Question:
Is anyones gas so bad it's effecting their social life?
I am 3 years post op and after about 2 years I started to get REALLY bad smelling gas (almost inhuman). I tried everything I read on the boards, but nothing worked. Saw my regular doctor, my surgeon and a gastro doctor and nothing seems to work. I've tried the charcol, the devrom, bacteria, etc. Looking to see how many other people have this issue and any suggestions. This issue is causing strain on my relationship with my boyfriend and causes me to avoid certain social situations. — Karen S. (posted on April 13, 2004)
April 13, 2004
What about your diet? Does it happen no matter what you eat or only after
certain foods?
— davesband1
April 13, 2004
Go buy you some Devrom. It won't kill the gas but will kill the smell. I
know of some post-ops that it has literally saved their social lives and
their jobs. I have had more problems with smelly gas and intend to get
some myself. My understanding is it's best to order over the internet in
quantity to get the best price. It's like an internal deodorizer.
— zoedogcbr
April 13, 2004
I'm not having that much of a problem with gas but I do find that the more
highly refined the food is, the worse the result. For instance, I ate a
piece of white bread and had bad gas for about three days. I don't even try
bread anymore because, unless it's the low carb stuff, it causes the gas
problem. I also seem to have a problem with garlic but not with onions.
Some people seem to have the problem with dairy products. So, maybe it's
diet related. You might try eliminating some things one by one to see if it
gets any better. Good luck on finding the answer.
— SCbabe B.
April 13, 2004
I have to stay away from bad carbs--pasta, white bread and rice. I dont
eat refined sugar but I do eat sugar free candy, wow ---I get terrible gas
from this!
— debmi
April 13, 2004
I'm lucky in that my sweetie has also had this surgery although sometimmes
I think the kids may want to move out (not entirely a bad thing). Devrom
doesn't help. Staying away from white carbs helps, also sugar alchohal
(that sugar free candy) gives painful gas and diareha. I'm almost 2 years
out, my sweetie is almost a year and he is starting to have real problems
and can't seem to connect them to any specific foods but I found that if
I've eaten something wrong it can take days (maybe even a week) of protein
shakes and bars and nothing else to clean me out. But man o man is that
hard. Best of luck.
— Sunny S.
April 14, 2004
I have a Rottweiler whose gas could clear the room. I read that giving him
a couple of tablespoons of regular yogurt would help the problem. It has
done the trick for him! I know you said you tried bacteria, but you could
see if the bacteria in regular yogurt might help. I also find that I don't
burp up carbonation - it goes the other way.
— koogy
April 14, 2004
Karen, Yes I have the same problem. I am also 3 years post op and for the
last 2 years, I have had uncontrollable gas with very, very offensive odor.
It affects my social life tremendously. I no longer sing in my church choir
because I am so afraid of having a bad episode during rehearsal and
performances. Shopping when I have these episodes takes forever because I
am constantly walking away and going to a different area to expel the gas
and then returning to the area that I am actually shopping in. Checking out
after shopping can be stressful as it is hard to evacuate the check out
lane in a hurry. I, too have tried it all(including devrom and charcoal)
and nothing helps. I can not seem to connect it to any specific foods.
However, I find myself avoiding all food on days when I have to be at a
confined social function. This seems to help. Of course, I am then pretty
hungry. I can eat at the function because the gas seems to take about 2
hours to begin. I'm not sure why, but my husband and I have never discussed
it. We've always been fairly private about those matters. I find myself
avoiding going to bed with him because the gas always seems to happen in
the evening and at bedtime. I can't really give any advice, but I wanted to
let you know that I can and do empathize with you. I was once told that a
bad gall bladder can cause an increase in gas. I had my gall bladder
scanned and I do have stones and sludge. Although it's not causing me any
tremendous pain, I am at times uncomfortable in that area. I am
contemplating having my gall bladder removed in hopes of improving the gas
situation (I can't imagine it getting any worse!). I have many times asked
for help and can not seem to get any that is of use to me. My doctor told
me once that a patient discovered that Pepto Bismol helped with her gas.
I've tried it and don't see any help. (BTW-my doctor doesn't mind the
aspirin product that is in the Pepto Bismol). People will often recommend
Gas X. However, my understanding of that medicine is that it helps you to
expel trapped gas. Actually, just the opposite of what I am trying to do.
(stop the gas from escaping!) Fortunately, my children are not old enough
to notice or comment, but it is only a matter of time. I really hope you
get some good advice here. I've sought help from my surgeon and he just
seems to shrug it off (other than the Pepto Bismol suggestion) and I don't
know if I can convince any doctor just how bad it is. Good luck and know
that you are not alone. Shelley
— Shelley.
April 14, 2004
yes is was so bad but after awahile it may get better but it still smells
bad
— candice H.
April 14, 2004
I have the same problem, but use it to my advantage ... it gets my kids to
leave my bedroom REALLY quickly!
— PEARL B.
April 14, 2004
in my case, eating sugar= bad gas, eating sugar alcohol = poison gas.
protein shakes or bars = foul smelling gas.
— **willow**
April 14, 2004
I get gassy sometimes. I take beano, it has an enzyme we now lack. It
works for me.
— bransonboy
April 14, 2004
I've not had this problem personally, but I used to have a house dog that
needed some help in this area. I understand the Devrom is bismuth-based,
and some people have a problem with that. What worked really well for the
dog was a chlorophyll-based product. I know such are available in most
health-food stores, as well as on line. You might give one of those a try.
— MsBatt
April 14, 2004
If none of these suggestions help I would consider seeing a
gastroenterologist for her/his opinion. It may be fixable with meds.
— Susan F.
April 15, 2004
Have you been able to associate the gas with any particular food. I could
separate my foods and find out which foods cause the gas by not eating
after midnight one day, and upon waking start with a protein food - wait
2-3 hours see what happens or you might have to eat a single group for one
day (most likely not) the key is to allow the food to be digested and see
the reaction your body gives. You might have a food allegy and not know
which food it is.
— Anna M.
April 15, 2004
Since my husband and I have both had surgery his gas is soooo bad and whats
worse is he stinks like something died inside him. We eat the same exact
diet....I don't have that problem? It's so bad I am going to speak with
our doctor about it. Good Luck
— Jodie S.
Click Here to Return