For several years up until last year I had occasional attacks of painful bloating - so bad sometimes that I walked on tiptoe- that lasted six or more hours.

My first attack occurred after I had a vegetarian sandwich and a diet coke and had another one some time later that also involved a soda. I decided that it was the soda- so for several years I drank nothing with carbonation in it, even beer.

I had no further attacks for a year or more, so I thought the regimen was working. Then I had another attack- and a friend advised papaya capsules. I took two of them occasionally and I had no further attacks.

Then I had an attack that didn't end and I wound up in the ER, where it was was discovered that I had an internal hernia and a strangulated intestine. Had the surgery- no more attacks.

It's been going on two years that I'm pain free so I think...