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Excessive Gas/Flatulence
Good day:
I was glad to find your site on the web the other day, and have some questions about a problem that has been troubling me, on and off, for about a year now.
I get bouts of extremely bad smelling and frequent gas...from time to time. These bouts may last for about a week or so. The gas is always in the lowest part of my abdomen. There is no pain associated with the bouts, just the need to pass the gas, to relieve to build-up, as it were.
When I am plagued by these bouts of gas, I do notice, however, that my bowel movements tend to be more "sticky" and not well formed (flaky...some formed, the sticky part when cleaning myself up, and some flakes). The color is usually a medium to dark brown (twice, many months apart during bouts I noticed the stool had a greenish color. In fact, the first was when I was travelling on business and was in Florida. I was gasey and my stomach felt upset at the time; I thought it was related to the change in food or water. My stool was greenish several times then. That was over a year ago.) I do not see any presence of blood; occasionally there is a trace of mucus.
At these times, I often feel the urge to defecate more than my usual once a day (after my first cup of coffee in the morning). Sometimes there is bowel movement, other times very little is produced. Gas is usually expelled; however, I can get up after the bowel movement and feel, almost immediately, the need to expel gas again. It's very frustrating.
I also find, at times, that I can be eating a meal (it's usually when I'm eating out) and I can sense the build-up of gas occuring even before I finish my dinner. It's very awkward and uncomfortable as I have to wait until I find some privacy to relieve the gas.
I was troubled my great amounts of gas earlier this week. Today, Thursday, it appears to be much less. When I am in the throes of a bout, I can wake-up and have to pass gas almost immediately. Again, it's very pungent and embarassing.
I have tried all the things I know to reduce my problem. I eat slowly, avoid gas-producing foods, have taken charcoal capsules from a health food store, and tried Bean-o. I don't believe myself to be lactose intolerant, as dairy does not seem to trigger any problems specifically.
Following the above-mentioned bout in Florida, over a year ago, I noticed that after I returned home, before the holidays, I was also troubled by what I would compare to a muscle spasm around my rectum/anus. It was sore (during sitting, bowel moving, etc.) and I could feel tiny contractions at times. I tried warm water soaks (helped somewhat) and even Tucks pads...thinking maybe it was hemmoroids. Eventually this passed. I have had this problem once again...maybe six or eight months ago. Again, it passed.
There is no history of bowel problems or colo-rectal cancer in my family. I am otherwise in good health. My weight is normal and I eat healthy foods. I've tried to increase my fiber and grain intake, as I read an article touting their benefits at staving off colon cancer.
I have also called--when I have been in the throes of two gas bouts--the nurse practitioner whom I see for my minor health care needs; she is a staffer at a medical practice of doctors affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She has not expressed any great concern about the issue and made some diet modification suggestions and sent me an article on flatulence--telling me, basically, that this can be normal. She noted that if I was terribly concerned, I could come in for an exam. Of course, she asked about family medical history, and since I have none related to colo-rectal cancer, she didn't feel any need to react with urgency.
Since my problems are not chronic (however they are uncomfortable, embarassing, and annoying enough when they happen to get me to post this message), I don't know if I should press for more answers. I don't want to submit myself to a battery of uncomfortable tests only to find there is no real problem.
Your advice on what I might consider doing would be appreciated. My 35th birthday is upcoming in a few weeks, and I am thinking of making an appointment for a general physical...as a gift to myself. Should I press on the issue of the gas?
Thank you so much for you time and consideration. This is a disturbing problem, and I am fearful of it being a symptom of something awful.
I was glad to find your site on the web the other day, and have some questions about a problem that has been troubling me, on and off, for about a year now.
I get bouts of extremely bad smelling and frequent gas...from time to time. These bouts may last for about a week or so. The gas is always in the lowest part of my abdomen. There is no pain associated with the bouts, just the need to pass the gas, to relieve to build-up, as it were.
When I am plagued by these bouts of gas, I do notice, however, that my bowel movements tend to be more "sticky" and not well formed (flaky...some formed, the sticky part when cleaning myself up, and some flakes). The color is usually a medium to dark brown (twice, many months apart during bouts I noticed the stool had a greenish color. In fact, the first was when I was travelling on business and was in Florida. I was gasey and my stomach felt upset at the time; I thought it was related to the change in food or water. My stool was greenish several times then. That was over a year ago.) I do not see any presence of blood; occasionally there is a trace of mucus.
At these times, I often feel the urge to defecate more than my usual once a day (after my first cup of coffee in the morning). Sometimes there is bowel movement, other times very little is produced. Gas is usually expelled; however, I can get up after the bowel movement and feel, almost immediately, the need to expel gas again. It's very frustrating.
I also find, at times, that I can be eating a meal (it's usually when I'm eating out) and I can sense the build-up of gas occuring even before I finish my dinner. It's very awkward and uncomfortable as I have to wait until I find some privacy to relieve the gas.
I was troubled my great amounts of gas earlier this week. Today, Thursday, it appears to be much less. When I am in the throes of a bout, I can wake-up and have to pass gas almost immediately. Again, it's very pungent and embarassing.
I have tried all the things I know to reduce my problem. I eat slowly, avoid gas-producing foods, have taken charcoal capsules from a health food store, and tried Bean-o. I don't believe myself to be lactose intolerant, as dairy does not seem to trigger any problems specifically.
Following the above-mentioned bout in Florida, over a year ago, I noticed that after I returned home, before the holidays, I was also troubled by what I would compare to a muscle spasm around my rectum/anus. It was sore (during sitting, bowel moving, etc.) and I could feel tiny contractions at times. I tried warm water soaks (helped somewhat) and even Tucks pads...thinking maybe it was hemmoroids. Eventually this passed. I have had this problem once again...maybe six or eight months ago. Again, it passed.
There is no history of bowel problems or colo-rectal cancer in my family. I am otherwise in good health. My weight is normal and I eat healthy foods. I've tried to increase my fiber and grain intake, as I read an article touting their benefits at staving off colon cancer.
I have also called--when I have been in the throes of two gas bouts--the nurse practitioner whom I see for my minor health care needs; she is a staffer at a medical practice of doctors affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She has not expressed any great concern about the issue and made some diet modification suggestions and sent me an article on flatulence--telling me, basically, that this can be normal. She noted that if I was terribly concerned, I could come in for an exam. Of course, she asked about family medical history, and since I have none related to colo-rectal cancer, she didn't feel any need to react with urgency.
Since my problems are not chronic (however they are uncomfortable, embarassing, and annoying enough when they happen to get me to post this message), I don't know if I should press for more answers. I don't want to submit myself to a battery of uncomfortable tests only to find there is no real problem.
Your advice on what I might consider doing would be appreciated. My 35th birthday is upcoming in a few weeks, and I am thinking of making an appointment for a general physical...as a gift to myself. Should I press on the issue of the gas?
Thank you so much for you time and consideration. This is a disturbing problem, and I am fearful of it being a symptom of something awful.
I had my gal bladder removed last week
and I'm starting to have pains on my
right side.What can be causing the pain.
and I'm starting to have pains on my
right side.What can be causing the pain.
I can relate to the severe gas pain, however my pain comes on at the end of my period. I get bloated and i pass a lot of gas however i am in a lot of pain and have to be absent from work. My feaces contain mucous during this period and i have sleepless nights.After my period i still have a lot of gas but it does not cause bloating neither pain. Gasx has given me some relief from the bloating but i still have the gas. Please help. I will go insane if i have to have to go through this abnormality next period.
When someone...some medical miracle worker figures out a solution, I will buy stock :) I get terrible gas, upper and lower...weird intense burping and all the other stuff you both were talking about. Is this what happens near 40? It is darned near debilitating sometimes!!
DEar Phil,
Everyone likes a present and you should visit the doctor for a general chackup. Your symprtoms are actually quite common. It is a ppropriate to express concerns about colon cancer but most people with your complaints do not have cancer. However, simple tests will be able to provide you with piece of mind. If you travel, the possibility of an infection e.g. Giardia should be considered and checked. IF a compete evaluationn is negative, irritable bowel should be considered.
Everyone likes a present and you should visit the doctor for a general chackup. Your symprtoms are actually quite common. It is a ppropriate to express concerns about colon cancer but most people with your complaints do not have cancer. However, simple tests will be able to provide you with piece of mind. If you travel, the possibility of an infection e.g. Giardia should be considered and checked. IF a compete evaluationn is negative, irritable bowel should be considered.
Tell me about it!!! I wish that there was a cure for gas pain and bloat. I suffer with the same symptoms...need to expel gas, gas "stuck" in my upper abdomen where I cannot move or zipper my pants and I might add that it is extremely painful. Sometimes I wish I could put a pin in my stomach and expel the gas to PSE&G because I would make a fortune. Along with this, I suffer from constipation. I have tried everything from phazyme to a shrink. I have had all the medical tests which are normal.
My average day goes like this...get dressed...2 hrs later comes the bloat and need to expel...followed by the inability to expel and then the extreme bloat from upper to lower abdomen which may or may not be expelled. I have a whole wardrobe of pants I cannot wear because I know they will create gas...
HELP!! Isn't there a pill?
My average day goes like this...get dressed...2 hrs later comes the bloat and need to expel...followed by the inability to expel and then the extreme bloat from upper to lower abdomen which may or may not be expelled. I have a whole wardrobe of pants I cannot wear because I know they will create gas...
HELP!! Isn't there a pill?
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