Re: severe gas

Posted By dar on November 08, 1998 at 22:58:07:

In Reply to: Re: severe gas posted by HFHSM.D.-ym on October 30, 1998 at 13:57:45:






: : I wrote earlier about my constipation and upper stomach pain. Iam 36 female, Ive never been regular maybe once a week, but in the last few months its worsened. I go three weeks without a bm unless I take a couple stool softners and fiber tablets daily. When I do have a bm its very severe, pain, cramping hours in the bathroom.  I went to the DR. which was a waste of time, she said eat more fiber, drink more water like I didn't already know this. I work in a pharmacy so I've tried everything possible before making a Dr. appt. She finally scheduled a h. pylori test which I go for next week. I have no diarehea but now when I strain to have a bm which I can't, when I wipe theres green mucas I guess you would call it that. I also have severe gas that would choke a horse. I can't stand to be around myself. I've had gas before but never this way.  Please give me some advice.
: Dear dar,
: Constipation, as you know, can be secondary to inadequate fiber, immobility, drugs, endocrine causes, neurological diseases and psychological factors. It is important to rule out structural lesions and mechanical obstruction with barium x-rays and colonoscopy. Blood tests to exclude systemic disease should be routinely obtained. These tests include: hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a biochemical screen to include thyroid function tests, serum calcium.
Many laxatives and stool softerners are available with different modes of action. Prior to considering surgery (last resort), I would recommend that you have testing to document poor colonic transit (colonic marker transit study) and defecography to look for problems with rectal emptying, pelvic floor weakness or structural abnormalities such as a rectocele. Preoperative psychological assessment is also recommended. It may also be necessary to exclude a generalized gastrointestinal motility disorder by obtaining a gastric emptying study, small bowel transit study and segmental colonic transit rate.
Another potentially treatable cause for severe gas and constipation is lactose intolerance. You might want to stay away from dairy products or use Lactaid tablets and milk. Furthermore, keeping a food diary might help identify foods that cause increased intestinal gas and bloating. I hope you find this information helpful.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you would like to be seen at our institution please call 1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
HFHSM.D.-ym
: *Keywords: constipation, treatment

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Follow Ups:
Hi,
I'm 31 yrs old, male and with no history of intestinal disease in my family except for my Grandfather who died of Colorectal Cancer. My problem and I'm not sure if it is though is irregularity. I eat well, 2 meals a day but I only have bm's over the span of 2-3 days, always saturday, sunday and maybe monday. I have been like this for as long as I can remember. I experience no pain or discomfort except for Gas preceding the bm. Even with Metamucil and 3 fruits a day my bm's differ little.
I am a lot more relaxed on days I don't work, could that have something to do with it? I don't believe that I am clinically retentive but I really don't know. I worry about the effects of having a stool inside my body for so long and would request your advice. Thank you.
Dear  Vic,
Many people feel that it is important to have daily bowel movements. However, it is normal for individuals to have between 3 bowel movements per week to several bowel movements per day. On the other hand, infrequent bowel movements, hard, dry
bowel movements that are difficult to pass or the feeling of incomplete evacuation may indicate a problem. Constipation is usually associated with one or more of the following: inadequate fiber intake, inadequate fluid intake, lack of exercise, stress
and anxiety, pregnancy, ignoring the urge to defecate, hemorrhoids or fissures or a side effect of medications. Simple things to do to prevent constipation include: eating regular meals-chew food thoroughly and slowly, drink plenty of fluids, exercise daily,
establish regular toilet habits, don't strain, eat a high fiber cereal like FIBER ONE cereal by General Mills. If these simple measures do not help I would recommend that you see your primary care physician for further evaluation and testing. I hope
you find this information helpful.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you would like to be seen at our institution please call 1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians' Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
HFHSM.D.-ym
*Keywords: constipation
Its me again and I finally have an answer to my stomach problems my Dr. after a lot of coaxing had me tested for h. pylori and it came back positive. Thank god I finally have an answer. I've been on the antibotic (antibiotic) and prevacid regime for 4 days now, its alot of pills to take in one day. So far my stomach hasn't flared up again. As for the constipation I'll just have to wait and see. I'am on the meds for 6 weeks then I get tested again to see ifs its all gone. The test itself was very easy. I could'nt take any acid reducers for 2 weeks before the test and no antibotic (antibiotic) for 30 days before the test, it throws the results off. I went to my hospital lab and swallowed one pill, blew into a ballon and went home, it took 10 mins. This new test is great. I had results in 7 days. So far so good. I'am having my daughter tested also, this may be her problem too.   Thanks for all your help!