Help with Gas problem

[gracie]

Hello, I am Gracie,
Just before the old site went down, I had asked if anyone else had problems with gas? This is getting worse for me and can be really humiliating. I don't know what to do to get control of this. I am wondering if this is just a result of the TIR surgery and there is just absolutely nothing I can do? If it is something I can try to control with either some kind of med or are my current meds causing it. Gabapentin and amitryptiline are the two I take.
On top of this problem I am in the middle of a flare up right now. It has been since last Wed. I know I am probably not going to be rid of PN soon, but at least if I could stop this gas problem, I might feel a little bit better.
I hope I find some familiar names here on this new site. You all have been so helpful in the past.
Hope you have a little peace today,
Gracie

[Emily B]

Hi, Gracie. When I have a lot of gas, it definitely causes a PN flare for me. Do you have any ideas on why you might be getting so much gas? You might try:
* Taking Lactaid when eating dairy
* Taking Beanos with gas producing foods like beans, broccoli, etc.
* Taking Gax Ex
* Taking probiotics (especially if you've taken anti-biotics recently)
* Drinking camomile tea to sooth your insides

There are some foods that cause gas that you wouldn't suspect. Foods high in fructose like onions, artichokes, plums, etc. I guess also some meds might cause gas? Those are the only things I can think of right now.

Hope that helps,

Emily B.

[Celeste]

Here's a link that has some good advice on foods to avoid, and habits that you should cultivate to help control it.

http://www.endowsec.com/pated/edtgs12.htm

I hope you find some relief! I know that any extra pressure is not helpful. It may be that some foods you were eating for fiber, to avoid constipation, are causing a gas problem. Let us know how it goes.

[gracie]

Hello Emily & Celeste,

Thank you for the suggestions. I have not tried the lactaid. I have tried the Beano, but it didn't seem to help. Maybe I need to do a bit more research on the foods I am eating. I do eat healthy and try to eat foods that keep the digestive system moving. It just seems like I have an excessive amt of gas and that my muscles are not working properly too. I can't hold it in. Not that I think that is healthy, but most people don't let them go in the presence of others LOL. Guess I have to laugh rather then cry!
Again, thanks for the help. Any info I receive on this site is very much appreciated.

Celeste, I am always happy to see that you are cured. It gives me hope.

Gracie

[Amanda]

Gracie

There are many foods that cause gas....but if we are to avoid them all it leaves little to enjoy on our table!
I did try a diet of non gaseous foods for a while....but it was totally boring...I love my food too much and enjoy cooking even more.
So now I always take probiotics and a digestive aid ( herbal remedy) with my food and the combination helps a lot.
I enjoy lots of fresh veg and home cooked meals....I do find that any processed food is not good for the PN at all.

[Celeste]

Dr. Christiane Northrup, in her book on menopause, talks about how as we age we lose the ability to digest certain food sugars like we used to. Wheat, beans and dairy are the ones she talks about being among the largest offenders. All I know is, I love beans, but beans don't love me. Or my neighbors. Her opinion is that it's just better to change over to a largely veggie-based diet, but of course a lot depends on what you find palatable. Here's hoping that you can find some relief one way or another! One of my relatives uses Tums a lot and says it helps her with digestion.

[Violet M]

Gracie, do you have a chronic problem with constipation also? If gas is accompanied by chronic constipation then you need to treat the chronic constipation too. My best remedy is taking 400 mg of magnesium citrate twice a day. It takes care of the chronic constipation and pretty much eliminates any problems I have with gas.

[kat]

My PT and OB both told me to start taking fiber supplements and it is working to fix the gas and other restroom problems.
I don't know why I didn't make the connection before. I don't have constipation so I just never thought of fiber as a cure.
Just a thought

Kathy

[gracie]

Hi Violet,
The gas problem has pretty much been since surgery back in Feb. However, yes as of recently since my dosage of amitriptyline was increased, I have had constipation and the gas problem has become worse. I have been taking the amitriptyline for a long time, but at a lower dosage so I had not even suspected that might be the cause of it. That is the only thing that has changed in the last few months. I will try your suggestion and see what happens. I appreciate your advice so much.
Gracie

[JeanieC]

Gracie,

I have a terrible problem with gas too. I find that if I take Benefiber or generics containing wheat or corn dextrin it makes my gas worse (does help constipation though). My remedy is taking magnesium supplements, which are recommended anyway for osteoporosis, but used to cause loose stools for me if not taking constipating meds like amytriptline which I take also. Also docusate sodium (Colace) does not cause gas like fiber supplements do. There is also papaya enzyme, which works well for me if I know I have eaten something that will give me gas. This can be ordered from Puritan's Pride online and seems to work better than simethicone.

I think this does vary a lot according to individual age and digestion, so you can only experiment and find what works best for you.

Jeanie