Recently I developed new symptoms. I have tried many things to try to help, including cutting out milk and soda, drinking more water and cutting out spicy foods. Your symptoms of abdominal pain, swelling and bloating, gas pains, diarrhea and constipation, and heartburn may suggest irritable bowel syndrome. I wonder if any of the physicians you have seen have mentioned this. This common group of symptoms is not a disease and does not cause cancer or other permanent harm to the intestines.
People experience distress to varying degrees and find that the symptoms come and go.
Diet, stress levels and hormones all may contribute to the symptoms. The colon seems to develop increased motility and contractions, and this causes the cramping, bloating and loose or hard stools. Possible triggers include large meals, fat content of meals, milk products, caffeine and some high fiber foods. Stress may aggravate the syndrome for some people, while shifts in hormone levels aggravate it for others. Finding ways to handle stress, relaxation training and again looking for stress triggers can also be helpful.