Flatulence

[Molly Kaplan]

Hello,
I'm a sprout of a nineteen year old who has recently been plagued with the most pernicious flatulence of her life. She became vegan in the last six months, but the farting began about three weeks ago. They are silent and painless little bursts of air with the most foul smell. I've able to clear entire rooms.
I first noticed the gas (although this is not necessarily the cause) after eating a fruit kanten (the vegan form of jello made with an agar) for desert 5 days in a row. True, I do eat a considerable amount of beans, but I notice the gas even when I don't eat beans. The bursts of gas can run almost uninterrupted for hours in a day and are killing my social life.
I was curious about a possible cause and very much want to know how to kill the bacteria that are probably causing these releases in a natural way without taking any medication. Would a day of fasting help? A week of no beans?
I should also say that three years ago I had IBS, and although I haven't had a problem with it since, I was wondering if there could a connection.
Thanks so much.

-Molly

[shirley]

I am having a gas problem also. I also suffer with a blotted stomach. The gas is is usually very loud and I have no control of the situation.  The gas some times pass through my vagina as well.

[Alan]

Hi Molly:
You might try peppermint oil capsules with an enteric coating. They dissolve in the small intestine, not the stomach and often can sooth an irrritable bowel. You can get them at a health store. Also, you must avoid beans and any fruits that contain indigestable carbohydrates. If the problem persists, don't be too embarrassed to see a doctor !

[Bob G.]

I`ve got a fair amount of gas and am able to release it at any time with out any disconfort at all. I also have a small amount of leakage of fecies that generally shows up on my underpants. That I find very embaressing. The gas a can normaly contain but I cannot control the leakage. I know that it is not incontinance, I hope.  Thanks for you attention to this problem.  Bob G.

[kelly]

Just a follow up to all of your comments:  Try phazyme.  I've had some SERIOUS stomach problems for the last year from eating at Wendys (tip:  Don't eat Wendy's.)  I've had numerous, expensive tests and been put on many different prescription drugs.  The only drug I can rely on is Phazyme.  Go figure.  I get bad gas, but it get's trapped in my intestines.  Quite painful I might add.  I use the Phazyme chewables - within 2 minutes the gas is gone.  You may want to try it.

[Alison]

Hi, I just can't believe how familiar your stories sound. I can especially relate to the comments by Deb and Joanne. Anyway, I described what I went through in a posting that's under a question about Gas/Bloat syndrome. Just look for the comment by Alison.

It makes me feel so much better to know that I'm not alone. By the way, I should probably mention that my problems started one semester at college after eating lentils and dried fruit for a week straight (I ran out of food). Sounds suspicious, but I was plagued by problems most notably when I stopped eating those foods. I, too, wonder if some weird bacteria set up shop in my gut.

Anyway, I've been dealing with this for at least five years now, and at first it was so frustrating that I barely ate for a long time. If you get desperate for relief, I can tell you that even now I sometimes will drink Ensure or Boost for a week and it makes me feel so much better. Also, I wanted to mention that I initially tried taking Gas-X and a few other OTC remedies, and they just made things worse.

Good luck, I hope this or my previous posting helps! If you have any questions that I might be able to answer let me know.

Alison

[debbieci]

Hi Molly,

I just wanted you to know that I too have had many problems with gas since I was about 29 yrs old, I am 38 now.  The last time I saw my doctor he laughed at me for asking the questions of gas!    I even started to feel that I was nuts, there are people with cancer and I just have GAS!!!  It is laughable, until, you live with it.

I have been on Atkins diet for almost two years because I dont have any gas on it. I dont think it is the healthiest diet but at least I do not have gas anymore.  it ran my life!  I would also have abdominal pains after eating & distention.  All these symptoms come back the minute I eat carbs again.  I am zoning in on wheat but it is not always wheat either, so it is confusing.

I just wanted to let you know that it is not laughable when you are bing thru it,  and it can be embarrasing.  I can go up a shole pant size with gas and distention.

Anyway, I hope you find releif since Atkins probley wouldnt work for you bring a vegetarian and all.

Good Luck
Deb