Doctor explains what could be the cause of a feeling of fullness in the abdomen Lavrov’s doctor: Bacterial overgrowth causes a feeling of fullness in the abdomen 06:53

The feeling of fullness in the stomach after breakfast may be due to bloating due to an excess of bacteria in the small intestine. This condition also manifests itself with stool disorders, nausea, pain, and sometimes bad breath due to increased intestinal gases. This is what Lyubov Lavrova, a gastroenterologist at the DocDeti clinic, told socialbites.ca.

“The most common complaint in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO) is bloating due to gas formation in the intestines. This is felt as a feeling of tension, distension, and congestion in the abdomen. This complaint usually occurs after eating, especially after breakfast. Discomfort may be noticeable when going to work and bending over to put on your shoes,” Lavrova explained.

Typically, the stretching sensation is concentrated in the areas where the intestines bend, on the left and right under the ribs. Patients often confuse this pain with pancreatitis or liver problems. In fact, the problem is the expansion of the intestines due to gas accumulation.

“Many people with SIBO complain of foul-smelling, frequent loose stools, changes in stool color and the presence of undigested food particles in them. A gastrocolitic reflex is possible: the need to defecate after each meal. Constipation is less frequent: the intestines, strained by excess methane gas, contract less. Nausea and constant monotonous abdominal pain, heartburn, belching, bitter taste in the mouth and bad breath due to increased gas content in the intestine are also possible,” the gastroenterologist added.

SIBO leads to poor digestion of food and sometimes poor absorption of substances in the intestines, so it should not be left untreated.

“Currently, the gold standard for diagnosing SIBO is a hydrogen-methane breath test loaded with lactulose (we breathe into bags in the laboratory for 120 minutes). Treatment tactics for SIBO in the small intestine are built on four directions: reducing the number of bacteria with the help of antibiotics (intestinal antiseptics), searching for conditions associated with SIBO and eliminating or introducing them into remission, symptomatic therapy (antispasmodics, antispasmodic drugs, carminatives, antidiarrheal or laxative drugs, neuromodulators), compliance with the Low-Fodmap diet (limitation of foods that cause gas formation in the intestines) and exclusion of individual intolerance products,” the doctor said.

Formerly a doctor in the name Healthy products for people over 60.