JODY!!!! i swear u are a life saver! (not yeat alteast..lol)
when i was in grade 10 and 11 my stomach growled a lot, but i foudn that eating stuff in betwwen school hours reduced it.... but that did not work for long.. n

Now i am gogin bcak to school (grade 12) next tuesday! and i ahve to work hard this year but im scared about my growling... i would seriously kill my self if it sats again...

ne way can u tell me what exactly u took for the growling to stop?? and during the time u took thsoe enzymes did u still eat whole wheat bread or change ur diet???... can i buy the enzymes at shopper drug mart>???

i have been lookign for answers for 2 year now, and all i got so far was "its because u dont eat enough", "have too mcuh gas", i felt liek punching those ppl..!!!! i suffed evyday in grade 11....!!:@:@.....

i hope thsi year goes by good.. thanks jody and evyoen else who helped!

waiting for ur reply
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: sammy on 31/08/2006 20:17:55
JODY!!! JODY!!!! i swear u are a life saver! (not yeat alteast..lol)
when i was in grade 10 and 11 my stomach growled a lot, but i foudn that eating stuff in betwwen school hours reduced it.... but that did not work for long.. n

Now i am gogin bcak to school (grade 12) next tuesday! and i ahve to work hard this year but im scared about my growling... i would seriously kill my self if it sats again...

ne way can u tell me what exactly u took for the growling to stop?? and during the time u took thsoe enzymes did u still eat whole wheat bread or change ur diet???... can i buy the enzymes at shopper drug mart>???

i have been lookign for answers for 2 year now, and all i got so far was "its because u dont eat enough", "have too mcuh gas", i felt liek punching those ppl..!!!! i suffed evyday in grade 11....!!:@:@.....

i hope thsi year goes by good.. thanks jody and evyoen else who helped!

waiting for ur reply
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 31/08/2006 23:03:57
Hi Sammy!  I'm taking some enzymes I got off the web, because they are stronger than the capsules you can get at the market.  You CAN get a perfectly acceptable enzyme supplement at GNC or other health store, but you have to take many more of them to get the same dosage as I get in one capsule of Elite-Zyme Pro from a company called Thropps.  I can’t give you a link to their site because we’re not allowed to link to advertising on this forum, but if you do a search on the product name, the site will come up.  (Hey, moderators, is it okay to recommend a product?)

I have not cut out wheat (although that was going to be my next step,) and have not made any particular changes to my diet since starting the enzymes.  I am restricting my over-all calorie intake to lose weight, but that is all.  Remember, please, that my stomach still growls when I am actually hungry.  These enzymes don’t do anything to curb hunger, they only make all the “extra” growling go away (for me anyway.)

Although I am convinced that these enzymes are beneficial for almost everybody, I’d STRONGLY recommend you read all of the information on the website and discuss the matter with your parents before jumping into anything.  Also, read all of the instructions for the product.  When you take the capsules is a very important factor in getting the best results.

Good Luck!!

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 30/08/2006 15:08:38
Hi Robert!  Thanks for the info, but I am VERY well aware of how different dog, cat and human physiologies can be.  In fact, I have a whole list of no-no's posted on my fridge (including chocolate, macadamia nuts and, don't forget!, unbaked yeast dough!!  Also, keep the cats away from the Poinsettias around Christmas - VERY dangerous!  [xx(])  The enzymes, however, were actually recommended for the animals.  In fact, since starting on the enzymes, my "sickly" cat actually jumped onto the table where I keep her food.  [:0]  She hasn't done that for years (she's 15,) but always makes me pick her up.  I told her she's a BIG FAKER!!  LOL! [:D]

BTW, her diarrhea and my grumbles are still gone!  [^]

Neil - Yes, the enzymes are very good to take all the time.  In fact, I understand that they are highly recommended even for people who don't have obvious digestion problems.  They are supposed to help increase energy levels (a big problem for me) since your body doesn't have to expend so much energy on the digestive process.  They claim that they are also excellent for people who are overweight, since eaten fat that is not properly digested turns to body fat easier than fat that HAS been digested properly.  In my case, that has yet to be proven, but I've only been taking them about a week and a half.  So I guess we'll see!  [;)]

Jody
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: sammy on 31/08/2006 20:16:45
JODY!!! JODY!!!! i swear u are a life saver! (not yeat alteast..lol)
when i was in grade 10 and 11 my stomach growled a lot, but i foudn that eating stuff in betwwen school hours reduced it.... but that did not work for long.. n

Now i am gogin bcak to school (grade 12) next tuesday! and i ahve to work hard this year but im scared about my growling... i would seriously kill my self if it sats again...

ne way can u tell me what exactly u took for the growling to stop?? and during the time u took thsoe enzymes did u still eat whole wheat bread or change ur diet???... can i buy the enzymes at shopper drug mart>???

i have been lookign for answers for 2 year now, and all i got so far was "its because u dont eat enough", "have too mcuh gas", i felt liek punching those ppl..!!!! i suffed evyday in grade 11....!!:@:@.....

i hope thsi year goes by good.. thanks jody and evyoen else who helped!

waiting for ur reply
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: sammy on 31/08/2006 20:17:55
JODY!!! JODY!!!! i swear u are a life saver! (not yeat alteast..lol)
when i was in grade 10 and 11 my stomach growled a lot, but i foudn that eating stuff in betwwen school hours reduced it.... but that did not work for long.. n

Now i am gogin bcak to school (grade 12) next tuesday! and i ahve to work hard this year but im scared about my growling... i would seriously kill my self if it sats again...

ne way can u tell me what exactly u took for the growling to stop?? and during the time u took thsoe enzymes did u still eat whole wheat bread or change ur diet???... can i buy the enzymes at shopper drug mart>???

i have been lookign for answers for 2 year now, and all i got so far was "its because u dont eat enough", "have too mcuh gas", i felt liek punching those ppl..!!!! i suffed evyday in grade 11....!!:@:@.....

i hope thsi year goes by good.. thanks jody and evyoen else who helped!

waiting for ur reply
Title: Re: Constantly Growling Stomach
Post by: Jody on 31/08/2006 23:03:57
Hi Sammy!  I'm taking some enzymes I got off the web, because they are stronger than the capsules you can get at the market.  You CAN get a perfectly acceptable enzyme supplement at GNC or other health store, but you have to take many more of them to get the same dosage as I get in one capsule of Elite-Zyme Pro from a company called Thropps.  I can’t give you a link to their site because we’re not allowed to link to advertising on this forum, but if you do a search on the product name, the site will come up.  (Hey, moderators, is it okay to recommend a product?)

I have not cut out wheat (although that was going to be my next step,) and have not made any particular changes to my diet since starting the enzymes.  I am restricting my over-all calorie intake to lose weight, but that is all.  Remember, please, that my stomach still growls when I am actually hungry.  These enzymes don’t do anything to curb hunger, they only make all the “extra” growling go away (for me anyway.)

Although I am convinced that these enzymes are beneficial for almost everybody, I’d STRONGLY recommend you read all of the information on the website and discuss the matter with your parents before jumping into anything.  Also, read all of the instructions for the product.  When you take the capsules is a very important factor in getting the best results.

Good Luck!!

Jody