Gas, Gas, Gas
#69467 - 05/11/04 11:48 AM
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Hello all you patrons. I am a fellow IBS patient and have just been diagnosed with IBS. Here is an embarrasing question I have: What can I do about my constant flow of gas? It is so embarrasing that I have forcefully become anti-social because of it. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to eat. My gastenterologist is not very cooperative, and he just put me on Zelnorm because I also have constipation. I would appreciate any help I can get.
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Hiya,
I too had problems with gas, mostly due to the constipation I was suffering from. Up your soluable fiber intake. Once I started following Heather's dietary guidelines, my gas pretty much went away. I just take Citrucel powder in the morning and at night, and Fibercon tablets before meals during the day (increase your fiber gradually though). Drink lots of peppermint tea and chammomile, no soda, coffee, or any of that, and you should get results.
Be really careful with fruits and veggies, I find that vegetables are really hard for me to digest and cause lots of gas. Try eating mostly rice, bagels, and plain pasta, see if that helps. Then introduce your insoluable fibers gradually.
Hope that helped!!
-Katy
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My GI gave me Hyoscyamine for the gas. A phone call to the Dr., he shouldnt have a problem calling it in for you. Let me tell you it works wonders, I take one a day. I have read so many stories about Drs prescribing 2-3, 3 times a day!! Oh my gosh, I dont need that much, you may not either. I have tried the Phazyme, and GasX, neither were helpful to me. I may as well have drank water. I totally undersand the social thing, I have gone out to dinner with hubby and friends and not ordered anything because of it. Now, I feel like I can eat without being worried. Also, in time you will be able to identify your triggers and you WONT want to eat them. I promise. Good luck.
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Dont tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big yor God is !!!
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One more thing, it doesnt matter how much soluble fiber I eat or dont eat or drink, I still have gas. I am so careful what fruit and vegetables I eat and if they are peeled, seeded, and cooked, it still does not matter. Gas loves me,I hate that.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate your help.
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Thank you so much for your input. What other types of foods do you eat? Do you like meat? Do you eat cheese? I just don't want to pass gas anymore. I'm going on vacation soon and cannot have gas on the trip. My friends will think I am a fool. Any advice?
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Hiya,
Not sure if you were writing to me or not, but my advice on your vacation and for your life would be to stay away from all diary products. They are a HUGE trigger for gas for me. I just don't digest anything like that well. And stay away from dark meat and red meat. Chicken breast and white meat turkey and fish are ok. But always eat more soluable fiber than protein. It's the #1 rule. Fill up on white rice or pasta, and have the meat as a side dish. No butter, no oil, and low fat.
Eating out on vacation especially, is so hard for me, but since I have not had a kitchen in 4 months, I've come up with a few places I can go with minimal discomfort. Get oatmeal made with water and a small banana in it, or a bagel with a bit of jelly, a turkey sandwich with a slice or two of tomato.
Always tell them you have an intolerance to butter and oil and dairy products to ensure that whatever you order will be made the way you want it. So many times I've gone out and asked for no butter no oil only to wind up with a bowl smothered with both!! This also is a good way to demurely let your needs be known without going into the embarassing details! Just say you have dietary restrictions for medical reasons if your friends ask and you don't want to tell them. This has worked for me pretty much, although at times certain meals still aggrevate my gas/constipation. The most important thing, is to make sure that you have soluable fiber in your stomach before anything else. I know that when I don't take my fiber before I eat, I get bad gas even while I'm still eating my meal!
I really hoped this has helped you,
-Katy
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Sorry, I forgot to mention that peppermint tea after meals, or peppermint caps help after a meal that's causing gas, also fennel tea and ginger tea are really good for gas, drink them a lot! before, with, and after every meal. Bring boxes of them with you on your trip!!
Hope that helps,
-Katy
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Everyone has given you great info here. One more thing, my GI told me to carry Lactaid Ultra to help with the dairy. Get some and try it before you go, it may and may not help you. It does help me!! You chew it with your first bite of dairy.
I am fortunate, all and I mean ALL of my friends know that have digestive problems. They are all great about it, if they are real friends, they will care more about you than your gas. Believe me, my friends know I suffer with gas problems. Sometimes we even joke about it, that takes away alot of the anxiety that also causes me to have gas. Have a great trip!!! Dont forget to eat the rolls before you eat anything else.
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Just wanted to add my welcome!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Welcome to the boards! A quick fix and it works wonders is fennel tea. Crush up a teaspoon of fennel seeds and steep them in a mug of boiling water. It kinda tastes like licorice (I happen to dislike the taste but it really works).
The others gave you good suggestions - avoid soda, caffeine, and gassy vegetables like cabbages, broccoli, onions, etc.
Others have had good luck with phazyme or gas-x. You could give those a try.
I find that my worst culprit for gas is dairy. Eliminate it completely from your diet if you haven't already.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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thank you.
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Welcome to the boards! I noticed that you asked someone if they ate meat or cheese. Are you familiar with Heather's dietary guidelines? Red meat and dairy products are both no nos, and if you're eating those it could definitely be contributing to your gas! You can find more info about foods to avoid here. Good luck and feel free to ask more questions!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Quote:
I find that my worst culprit for gas is dairy. Eliminate it completely from your diet if you haven't already.
Me too! I've eaten loads of dairy all my life and have always been gassy. After reading Heather's books, I cut out almost all dairy and wow - all of a sudden I'm not farting constantly. 
I will have cheese or ice cream occasionally, but only if it's really good and if I'm feeling stable (and I've had plenty of soluble fiber in the past day). I may end up "jet-propelled" for half a day afterwards, but sometimes chocolate chocolate chip ice cream or 4 year old cheddar is worth it....
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Does the Hyoscyamine help with the bloating that comes along with the gas? That seems to be one of my biggest cuprits!!
Thanks.
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"Love isn't love, until you give it away!" 
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I wish it would help with the bloating but it does not. Right now I am trying to hold back the bloating by diet, carbonated drinks are my worst enemy. I read that walking is good for bloating, I have been walking morning and evening, I dont really know if that is helping or not. I am having a difficult day today, I am so confused with everything IBS at the moment I dont know what to do. I just took 2 peppermint caps, hopefully that will help my cramping and total unconfortable feeling in my intestines.
I dont know anything today Bethany, I am so sorry, I wish I could help you. I have read many of your posts and know that you suffer with this as much as I do. Red meat and fried foods are no longer in my diet and do not touch my lips, that seems to be a help also. Thinking of you honey, its just not a good day for me.
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You are too sweet...I have been doing better lately. I have been taking Fibercon caplets 3 times a day and getting lots of exercise, and following the diet more stickly.
I still feel bloated about every other day, but it is better. Sometimes I think certain months can just be bad with PMS, and make you feel bloated three weeks out of the four.
I do think I need to order some of the peppermint capsules. If I start to get hungry and don't have anything to eat for a bit, I feel the cramps coming on and then it doesn't matter if I eat good, the cramp is already there.
Keep my posted on how you feel.
Try a nice looong warm bath!!
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"Love isn't love, until you give it away!"
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my husband jokes that I should sell some of mine to the terrorists! It seems that with the Miralax 1-2x/day Citrucel 4x/day, I have less gas b/c I am not constipated anymore, but WHEN I do have gas, it is SOOOO horrible and it lingers in the air for what seems like an eternity. Just commiserating....I do think the dairy is a major culprit. (read my post on frozen custard)
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I had a bowl of cream of rice with a peeled chopped pear. It was the darn pear that got me. I know that I cannot eat pears, but it had been such a long time that it had slipped my mind. I am still suffering, and it is 10:16pm here.
This afternoon I had two peppermint caps, and Heather is right, it really does take about an hour to feel effect from them. For me the effect is short lived. I laid on a heating pad and watched a little tv.
I live in an extremely rural area, it is a 45 min. drive to get to a decent grocery store, forget the health food store. My point being, I think the fennel tea would be good for both of us. I had some fennel seeds from the spice section, crushed them as best I could with a rolling pen, put them in a diffuser with a pep mint tea bag and made the tea. I havent had long enough to know if it is going to help with the bloating. If it does help I guess I will order the tea from Heather.
I am feeling better now than earlier today, the gas is driving me crazy. Took some equalactin, it did slow down my visits to the bathroom. I dont know, the hot bath feels so good doesnt it? When I had a uterus, I had one good week a month. The pms ruled me and everyone around me. It was horrible. The bloating sure will make you wish you had never picked up a fork. I am not good to remember my fiber supplement, when I drink it regularly, I do have less gas, and bloating too.
Hope you are doing better too, thanks for the kind words. gayla
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--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
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Atleast you figured out what it was.
I have tried the fennel tea, I bought the seeds, crushed them up, and brewed them in a little tea ball, but didn't notice much difference. Plus, I can't stand the taste. I did get the fennel capsules, but again I'm not sure if they did much.
Hope you are feeling better today!!!
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"Love isn't love, until you give it away!"
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