Question:
I live alone and the gas isn't a problem at home, but in public..........

Is there any product I can buy to control gas w/o giving me the feeling that I am backing up and going to explode? I mean something that really controls/eliminates gas? Also, are there certains foods that trigger bad gas? I'm starting to date and don't want to offend or have a "gas attack" in the car. This guy will think something has died in is vehicle........    — Annie H. (posted on November 29, 2002)

November 28, 2002
My problem with gas was quite severe, so I can sympathize with you. Here's what I learned. Avoid eating too much, avoid starchy foods at all costs (bread, potatoes, rice...) Don't add something new to your diet the day you plan on going out. Take enteric coated activated charcoal. Charcoal Plus DS is good but pretty big. I can take them, but you gotta know your stoma. Requa CharcoCaps are easier to swallow, but I'm not sure if they are enteric coated. (You need enteric coated because you want the charcoal to be realeased in the small intestine, not the stomach.) Of course this can lead to constipation. So, after trial and error, I found that one ColonClenz by Natual Balance in the evening and a little Benefiber in my morning coffee does the trick without explosive results or more gas. And it's not habit forming like exlax. I don't know if I cured myself, but I seem to have cured myself. I just don't have the nasty gassy anymore. So there is hope. Happy Day!
   — Carolynn J.

November 29, 2002
I noticed I don't get gas as much as I did the first two mths postop. And the smell is not as "deadly" either ;0 But one thing is my calcium gives me alot of gas. Also starchy foods and raw veges. In fact, broccoli, cabbage & radishes are no longer in my diet. Just too much gas afterwards. I use Gas-X and it works well for me. I'm going bck to wrk soon and I take my calcium 3x's daily but I'm going to try taking it very late in the day so I don't have so much if any gas at wrk.
   — Karla K.

December 1, 2002
Immediately after surgery the gas is bad. Get rid of it! I find that Carbohydrates trigger gas. YOu might notice the same.
   — Marianne K.