sarah... your problems sound more anxiety related than most of us here... have you mentioned the anxiety factor to your doctor?
also have you been tested for all the common casues... ceoliacs, lactose intolerance etc?

this is one of the debates on this thread - i.e, is the noise caused by anxiety or not?

I've probably written it somewhere a few months back - but my situation re how the noises started is almost exactly the same as yours. I was sitting in an exam in 2nd/3rd year uni and my stomach made a noise and I remember thinking, 'what was that?! Never had that before!' Fast forward a year on from that, and I was in bits going into every single exam - purely because of the anxiety of getting the noises.

It's funny, I think in the 50 exams I did in college I was in that state for at least 35-40, and if the noise then ever did happen - it was brought about by the terrible anxiety I had of getting the noises. So, a vicious circle - as I'm sure you know well.

I get the same tightening up of all the muscles and the bouts of mainly getting overheated. The exams were always hard going because of this - the mix of anxiety and adrenaline always leaves me feeling very exhausted.

Take last night - I went out for dinner and then to a classical concert - the sound levels of which varied from: every now and then being fairly loud - to 10 minute pieces of dead silence - with not a noise coming from the 1000 people in the hall. Inside, I was a wreck - but I kept steady breathing - and kept trying to follow the music because I find that when I'm not thinking about my stomach, I'm ok.
For the first half, my stomach made no noise - despite my overheating! Then 5 mins into the interval - with no one around - my stomach made noise - so I went out and sat on the toilet for a few mins - and then came back just as the orchestra was about to start again. The second half was the same thank God, and I was counting down the minutes. Then the final piece of music turned out to be a loud, rousing performance and I knew I was home-free!!! I get a real buzz from doing things like this, as I feel like I've won or something. In fact during the whole performance, I did hear a few stomach noises - but none were from me - and it made me feel better Everyone has them you see, and not one person made any comment about whoever's stomach was making noise!

Today though, I feel so tired. I'm an amateur runner btw. I run every distance from 100m to marathon - and I can tell you - purely because of the anxiety/adrenaline I felt last night - I feel every bit as tired today as I would have had I run a marathon yesterday. So, don't be too hard on yourself.

Exercise, whether its running/gym/rugby etc. gets me through the quiet situations. Myself and "Matt_User" (I think it was) have noticed this before that - say you do some hard exercise for an hour or two - for the next few hours that follow this - you will almost always get no noises at all. So, before every exam I did with this condition, even if the exam started at 9am, I used to go running at 8am! And it almost always worked. 90%!

Its the same for me and meals out. I can be around people for the whole day or whatever, then as soon as I sit down at a table - where I'm expected to remain for the next 2 hours or whatever - I feel myself overheating - even before the food arrives! I often have the same toileting situation - but I'm much better now than I used to be, but it's more through experience than anything else - E.g, I don't eat a lot anymore - and my diet is very fussy - I will simply refuse to eat certain things. I also don't drink any alcohol anymore. At all. Ice cream seems to do bad things to my stomach!!

but anyway, like the exams and anyother impending quiet situations, I do exercise before them. I don't eat for hours and hours before them either so that when I do go in - I'm generally starving! I think at that point, my body is too busy repairing itself from the exercise I've done to make any noise! Also, I'm starving - if there's any noise - it's legit..! I generally find that the hot/cold feelings come more when I have eaten - i.e, not when I'm hungry btw.

Anyway, I haven't posted here in a while so there you go! I hope at least hearing others in the same boat helps! If exercise is an option for you - by all means take it.

My own belief on the noises is that it is caused by anxiety - whether conscious or not. My whole life I have been pretty hard on myself - even as a child if I didn't get the best result in anything - that was the end of the world - and as a result - I was under a lot of pressure. I reckon I put myself under too much pressue and something has *broken* - maybe not physically - but mentally - whatever is causing the anxiety I mean!

But as help_wanted pointed, out there are other arguments for the noise too. Indeed, I could be sitting at my desk at work with no one around and nothing on my mind - and a noise might sound. Do I feel anxiety then? No. But... I believe it is a result of whatever has been *broken* before..! It's a tough one to figure out.

Re the test/medicines that people have mentioned. I haven't done any of them and never will. For me, the best thing I can do is learn new ways to deal with it - whether through exercise or diet - which has helped me a lot. Of course I keep one eye on everyone else's progress because if someone finds that miracle cure - well, frankly, I want in!!

Anyway - hope everyone's doing well! Best of luck to one and all!

irishlad, youre rite that does seem to be one of the main issues on here. maybe its different for all of us, perhaps some of us are suffering from an ilnesses and perhaps for others its mainly anxiety based.
im not sayin that anxiety doesnt contribute to mine, i think it does, but my problems defintely arnt caused by anxiety.
went back to the doctor today...given another 2 months of the antidepressants (helping a lot with the anxiety but surprise surprise made no difference to the noises).. gotta give a poo sample to check for h.pylori(YUCK! not sure how to do this!) and go back for basic bloods again next week to see if anythinjgs changed. shes also sending me for an ultrasound of my stomach/gallbladder etc... so hopefully thatll be something else i can eliminate.

Hey Everybody,
I haven't posted in a while, but I'm keeping current on what you all are writing....lurking here in the background. The only thing of note that I can report from my end is that I went to the endocrinologist and had a passel of blood tests and a urinalysis done. The endocrine system interacts strongly with the nervous system that governs the gut, and I thought this might be a logical avenue to investigate. Anyway, it can't hurt...like all of you, I'm kind of making this up as I go...grasping at straws. I strongly suspect that, like all the other diagnostic tests I've been through, they won't find anything of note, but I'm determined to leave no stone unturned. I'll let you guys know what, if anything, those tests reveal.
Also, what was up with that sclause guy telling us not to poop too much? Listen, go when you gotta go...what ridiculous advice. Holding it in will not affect the speed that food progresses through your intestines. Last time I heard that kind of advice, it was coming from Beavis on Mtv.

Hello again folks,

Hunger and appetite are controlled by a complex system of hormone-like substances primarily made by your digestive system. When you haven't eaten for a while, these substances are released and cause a part of your brain called the hypothalamus to "switch on" your desire to eat. A message is then sent to your stomach and intestines. This triggers muscle contractions and the release of acids and other digestive fluids — which causes the rumbling, grumbling sounds you hear — as your body prepares for you to eat. The thought, sight or smell of food also can trigger this response from your intestines.

Its possible that some may have an abnormal problem related to that system, which I suggest consider consulting appropriate doctor for that manner.

that's very interesting indeed...

would explain why when I'm very busy and my mind is miles away from thinking about 'the noise', my stomach is always fine. For me, the worst noises are when I'm panic stricken - and I'm aware that my stomach *might* make noise - i.e, I'm thinking about it.

The mind is obviously a very powerful thing.

Anyway, that was interesting - i'll keep it in mind (rather than the noises aha!)- thanks Q8.

Q8, that is interesting...
is it possible we could have some sort of hormin imablance that would lead to this problem?

The pattern that Irish lad described in his long post is very much the same as what I've experienced. I'm also a runner and football player and I find that when I go for a very long run or play a football game my body seems like it's incapable of producing the noises for a couple of hours and hence doesn't. There have been a few exceptions to this.

I've been on a no gluten diet for a couple of weeks now and I've had some interesting results. I've stuck to the diet about 90% and I've definitely noticed a big change.

There are a few foods that I've eaten during this time that I know have gluten in them that have caused me to relapse. One was pasta and the other was bread. The other thing that causes major problems for me is coffee... although the problems caused by coffee seem to disappear once I have a subsequent bowel movement, whereas on the day I ate pasta with some kind of white sauce I had problems for about 24 hours afterwards. Bread seems to cause me problems for a few hours. Another interesting thing to note here is that the problems I had from the bread and pasta didn't happen for a few hours after I had eaten them so I presume it's when they had been partially digested or when they had reached a certain part of my intestines, whereas the problems from coffee are instant.

OK... I'm going to try to spend another couple of weeks gluten free to see what happens. I'm also going to cut out coffee completely and stop experimenting with it starting tomorrow. I'll keep you all posted, but I think it would be worth a lot of peoples time trying to go gluten free just to see what happens.

Hey all,

I haven't posted in a while but I've been keeping up with the discussion.

Irishlad-I want to reply to your long post, it was almost scary to read what you wrote cause it is nearly identical to my experience with this, for lack of a better term, disease?!?! The only thing that seems to make any difference is exercise, i like to run and whenever i go for a jog the noises will disappear for several hours. I also tend to think this is mostly brought on by anxiety but i don't feel any less stressed about the problem after i exercise yet the noises seem to stop. So like everyone else, i don't know what to think.

Matt_user-i haven't tried the gluten free diet but it sounds like ur symptoms match with irishlad's also so i think im gonna give it a shot. The gluten free diet seems really tough to me because my fall back meal before tests, work, or whenever i hope my stomach will stay quite is a sandwich but maybe that is actually making the problem worse. Are there any foods in particular that u found would not cause noises? Many people have said fish is great to reduce the noises but im a college student and i really don't get around to buying and preparing to many fish fillets. I was hoping maybe u found something a little easier to prepare.

I hate this problem cause when u think about it the problem is so stupid. It's far to trivial to ever garner sympathy from yet it is so omnipresent that it causes constant anxiety and discomfort. I really want to beat this thing.

I try and stay gluten free. It's actually quite easy especially as there's so many 'free from' products available.

Have you tried tinned tuna or salmon? Very healthy, good for the noises, cheap and easy to prepare. You can make things like fish cakes:do some mashed potato, mix in the tinned salmon, pat into cakes then lightly fry, Also, boil in the bag cod with parsley sausce:again it's cheap and easy.

Instead of a sandwhich, i have nairns cheesy oatcakes with cottage cheese as my 'noise proof' meal xx

Just checking in to let everyone know that I'm sticking with the Oreganol by American Herb & Spices. This stuff has helped me tremendously! I've been on it a little over a month. I've ordered another two bottles on a website I found on the internet. I will be ordering again tonight because I want to continue killing whatever it's killing. I don't want to run out!

Again, I'm continuing the Oreganol, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. I hear a noise maybe once or twice a day.(NOT LOUD).

BTW...I have not changed my diet. I still eat whatever I want and have no problems. I'm thinking it's candida, but I can not follow the strict diet. So I will continue taking the Oreganol capsules.

Give it a try!

Hi GrowlGirl,

Can you please tell me which products you are using for probiotics and digestive enzymes? I'll look up Oreganol on internet.

I've been suffering with this problem since as far back as I can remember - high school at least! I remember telling my mum some story to get myself out of school assembly every day, so I must have been 12/13 or something! I'm 30 now. I've tried all kinds of things, but nothing seems to work. Although I think part of the problem is actually sticking to something - I'm not very good at remembering (or liking) to take pills every day. I'm a bit paranoid about pills, creams and stuff.

In saying that, I think I'm getting to the stage where I'll try anything. I've had my head buried in trying to find ways of coping with this for so long, that I'm only just beginning to realise just how much it has held me back in life. Seems so silly to think that it has, when you compare it to other more serious health problems, but it's like someone else has said on here - it's the fact that it's socially embarassing, and not being able to blame some medical condition, it's unexplainable!

Over the years, I have tried different natural remedies, but nothing has helped so far. You have said that you've seen an improvement on a mixture of Oreganol, probiotics and enzymes, so I'd like to look into this some more please.

Many thanks
S

The probiotic I'm taking now are Reutri Pearls Probiotic. The digestive Enzymes are "Essential Enzymes" by nautre's source. If you get the Oreganol. Get the Oreganol super strength soft gels. Make sure the Orgeanol is from North America's Herbs and Spices. This is the real Oregano.

Good Luck!

I have had this issue for over 20 years!! It started in high school when I began puberty. I have chalked it up as an allergy to wheat but I get it when I don't eat wheat too. It's very loud, sounds like farting, clicking and rumbling in my lower intestines. Does anyone have a remedy?

I have had this problem for a very long time. It's exactly like Sarah55555 and I know that for everyone here this is a Psychological issue. I first noticed this happening to me at eleven and I'm twenty two now so it's been a something i've had to learn to deal with. I believe that this condition affects those of us that have had to deal with abnormal amounts of stress in our lives and our body's just finally reacted to it. I also believe it is hereditary, four other family members that I know of have this too. I just want everyone here to know that you can and you will learn to take back CONTROL of your lives and never ever let this problem be the center of your life. Don't ever not follow your dreams or rearrange your life around for this. It's not worth it and in the end you will regret not doing the things that you wanted to do but were to afraid to. A lot of people would be stunned to know I have this problem because I'm in the entertainment business so I mean how much more nervous could you get then to be in a quiet room with gorgeous people all day lol! but i'm lucky enough to love what I do so much that I forced myself to deal with this, also when i'm doing what I love I become so wrapped up in it my mind just forgets about this problem because i'm doing something that basically takes all of my concentration. The point that I want to make is that I believe that this problem can be cured or at least practically be gone through hypnotherapy by a professional or through self hypnotherapy. Your mind as i'm sure all of you have learned by now is a very powerful thing and you must understand what it is that causes you to relax the best. The only way that can be done is by repeatedly putting yourself through uncomfortable situations so that you eventually learn what it is that you've thought of that eases this problem. For me focusing on what i'm doing along with really concentrating on my breathing truly does work. If you can afford to the best thing to do would be to see a hypnotherapist so that you can be relaxed in a normally uneasy situation for you. I want all of you to know that if I can do it so can you and that you are not alone in this. Everyone even the people that don't have this problem poses a human body that make all kinds of noises etc. If someone truly is worthy of your time and loves you they will not abandon or be ashamed of you over a problem like this. If someone does make you feel bad over this please know that they are not worth your time and they don't deserve to be in your life. I believe that we were all given this problem for a reason and for me I think it was to show me to really see how powerful my thoughts really are and I ask all of you to take comfort in the fact that if your mind can cause great pain for you it can also cause a great amount of HAPPINESS AND JOY!! Please if you've taken this advice let me know how you are doing. Don't ever give up on yourself!!

Augustannabella, very good post! And I agree that it is psychological mainly, in my case at least, though wrong foods don't seem to help.

Just thought I'd check in and tell you all about my week-long holiday to Germany at the end of last month. Went away with a girl I know (who has no idea of the problem!) - stayed in a nice hotel. Arrived into the room to find complete silence, but thankfully the room had a/c so that made me feel at ease!

Was up at 8 every morning and down for breakfast, and then straight out the door after - where we spent our entire days cycling in the mountains, swimming through lakes and just being outdoors generally - very nice with 30 degree heat!! Ate very little during day but with exercise and heat both at max - went through many, MANY bottles of water!! By the time the evening meal came around each day, I was starving!! Was great!

Now, down to the noise!!... Well... there was none, pretty much! Arriving on that first day into that quiet hotel room I actually broke into a sweat - such was the uncomfortable silence! First time in the breakfast room, same thing happened for there was never more than 5-10 people sitting close by in a pin-drop-quiet room! Both these things freaked me out the first time. As did even standing in the elevator! The first day felt like I had jumped into a pool and I was trying to swim because I knew just how far out of my depth I was - not even a toilet in sight!! lol, but thankfully - it just never proved necessary!! Nor did the noise really start! By the last day, jumping into an elevator or sitting in the quiet breakfast room, or indeed in the hotel room with a/c off - all of these things were absolutely no problem whatsoever. Even at meal times - always intimate places - places I would usually avoid but went to nonstop on the holiday. It was all great - the entire trip - as the days went on, I even experimented more and more with what I was eating and whether it was coffee or cake or hamburgers or some local dishes - I was absolutely fine with none of the cramps or noises that I usually get.

So, I hadn't felt like that in years - I had forgotten how good it was to feel like that - and with each day I felt more and more like my old self. Trivial things, coffee in a quiet place, or sitting on a quiet beach or in the countryside in the middle of nowhere with no traffic - I loved it this time - and it really filled me with hope and just a general good feeling.

For me though, the ultimate contrast was the flights to and from Germany. On the way to Germany, I was a wreck even getting on the plane. It's been a few years since I flew and well, I just didn't know what to expect. Which always sends my stomach and indeed my heart-beat into overdrive. I thought I even better not eat anything - just in case....

....yet 6/7 days later, on the flight for home, it was an evening flight, and I sat in close quarters joking with my friend at the airport after eating a huge meal at a local restaurant. I had coffee and fizzy drinks and cake - and even on the plane drank a few cappucinos. For me, this was a major step - and for those few days - and even on the flight home - for the first time since 2002 perhaps, I just felt really *good*.

In fact I did count the noises on the trip. There were TWO noises. TWO!!!!! One noise when I was in the toilet - the other in the middle of the night. What a miracle.

Since returning home, a few weeks later now, and I'm back to my normal self - almost. I've realised that diet plays a big part - and obviously psychology does too - hence the holiday. So, I now know I'm going to overcome this - maybe not today and maybe not in a year - but I'm going to overcome this.

On sat, I even went to the dentist..! The DENTIST! That's how much things have changed. It was frightning because of that waiting room and when I walked in - complete silence - one other person. A girl my age, sitting there with no trouble- oblivious to the fact that with every minute that ticked by - my heart-rate increased - and indeed my stomach twisted and turned - but quietly thankfully! And then I breathed and breathed and counted and counted and slowly brought myself under control - and when the call came 'Irishlad, you're up!' I realised that I was in fact perhaps the first person in the world to actually sigh with relief when it was my turn to go into the surgery (and therefore away from the quiet waiting room!). And lying down and and getting some fillings done, I could feel my stomach was making noise - but the noise was easily quieter than the din of the drills. And I think I may even have smiled to myself a few times..!!!

So, I'm doing well - trying to at least! I hope everyone is getting on well. I feel like I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

If you haven't gone away in a long time - try it. It might even be something to do with the air that we breathe wherever it is that we live. Despite having a relatively positive attitude to this prob, and indeed having pushed myself to do certain things, there have still been so many things I have avoided doing in the past - even sub-consciously. Well, I'm going to really start attending to this. So, I would recommend you all to try something, anything that you fear. Do one thing before the end of the month - you'll feel so good after!!

Finally, augustannabella, I think it's great to hear that you are getting on with life - it's a great coincidence you say all of this - just when I was thinking it myself! I myself was offered and had to reject a singing career can you believe - I'm glad that you pursued it!!! Good stuff! I agree that the more often you push yourself, the better it'll be. For instance, to stand in a quiet elevator suddenly doesn't seem too daunting after sitting for 30 mins in a quiet room. Building up a tolerance - just like my running. There is a marathon on here in October or so - 26.2 miles. Right now I can run about 13 miles at the pace I want. I'll need to train to get to that 26.2 mile point again so that every mile I run, the easier it gets. It's the same with the noise. Every quiet minute in a place you are uncomfortable in - the easier it gets. Best of luck to everyone!!!

Wow, well done irishlad, that's really great news. You sound on top of the world! I wonder what it was about being on holiday that changed things for you?

I wish i could say my problem is psychological but i just don't think it is, at all. I get the noises in the middle of the night, when im fast asleep-you can't get much more relaxed than that! There's a psychological aspect to this in that it does cause me anxiety but the noises cause the anxiety not the other way around.

I've always tried to not let the noises stop me but sometimes that's just not possible. I was offered an amazing job, but it meant 10 hour training days in silent, class room environments and it would have finished me off! I've adapted my life and i challenge myself on a daily basis but i do have limits, i wish i didn't.

How's everyone else getting on?HelpWanted, Coheed, Growlgurl, coast, eric, welshgirl and everyone else, sorry if i've missed you! How are you all? Thinking about you, especially those heading back to college soon xx

pix, i agree with you totally on the anxiety thing.
im just battling on as normal, and fighting to get some answers from the doc, only test result thats shown anything so far is B12 at the very low end of normal, certainly low enough to receive treatment, but i dont think low b12 is the cause of all my problems. back to the docs tomorrow to struggle for more tests and interest in my problems!
hows eveyone doing?

That's interesting HW. I think i've mentioned this before but i have B12 injections every 6 months. The part of bowel which absorbs B12 is the area affected by crohn's disease. I 100 % don't think you have crohn's but you could have some bowel inflammation which is stopping you aborbing B12 properly, might be worth asking your gp about. Good luck, keep going with it xx

My noises are not pyschological either.

My noises have been more active for the past week. I don't know what's going on. I'm still taking the same supplements, but I haven't tweaked my diet.

I really need to buckle down and start a candida diet.