Hi, M.. I, also, had a lot of distress in my stomach and intestines during the first trimester. I even went to the hospital with abdominal pain when I was not even 3 months along. They told me it was constipation! That's what I suspect you have. I was not only bloated, but I was insanely hungry at the same time that I was feeling bloated and full. So I was uncomfortable almost all the time.
If you're so bloated that it's hard to eat, try drinking a glass of water at least a couple of times each day. I would also recommend prune juice -- it's not an old wives' tale, this stuff really works! The same hormones that keep your uterus nice and calm also work on your digestive system and unfortunately, make it more sluggish. This seems to be happenning more in this pregnancy than in your first one. That's OK -- no two pregnancies are the same, not even in the same woman.
Eat more fruits. Get more fiber into your system. Eat veggies, whole grains, and most importantly, fruits. Talk to your doctor to see if there are any very gentle laxatives that you could take once in a while in order to help your digestive system along. Also, walking helps to keep the digestive system moving; try to do some gentle walking. If you're doing other exercises such as Nautilus-type machines, if you're not walking, you're not really stimulating your digestive system.
I hope your system gets back in balance very soon so that you can enjoy your pregnancy more!
Peace,
Syl