TERRIBLE EMBARRASSING

Does anyone have a problem with gas from both ends. I am so full all the time I don't know what to do. Ive taken all the over the counter gas reliefs, I get rebound gas when the dose is over, I went to a scope specialist and he doesnt believe I need a colonscopy. I just read about colon cleanseing with a product called colonix, it claims to get old fecal matter and everything else out of you colon. I have never heard of it and it is expensive has anyone heard of it or used it? Thank you I would appreciate and information as the drs have been no help. Thanks karen

Karen, When you say full, do you mean full as in constipated? Or you get full when you eat? You think the gas is due to constipation rather than just gas for the sake of gas. How often do you have a bowel movement? Any of the bowel preps (Fleet phosphosoda, magnesium citrate liquid) will get the feces out of there but you wouldn't want to do that often since it is dehydrating. A Fleets enema or two will get it cleaned out as well. These are not costly things. I don't think there is any need to buy a fancy product for this purpose. Do you take stool softeners (not laxatives)? What about fiber tablets? Tried ground flax seeds? How about some occassional Milk of Magnesia? What about Smooth Move tea? I find that the calcium (citrate) binds me up. Everyone thinks it is the supplemental iron but I find it is the calcium. I changed calcium brands and got really bound up. I've read that adding in a couple of magnesium citrate capsules or tablets into the vitamin regiment very slowly might help keep things going. I had bought the wrong magnesium (oxide) and just switched to citrate yesterday. Went easily today so I hope that is a forward trend! Take care, Kathy

Kathy I move my bowels almost everyday, I take a stool softner, perscription from my Dr. Plus metamucil everyday. I am full of gas, I could burp for 15 min to feel better, by stomach is distended by the end of the day. I am off all dairy products to see it that is causing the gas. I feel so much better when it lessens, but I deal with this everyday not just once in a while. Thank your for your help. Karen

Has the doctor mentioned Zelnorm? I've heard of a few people being given it for intestinal issues (like gas) and bloating. You might want to ask to try it. Kathy

are you eating sugar free foods that are sweetend with sugar alcohols such as malitol, lactilol, sorbitol, maltitlol etc. I was having tremendous and very stinky gas. It took me a while to figue out, but when I stoppred all sugar free treats the gas went away almost completely. Now, If i eat too much regualr sugar I also get gassy , but not nearly to the same extent. Metamucil can also cause gassiness. maybe skip it for a few days and see what happens? then reintroduce it very slowly in very small amounts and increase very slowly and gradually.

Gas is one of the side affects of WLS. It's part of our life now. I do notice the more carbs I eat the more gas I get and the smellier it is. Darlene

a farting we will go, a farting we will go, high ho a derry -e- oh- a farting we will go!!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of weight loss! toot, toot!!!! blessings, and giggles, Tami

Mine comes and goes, for the most part without rhyme or reason, but the one thing that I KNOW will set it off is fresh fruit (at least you get relief from over-the-counter stuff cuz it doesn't touch mine!). Have you determined if a certain food or food group sets you off? Becky

Becky, sorry you are dealing with gas also but I too have just recently began eating more fresh fruit and I told my husban it's causing me so much gas, he didn't believe fruit could do this too me. I've never had much gas post-op until recently and yes I know it's because of fruit and a little more carbs (good carbs most of the time, but not always). Dana

Karen... My surgeon says that the gas is the result of the malapsorption factor from RNY. The less processed material still has more smell producing contents... a simple fact of life. Yes it's embarrassing... I still have such quiet little farts sometimes, like the ones I used to be able to pass even in somewhat close proximity to others and no one would be the wiser... no more, they may not hear it but EVERYONE knows... no gettin away with nuttin anymore. I swear, the other morning, while in bed with David, I let out one that could have stripped paint.... luckily, his reaction is usually to make very funny jokes about it at my expense and we both end up giggling about it. There is a little local takeout chinese place that is always filled with chinese speaking students (we are a university town). In fact the proprietors barely speak english but their 6 year old who is always there playing or doing his homework is fluent.... they make the best vegetable spring rolls.... filled with highly spiced, barely cooked, finely chopped... chinese cabbage.... they are very small. I eat two, chewing them into mush... the crunch is heavenly... the spices are heavenly... and the cabbage does the trick, cleaning me out better than any product I can buy... I do this at least once a week. I also order cole slaw any time I'm eating out and faced with the salad option. Salad just doesn't work for me any more. Two bites and I'm too full for anything else but I don't feel "nourished" in any way. Cole slaw on the other hand.... if I chew it really well, I can eat it, the dressing helps it go down easy and the finely chewed raw cabbage acts like a broom.... Nancy