So I have been done with college since december, which is a huge relief not to have to worry about sitting through lectures and even worse, tests, with this problem. My job requires that very rarely I sit through lecture type settings in seminar or conference rooms. Thankfully this is only rarely, but I am beginning to suspect if this is actually a bad thing.

From my experience, when I am used to spending several hours a day in silence, I begin to adapt to this environment and gain confidence. I begin to think about it less and less. When I dont spend time in these situations regularily, it increases my anxiety about them. As we all know, increased anxiety = increased noises.

I am starting school again in the fall, which will be more of a structured, full-time classes all day sort of deal. I am obviously a little apprehensive about this, but I hope that in this structured setting (much more class time than college) I will grow accustomed to my enviornment and see a decrease in this problem.

There has to be a way to go back to the days before all this started. Regardless of any sort of medical underlying issue, I think most of us agree that symptoms never presented earlier than high school. So why were all of us fine before that? What changed that correlates with the onset of this disease? My quick hypothesis: middle school I was with the same group of 20-30 kids all day long, monday through friday. High school, each class had a different group of kids in it, plus the number of kids at my school increased 5 fold. Then in college, even more so, the number of kids increased 20 fold, and often I would be in a class where I knew no one. So in conclusion, maybe the disease never was an issue before high school because we were all so accustomed to our environment and the people in it, that anxiety never developed. Throw in a bunch of people we dont know, and bam, problem starts. This anxiety issue seems to have a clear social component. Alright, i'm done rambling. Comments?

Sounds like some of you are making strides. Especially Rachie...good for you guys...however, I can't help but feel bad for myself. I'm currently sitting here, in self pity, when I actually should be in Speech class right now. I'm pretty scared to go beause people are giving speeches and the room will be very very quiet. I've tried some things to help my problems...usually I can stop my morning stomach noises, but when I get nervous, they are uncontrollable. Also, I have heartburn every morning after I eat...I wonder if that could have anything to do with it. Something is off in my digestive track, that's all I know. This is certainly a "why me" sort of problem...it doesn't help that it's odd and that IBS has so many negative conotations associated with it. It started junior year in high school, I noticed it when I was just sitting in the library before class...I was pretty relaxed, and it just happened and I've had it ever since.

Hi guys.

I've sorta been able to narrow down my problem (the noises) to two things: gas and some time of acidic imbalance in my g.i. tract.

I've really gotten a good handle on the acidic imbalance by sticking to a smooth diet (no spicy stuff etc) and taking antacids before I eat. I've also cut back on my eating itself. I used to stuff myself with food (im not overweight, however) and would hardly even chew. No I eat slower, chew my food, and that seems to really help with digestion.

The other problem, however, I can't seem to shake. I can't for the life of me understand why my g.i. tract makes noises when I get gas. It was never like this before, and all of a sudden last semester it started making noises. I know it's gas cause I can feel the air moving around inside. The only thing I've taken to control it is some simethicone, but that only masks the problem. Why does the gas in my stomach make noises!!??!

I second that. I have a lot of acid in my stomach, and I think that it has something to do with this, although I take prilosec, and I haven't seen a big improvement (although I haven't been paying too much attention to the effect that it has on the noises). I'll take the prilosec and monitor the results, and I will tell you what I find out in about a week.

http://www.medicinenet.com/small_intestina l_bacterial_overgrowth/article.htm

I think that could very well be what is wrong with me. It would explain why my noises when away when I started taking anti-biotics...

I guess It's back to the doctor for me...

hey all...this is my first post...stumbled onto this page tonight and spent the last 2-3 hours reading all the pages. I feel your pain. Although my own symptoms don't seem to be as bad as some of the ones i've read, i've still struggled with this since i can remember. I think my problem is more like 'roamer' where i eat breakfast in the morning and then a couple hours later i feel hungry and my stomach rumbles. It seems if i don't eat every couple of hours this happens. I know my problem isn't as bad as others but like i said i still have massive anxiety about it during classes and especially exams and stuff. It has affected my social life too, like most people here i have a dreadful fear of quiet places and am extremely uncomfortable. I think i also have social anxieties in general which im sure doesn't help.

Basically after every class ill force down a chocolate bar or a granola bar or something but they don't seem to kill the hunger for very long most likely because of the high sugar.

I was just wondering if anyone knew of healthier foods that will fill me up more between classes. I remember someone mentioning pumpkin seeds. If you know of any others it would be extremely appreciated.

Finally i would just like to say to all the people hear that although mine isn't as bad as some, that i feel your pain and truly truly hope we all can find a cure that fits our own personal problems because it really does affect mine and im sure your life. And its a shame.

Anyways thanks for all the info...

I have also had extremely loud stomach issues since 2004. I have to say I've finally found the problem. I have celiac disease, and am allergic to wheat (gluton). Over the last 3 days I have not eaten anything with wheat (check labels, I was surprised it's in a lot of things I didn't expect like soy sauce). This is the FIRST DAY in about 2 years I have not had stomach noises!! My Mom has celiac, and it is hereditary. I had a blood test, and they said I tested negative for it, but while talking to my Dr., she said I could still have it, just not severe enough to show up in the blood test.

I found a good definition on www.healthcentral.com in the health library.

Try eliminating the wheat and see what happens.

I just found this forum by googling stomach growling. Anyway, I've had this problem since the start of this year. I've been having stomach problems for almost a year now and I'm certain I have IBS. This symptom, however, did not develop until the beginning of this year when I started taking medication for Giardia (because my doctor thought I might have had that). I went to a naturopath about 4 weeks ago and had a series of allergy tests done. I was told that I have an overgrowth of candida in my body. So I was put on a diet and I had to cut out a lot of foods (especially ones that I love) including bananas, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, coffee, black tea, milk, chocolate, bread and all your mainstream softdrinks along with a bunch of other food. Your blood type also affects what types of food are good for you and what types of food are bad for you. I'm an A blood type so I was given a booklet on what foods were good for me and which ones I should avoid. Not only was I put on a diet but I got a large amount of herbal supplements and pills to take. Unfortunately I've noticed barely any improvement in my symptoms. I went back to the naturopath 2 days ago and saw a different woman who gave me some more supplements including some drops which are supposed to stop bloating. Still, I haven't seen any improvement but I'm going to keep trying. My stomach growling isn't my only symptom but it's my main one. I get it for different reasons. Usually in the morning my stomach will feel acidic and it will start growling for that reason. But when I get gas and hold it in, the lower part of my abdomen will start growling. I've tried so many things but nothing has made any difference. I know that people can hear my growling. I had it really badly today. What I try to do is just stay confident and if I'm in the middle of a conversation I'll just keep talking over my growling as if it doesn't bother me at all. It usually works too. I think getting all red and embarrassed about it will only make things worse for you. And even though no one has ever said anything to me about it, there have been times when it's so loud the sound bounces off the walls and echoes through the room. It really does suck to have this problem. I wouldn't mind so much if I were 50 or something like that, but at 13 it's just way too much to handle especially with all the other crap that's already going on in my life. Sometimes I find myself struggling to find the will to live with this problem. That's how badly it affects me.

well, I don't think we can pinpoint any specific issue, since everyone seems to have variations of symptoms and not much success with doctors. I can say though that my abdomen noises have significantly improved. I think it's just eating healthier in general (really healthy, like vegetable healthy during the school week) and taking two dan-active drinks a day. I also drink a lot of tea, and I know that to some of those, some of you are recommended to stay away from... but they have really helped me so far. I even have a three hour sit down class that I've gotten through just fine so far this semester.

Having mints or small candy or something in those class helps take my mind off it, like a anti stress distraction when I'm worried.

maybe this will help someone.

Sorry to hear that this problem has just started for you. I have had this problem for just over a year now (I’m 20 years old), and the problem has greatly improved. I also had Giardia and have been diagnosed with ibs. I was given a couple of medicines, although none of them have helped. One of the medicines that I was given was something called omeperazole which causes your stomach to stop producing acid, and it does help a little, although I only notice the positive effects of it before I go to sleep and when I wake up because my stomach doesn't hurt so much.

Anyways, since this problem started, I have lost 60 pounds, and I no longer have high blood pressure, and I try to eat healthy which I all credit to help minimize the noises.

Stay confident, and try to relax whenever you can, because this problem can drive you crazy.

P.S. You said that "My stomach growling isn't my only symptom but it's my main one." what are our other symptoms?

Hey people,
Like others have said, it was really nice to stumble on this thread and hear from others' mouths things I have been trying to explain to doctors, friends, and family members for 2 or 3 years now. One of the biggest difficulties with seeking treatment for this problem is that very few people listen to the symptoms as the patient actually presents them. Friends and family members think you are describing normal digestive noises or indigestion, and doctors probe and prod you and end up calling it IBS. They hand you a bunch of pills and advice designed to treat either IBS or normal digestive issues and are then perplexed and frustrated when you continue to show symptoms and your quality of life continues to plummet. I spend an inordinate amount of time re-explaining my symptoms to doctors who believe they have already treated my problem but have, in fact, only treated what they have misunderstood my problem to be. So, it was with great relief and satisfaction that I read the preceding pages. So many of you exactly describe symptoms that I have been unable to adequately explain to the medical professionals.

Of particular significance to me are: the 'inner farting' - particularly in the upper, left and also lower, rear portion of my abdomen; severe anxiety in quiet rooms; avoidance of those situations to the extent of discontinuing school....someone else recently mentioned night sweats...I get those too. I sweat right through my comforter at night all the time.

My GI doctor has this condition tentatively labeled as some kind of IBS, but none of the IBS related medications help with the noises. I've had all the appropriate physical investigations (Colonoscopy, endoscopy, x rays, etc) and nothing detectable seems to be going on in that area. I've tried probiotics (culturelle and florastor), and several types of anti-spasmodics (specifically the anti-cholinergic drugs nulev and pamine). I've taken a breath test for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine and that came back positive, although several long courses of antibiotics (flagyl, neomycin, xifaxin) didn't seem to do anything to help.

I developed what I used to consider simply a 'sensitive stomach' when I was in my early-mid twenties. It was annoying but not the end of the world. Several years later, the condition was much worse and two years or so ago, this humiliating, noisy component developed. Like many of you, it wasn't really the uncomfortable, stomach or intestinal symptoms, but rather this totally uncontrollable noise issue that really got in the way of participating in activities. Not only do I feel pretty silly about that, but it's also next to impossible to make a medical professional believe that this noise problem could be as debilitating as it really is.

I am intrigued by both the gluten intolerance (I tested negative on the celiac sprue blood test, but someone mentioned that this doesn't entirely rule out the possibility) and the candida diagnosis...both of which, I'll look into.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. I just thought I'd share the info I had, and commiserate with you all. Keep posting! The information here has been very helpful.

My other symptoms include: flatulence, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. All things which I'd rather not talk about.

Hi Coast,
Did you find out anything when you went to the doctor? The way you described your two symptoms is pretty much exactly what mine are. The last time I went to the doctor we decided that I should take Protonix as an acid reducer and that when I'm in situations where I'm worried about my stomach noise I take a combination of Valium 5mg and Bentyl 10mg. It works really well, but the side effects are that it makes me drowsy and sort of blurs my vision. Better than my stomach making noise, but I still feel that I'm not really getting at the root of the problem.

My doctor isn't being too helpful. He did give me some bentyl, but he's basically treating me as if it's IBS. I tried to tell him about the bacterial overgrowth thing, but he didn't really listen. I'm going to go see him again this wednesday and will press him more on having me sent to a specialist. My symptoms are actually kind of getting worse. During the day I can kind of control them with Bentyl and/or antacids, but it comes at the expense of my diet. I've kinda stopped eating, because everything I eat gives me gas and the stomach noises. During the night is worse...the noises are literally keeping me up. Does anyone else find that the noises get worse when they lay down for bed?

Last night I was at a bar with my buddies, and I was consumed by the thoughts and symptoms of my stomach. Sad huh?

I've had times when the problem was at it's worst when I lied down to go to sleep at night but I don't seem to get that any more. Now I only seem to have a lot of problems when I'm in meetings at work in a quiet room. It's really strange how the problem varies like that... I went through a period about two years ago where after I'd eaten anything I would fill up with gas repeatedly for about two hours.... it always seems to be fine for me in the mornings for a couple of hours and in the early evening, but I've had trouble at all other times of the day. It has to be related to something in the digestive system reacting to food and creating huge amounts of gas that are way out of the norm.... my doctor is the same. He doesnt seem to want to dig any deeper into the problem although I did have an endoscopy done that came up with nothing.

Speaking of bars... alcohol definitely is a big contributor to my problem. When I stop drinking things get a lot better.

There is something definately causing the severe amounts of gas. I mean, I'll be passing gas 10 minutes after I go #2. This is where I think the bacterial overgrowth factors in. I tried taking some probiotics a couple of weeks ago but all that seemed to do was give me abdomen pains. I only took it for about 4 or 5 days. I'm going to try and take them for an entire 2-3 week course and see if they help.

I forgot to mention that one thing that seems to really ease my digestion is having a banana. I Always have one right before class, and it really seems to help relax the gut...

Like most of you here, I also deal with this problem every day. Let me just talk about my symptoms, I have good days and bad days. It does not matter what I eat. Some days my stomach is just fine, but other days it is wild. Luckily my noises are not that loud and often. but still it manages to make me unable to focus in my work. Mostly I hear them only after lunch, after around 3 pm. They can be loud sometimes, but not all the time. I do not experience any pain at all. Sometimes i have diaherria, and some bleeding. Once every 3-4 days. Like Coast, I too have lot of noise after doing #2.
I went to see doctors, did blood test. Nothing is wrong. Recently they did colonscopy, every is fine except for some pullips, i think they removed that. Doc suggested citrucel. I had it for a month. little better, but not that much. Now i am out of citrucel, symptoms are back. Citrucel label says that you should not have it for a long time, so i stopped, it is not that citrucel completely cures. Recently i am trying gasx, it does not work.
I am avoiding lactose, it is not lactose either. I read try avoiding wheat. I think I should give that a try. Any suggestions?

my GI doc just recommended this book: A New IBS Solution by Dr. Mark Pimentel at Cedars Sinai in LA. It talks about bacterial overgrowth as a cause of IBS that can be treated and often resolves IBS symptoms. This sounds very relevant to your experience, Coast. I'm going to either convince my GI doc to try the things in this book or make an appointment with Dr. Pimental if it's possible. The book is very interesting and makes a lot of sense.

I also get the noises in bed...I've literally been awoken by them early in the morning and been unable to get back to sleep, despite being totally exhausted.