Hello, I had a look through the archives but couldn't see an answer to my problem.
I'm a UK resident [read: medical investigations take up public funds and GP time] and I have a problem with flatulence which started just over a couple of years ago and it is getting progressively worse. It is very loud and very uncomfortable, sometimes bordering on the painful, causing my my whole abdomial cavity to resonate, thus the flatulence appears to be emanating from further up my digestive system. Frequency is initially every minute dropping to every fifteen minutes over a few hours.
I keep a healthy diet (1), take time over my meals, chew my food properly, get enough fluids, exercise and sleep. I breath through my nose. I don't drink alcohol.
Over the last couple of years based around fast days I've iteratively tried a scientific approach of elimination of everything and subsequent introduction of foods to find out what doesn't agree with me. It seems nothing is agreeing with me.
Starting off from 24 hour fasted (all food eliminated) I've introduced a food at a time. During the fast days the flatulence is gone. Whatever I eat, soon after I produce excessive flatus. Even a post-fast glass of water or fruit juice starts it off.
I've tried eliminnating the usual suspects (beans, onions, brassicas) gluten, dairy, common allergens, commonly poorly digested foods like soya, tried varying the acidity /alkalinity of my diet.
I've tried introducing probiotics and prebiotics in both yogurt and raw form (in case of lactose intolerance).
I've tried eating smaller meals more frequently, still no avail.
This may seem a minor problem (yes I would agree it is in the grand scale of pathophysiologies), but I can't function in polite society like this. I can't work all day on an empty stomach to avoid the embarrassment to me and others of me pumping all day and there are only so many times I can get up and leave the room to let one go. My social life is restricted in that I can't go to the theatre, cinema or anywhere where I have to stay put for 5 minutes. I imagine dating woud be a disaster, if I''d the confidence to go on a date.
I've just recently had acid reflux to add to these problems.
So any suggestions?
(Doc said the fasting wouldn't be a problem, rather an opportunity to work out that works for me and what doesn't. I absolutely trust his medical opinion but I'm anable to contact him).
(1) My regular diet is low fat, plenty of wholegrains, pulses, cereals, fruit and veg of various colours, a variety of fresh herbs and spices. Oily pelagic fish once or twice a week and lean chicken on a Friday otherwise my diet is quite plant based. I don't take much dairy.I daren't eat eggs too often. The beverages I drink should be easy on my stomach eg ginger tea.
(2) No family history of any GI problems (Chron's, Ulcerative Colitis, IBD, bowel cancers, ulcers etc) in family
(3) Bloods are fine. Unknown if I have Helicobacter Pylori.