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ridgewalker777
08-03-2004, 16:51
I've had some health problems after a long section hike and was anxious to hear if anyone had a clew. My guts (liver?, stomach?) started making noise commensurate with the miles and difficulty of terrain I hiked on a given day. It seems to originate below the stomach, and I've also been having some back pain on my right torso also mild internal pain on the right. Would appreciate very much if anyone has a clew or a referral...

orangebug
08-03-2004, 17:22
:-?

Tell us about your backpack and the hip belt. Where does the hip belt ride?

Also, your age, sex and general weight might lend a bit of a hint as to considerations.

Bill....

ridgewalker777
08-03-2004, 17:29
The hip belt rides above my waist. Pack usually weighs 35-45 pounds. I'm tall, somewhat below ideal weight, and in good health. Diet is free of refined sugars, candy, or junk food. I have been taking several thousand milligrams a day of vitamin C at times.

grrickar
08-03-2004, 17:59
Vitamin C maybe? I used to pump up with vitamins in the winter to try and help fend off sickness, and vitamin C would give me serious issues in my gut. Not sure if that is your case or not, but you might want to reduce the amount you are taking and see.

orangebug
08-03-2004, 18:32
Hip belt above your waist, eh?

Heavy pack to boot?

Many people will "knead" their abdomen as a means of increasing GI motility and reducing constipation. I suspect you are doing the same with your pack and belt. The noise making is gas, chyme and gut churning and moving stuff along. I suspect you are constricting your gut to a degree, and bruising things.

The hip belt is best used along the pelvic crest. This places the weight and pressure on the bones, using your pelvis as a shelf to transmit the weight to your legs and off your back and shoulders. You will get some abdomenal pressure from your belt, especially if you keep it tight, but probably won't constrict or bruise much.

The right sided pain may be from injury to the right lobes of your liver. I'd take that as a sign that you don't need to be doing that.

The Vit C is probably a red herring in your case. I doubt there is a real problem in using several thousand milligrams, but there is only a limited amount you can absorb and use. Most of what you are taking is in your urine within the hour.

Bill...

Footslogger
08-04-2004, 12:18
What you're experiencing could be something called "referred pain". Just to be on the safe side, have your kidney's checked for possible stones. Kidney stone disease, although it is totally separate from that of the digestive system, can cause a fair amount of abdominal gas and crampling (personal experience).

Not saying that you have kidney stones but it would be worth having checked out. Often, a single xray of your abdomen will reveal most kidney stones of the size that would cause your symptoms. The good news is that if it is kidney stones ...they can be treated if caught in time.

Other than that ...you might want to look into your diet. Something you are eating may be causing hyperacidity, with the by-product being gas. A lot of gas causes cramping. That in turn can cause movement of the gas which can be a tad noisey at times.

Drink a lot of water, lean forward and burp a lot in the meantime ...

'Slogger
AT 2003

ridgewalker777
08-04-2004, 12:44
Thanks a lot for the free and good advice! It sound right. I spoke with a physician who wanted $250 for an initial consultation and would then refer me to a specialist. I guess an abdominal x-ray may be indicated for possible kidney stones. Generally I eat a lot of dairy products, usually a quart of yoghurt a day (Brown Cow or Stonyfield brand), green tea, nuts, health bread, fruit, vegetables, herbs, beans, etc. I wonder if the stress the body is under during a vigorous day of hiking makes it hard to recover and heal with eight or so hours of sleep.