Oh wow, I used to be the same way with salads... I thought eating a giant bowl of lettuce and veggies was the healthiest thing ever. Then I realized all that fiber and raw stuff was actually messing with my digestion and making me feel bloated. Cutting back and adding more protein and healthy fats made a huge difference for me too.
I used to believe more veggies automatically meant better health, but your experience really opened my eyes. It makes so much sense that too much roughage can backfire on digestion. Maybe I need to try rebalancing my meals with more protein and fats to see if that helps me too.