Dear Graeme
Sorry you have not had a response to your post as yet. I hope you don’t mind me answering your question. I am Jill and a myeloma information specialist at Myeloma UK.
Good to hear you are in remission and recovering well from your SCT.
Abdominal sounds are noises made within the small and large intestine typically during digestion. When your intestine is processing food it may grumble and growl. This process can occur several hours after eating and even at night when you are trying to get off to sleep. Your rumbling tummy may be a consequence of gastro-intestinal sensitivity following high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, but could equally be coincidental and be as a result of other causes. Abdominal sounds such as you are experiencing are known as hyperactive and can be so loud that they can be heard by others.
Certain foods particularly high fibre and high carbohydrate (sugary and starchy) foods can aggravate flatulence and stomach rumbling. There are over the counter medicines available such as charcoal tablets that may help. Your pharmacist may be able to advise.
While occasional hyperactive bowel sounds are normal. Very frequent noises with associate pain, excess gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blood in stools and weight loss may indicate an underlying medical problem such as infection or inflammatory bowel conditions and therefore it is advisable to seek medical care.
Please do not hesitate to get back in touch if you have any further questions, I or one of my colleagues may be able to clarify things for you further. Contact us directly by email to askthenurse@myeloma.org.uk or on the Freephone Myeloma Infoline on 0800 980 3332.
Best wishes
Jill
jillmartin.
