Borborygmus:
Borborygmus is defined as: a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines. (Care of the dictionary.)
Borborygmus is all of the stomach sounds that we hear... It is also an awesome word.
Now, the majority of people get a few dominant types of sounds: hunger, upset stomach from being too full, gas, needing to go to the washroom, sometimes cramping, and nervousness.
Sometimes there is pain associated with some or all of the above noises.
Now, for someone with any kind of intestinal issues, we can tell the difference between many more types of borborygmus.
We know when it's air or liquid or even undigested food. We know when it is simply nervousness or if it's 'cranky'. It often makes a noise high up in my esophagus, but does not cause burping - this is usually due to stress, nervousness, or the esophagus becoming inflamed.
There are different sounds for air moving past ulcers - and is usually associated with pain. I will know when cramps are on the way, I can tell - just from the sound and pain - if my intestines are bleeding, if I am going to need to stick close to home, or if I have eaten too much and need to avoid eating for a while.
There is a different noise for excitement and resides in a different place through the system and there is one that warns me that an intestinal swell will likely occur. Hiccups in combination with stomach gurgling often indicates an issue with the pancreas. Loud gurgling high above my stomach followed by shallow burping is almost always an indication of inflammation and even ulceration in the esophagus (common side effect of Doxycycline).
If you listen to your body closely enough, you'll start to hear the differences in each type of borborygmic sound!!
Because who DOESN'T want to distinguish between all of the weird sounds inside?
Weirdest party trick ever. 😊
Can you pick up on all of the different sounds??