Foul Gas x 1week before mentrual period every month

[RNMOMMA]

I am 32 y/o female 5'7", 150lbs, 2 children and happily married. I do not take any medication or BC pills. I have minimal stress. (many blessings!)My problem: Every month approx one week prior to onset of my period...I experience horrible foul smelling flatulence.  It is embarrasing and needless to say hard to ignore. 3-4x times a year it is accompanied by severe and sudden onset diarrhea, migraine, and other common PMS symptoms.  In researching this topic, I find much on PMS symptoms and treatment...but little mention of this particular problem other than "IBS" or "bowel changes". I do not have mood swings (even husband agrees) but, I am often more tired, clumsy-(I drop things), stutter, and have uncomfortable back pain DURING my period.  What is causing this smell? I am not kidding when I say it is THE foulest odor you can imagine and for 3-4 days of the 1 week it is frequent. Obviously, I try to "hold it in" if in room with others and it is not explosive but, it is so foul I even wake up in the middle of the night because the smell has woken me. I have what I would consider "normal" gas normally.  Please help...I want to know the specific physiologic reason it occurs and what I can do about it.  Thank you.

[london234]

@Gretel275: I used to have spotting and happened to mention this to my chinese acupuncture doctor. He gave me chinese herbs called Jia Wei Xiao Yao Wan, and within two days of taking those, the bleeding had stopped. That was a spectacular result. The herbs have also helped a bit with lumps in my breasts, have made PMS spots on my chin disappear completely, and have made the general PMS a bit better. I THINK it has helped a little bit with the gas, but it has not made it go away; or maybe I just need to take them for longer (I have been assured you can take these herbs for years if need be).

[gretel275]

Oh my, I am experiencing this hell of nature right now. The diarrhea started Monday, the gas Wed., then my cycle today. The gas machine that is my bowl has been on full, stinky blast. If I normally ever do have flatulence, it's not like this--only during this time.

Couple of things, this started happening when I turned 40 (now 41). I was always lucky to have a normal 28-day cycle that lasted 3 days with few problems. Not anymore! Now it's every 35-40 days, heavy lasting 5-6 days, spotting in between with the crazy symptoms above (also add bloody stools).

I have another appointment with my Gyno next week--they put me on the "mini-pill" and it made it worse!!!

[Pixygirl971]

look up Diverticulosis. This causes bloody stools and all of these other symptoms. I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago at the age of 41. You need a gastro doctor, not a Gyno. God bless, and good luck

[Veganandproud]

You guys I am a vegan and eat about no processed foods. If it stinks that bad, you probably have a poor diet. You need to eat more fresh and raw foods. Stop eating processed foods, including fast food. What I have been reading it is natural as the body is sending out signals to release the lining of the uterus and the instestines get caught in the cross fire. So it is apparently normal as we have read. But it stinks because of your diet. Even too much meat will cause odor. Just my opinion.

[service10]

I am vegan and eat only raw or sprouted and I have this problem 1 week before menses. Every month. I don't every eat sugar or vegan junk food. Mac and cheese is crap even if it is vegan, I should say mac and "cheese". Diet helps but is not an answer to this question.  Also, you contradict yourself saying that it is "signals to release the lining of the uterus and the instestines get caught in the cross fire" after you say it is a crappy diet. Veganism often equals an intellectualized eating disorder. Keep your veganism to yourself, it is not your identity and you are giving it a bad name. Be vegan but don't wear it on your sleeve.

[Picollo]

What an absurd comment "vegan often equals an intellectualised eating disorder" Truth being that it's highly intelligent of a human to be vegan as they have taken control of their health, the future of this planet, and vitally important, they do not wish to be party to the grotesque torture and slaughter of animals who desire to live. Yes, animals love too and want to have families of their own and do not want to die. Why should vegans keep it to themselves? Why shouldn't they wear it on their sleeves? Especially when innocent animals are abused and murdered for the taste of a meat sandwich.

[jesusescowgirl1993]

Hi I am 19yrs. old and I am sooooooooo glad and relieved that I am not the only one that feels this way I seriously thought something was wrong with me! And it always happens a week before my period is that normal????? I am so happy to hear I am not the only one that has this problem!

[ladeebug78]

Smelly gas is also on my top 10 list of problems.  Definitely near ovulation time and so I'm assuming has to do with hormone fluctuation...mostly progesterone as that effects all smooth muscle including the muscle surround the intestines.  As soon as I notice the nasty gas I start taking PROBIOTICS daily and this really seems to help almost immediately.  I have switched to almond and soy milk so the dairy thing is NOT the cause.  I do agree with another comment that states simple carbs like candy, sweets, ect... they product a lot of gas as they are digested because of the high carbohydrate count in them.  

[silkything]

Like most posters in this discussion I came upon it after googling symptoms. Thank you for posting and showing the world we're not the only sufferers. I was feeling very alone in my smelly world.
I shall be trying the magnesium... I can't really try the cutting of the milk because my periods are so very irregular I honestly have no idea when they're due. To be honest, the gas tends to be my only heads up that I'm due on in the next week. It's useful... But it's also very anti-social and embarrassing!
Thanks guys, and good wishes x