Question:
I have a potentially embarrassing situation that I need your help with

I am having a problem with very foul smelling gas. I am a stay at home mom and if I have an episode at home it is really not that embarrassing. If I am in public (shopping, etc), I've been able for the most part to keep on walking and just move to another area of the store. Now, I feel stuck. I am singing with my church choir Saturday evening and Sunday morning. During the dress rehearsals, I was able to walk off the risers and "go get a drink", I had to do this about 5 times each night. Now, comes the hard part. With the performances, I won't be able to just leave the stage!! I am really getting concerned and nervous about this. Do you have any advice? I've tried beano, gasx,activated charcoal, pepto bismol, etc... I'm not as concerned about Sunday mornings performance, as I will not eat before hand (although this has really never been a guarantee for me). I am getting so concerned, that I may consider not singing. But what would my excuse be? Help!!! Dumb question, but is there any clothing or undergarments that could possibly "block" the odor? Thank you so much for answering this somewhat unusual question. Shelley    — Shelley. (posted on March 29, 2002)


March 29, 2002
Mint Green Tea. It cleases the body of order. You can get it at any heath food store. I use it also. I have had the same problem since surgery 8 mos ago. Now it no longer happens. Take a TBSP twice a day. Hope this helps.
   — Valerie M.

March 29, 2002
go Buy GasX or PhasX and take a few of them starting a couple hours before and also I swig on Pepto Bismol I am single and Dating I would die if I passed Gas or had a bowl movemnent also the order comes from FATS....... so watch what you eat 24 hours before hand this really works
   — Kathleen M.

March 29, 2002
Interesting you should ask this...there is currently on the market a couple who are marketing underpants with charcol filters in the seat of the britches to filter out smells. (Seems the wife has Crohns disease.) However, this is unlikely to help you. I suggest you simple avoid those foods that cause gas, load up on gas-x or learn to pucker up and sing soprano. Failing that, bring a dog to the event and blame him.
   — merri B.

March 29, 2002
If I were in your shoes, I would not eat any solid food on Saturday. Instead, drink clear liquids (Crystal Light, Chicken broth, Sugar Free Jello) and lots of water. After the concert, go ahead and have your meal. Sunday morning, you won't be eating breakfast, so you should be ok.
   — artistmama

March 29, 2002
I am just wondering what surgery the poster had. Was it the BPD/DS? I hope it wasn't the RNY. . .that is one of the reasons I chose RNY over DS. Well, just curious.
   — Jennifer Y.

March 29, 2002
I have this problem also. I had distal RNY 06/05/02. I find that it is mostly caused by the protein that I consume. I do 125g of supplement a day. When I went on my daughter's field trip, I just didn't have any protein until after school. It's funny how now after surgery, I can usually time how long certain things take to get through me.
   — hayesvj

March 29, 2002
Jennifer, I had a proximal RNY. Thanks for all of the ideas. I'm trying just about all of them today. I'm desparate and don't have much time. As far as the food goes, I have never been able to pin point what causes the gas for me. It's difficult to plan what to eat, if I can't tell what is the culprit. Thanks again for all of the help. I'm still not sure that I will be brave enough to do it. As far as the dog idea goes....well, he might start howling if he heard me singing. LOL! Shelley
   — Shelley.

March 29, 2002
Protein shakes can cause gas but for proximals, most have found its the carbohydrates because of the digestion process being cut. Once I gave up the starches and pastas my gas went away, much to the happiness of my family.. Rita in Vermont rny 3/31/94 then 463, today 190ish
   — vt_rita

March 29, 2002
I have heard that dairy products can cause lots of gas and diarreha(sp?)too. Try cutting these out of your diet for a day or so and see if that is the culprit. If it is , then you may be lactose intolerant.
   — Kim B.

March 29, 2002
Shelly, try eating only meat for one day only...Saturday..until the concert. Cut out all fats and dairy for a day as well as fruits and veggies which also have carbs. It's only one day and this might help. I too have found nothing that works on the horrible gas except the right diet. Good luck.
   — Barbara H.

April 1, 2002
UPDATE!!! I just wanted to thank everyone for their helpful ideas and to let you know what I did and how it went...On Saturday, I ate nothing all day long. All I did was drink water/crystal light and chew pepto bismol, gasx, and took devrom capsules. (I had tried these before but did not find them too helpful. I thought I would give them another try-thanks LeeAnne for the reminder!). I felt a little weak during the concert, but I had NO GAS!!! I was thrilled!! I really did think about it a lot and was very nervous between songs. After the concert, about 8:30pm, I had dinner. Of course, I was starving by this point, so I did not make as good of a choice as I should have, considering I needed to sing again in about 14 hours. I had cheese pizza, I know lots of carbs!! Throughout the evening and into the morning I continued to chew pepto bismol, gasx, and take Devrom capsules. Sunday morning I ate nothing at all. The concert started about 10:30am. About 10 or so, I started feeling a little rumbly and became very nervous and concerned. I went ahead and sang, but really didn't enjoy myself. I did have one "episode" of gas, fortunately it was small and wasn't too offensive. I'm sure many choir members noticed, but I don't think it was obvious who the offender was!! From that point, I don't remember much of the concert, I was soooo concerned about a "follow up". Even though I did have that one "release", I still feel successful. Prior to this, I would have had many many more!! Again, thanks again to all who answered. BTW, I couldn't find mint green tea. I looked several places. Oh well, maybe that would have made my Sunday just as good as Saturday!! Love, Shelley
   — Shelley.




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