Gas city - Problems & Solutions

[bobh]

A medical site said: "The colon has a number of functions including withdrawing water from the liquid stool that enters it so that a formed stool is produced." "During colonoscopy, air is placed in the colon to help visualize the walls of the colon."

I remember when I saw my first Gastroenterologist 12 years ago, the colonoscopy revealed some inflammation, and the process was VERY uncomfortable. Despite the fact that you drink the laxative and have emptied the contents of your bowel, they put in the air and I had immediate discomfort associated with the urgency to empty the bowels. I am sure that all of you with MC can relate to that.

The Dr. said that tests had been done on people with IBS, placing a small balloon in the colon, and partially inflating it with a small amount of air. People with chronic IBS felt "urgency" and discomfort - yet people WITHOUT IBS were hardly aware of the balloon.

The page on this MC Support site with "Commonly-Used Abbreviations" has the favorite saying: "Happiness is a dry fart!" After all these years with explosive "D", it really hit home. A normal person my pass gas up to 10 times a day, and people with too much time on their hands determine the average daily volume, etc.

For whatever reason, people with MC end up with a colon that isn't doing its job - and the contents of the colon have too much liquid. So the "normal gas" cannot escape. Our frequent trips to the bathroom often consist of a blast of liquid followed by the gas. The person in the next stall of a public bathroom may exclaim "hey buddy - you alright over there??"

There is no permanent "cure" for our condition, so we try to "manage" the problem with diet, and in some cases drugs to relieve the inflammation, normalize the motility, etc. I would like to "air out" some of the specific remedies for gas.

Yesterday I had been doing "better", then found myself on a road trip, starving. I ate a large bag of raw mixed nuts, and a couple hours later had explosive gas-propelled D with a very short fuse. This was toward the end of the day - when most of us would have already finished our "dumping" phase. So I think it was the raw nuts.

---(Conventional Remedies for gas)--->
Charcoal. Some researchers think charcoal reduces intestinal gas. Other studies contradict this claim. Still, since charcoal is generally harmless, it can be tried for this purpose. http://www.gicare.com/pated/charcoal.htm (I have taken charcoal, usually in combination with immodium and it seemed to help a little). The "prescription for Nutritional Healing" section on "D" says that charcoal helps to "firm the stool" but "do not take for more than 3 days at a time". With a chronic "D" for 15 years, I have to wonder if the malabsorption from "D" isn't worse than whatever nutrients charcoal may rob as it passes through.

Simethicone (BRAND NAME: Gas-X; Mylanta Gas) (I tried this product a few months ago - did nothing) "is used for excess gas in the intestinal tract. When these frothy bubbles are in the stomach or lower bowel, this medication helps the air be more readily expelled by belching or passing flatus. The drug does not prevent the formation of gas from swallowed air or from being created by intestinal bacteria. It does not make intestinal gases dissolve or disappear. Some people may mistakenly think that simethicone prevents formation of flatus or rectal gas. It does not do this. The drug simply makes big bubbles out of many small ones." http://www.gicare.com/pated/simethicone.htm
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Foods That Contribute to Gas Production http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs12.htm
Legumes
Most beans, especially dried beans and peas, baked beans, soy beans, lima beans

Milk & milk products
Milk; ice cream; and cheese

Vegetables
Cabbage; radishes; onions; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; cauliflower; cucumbers; sauerkraut; kohlrabi; asparagus

Root vegetables
Potatoes; rutabaga; turnips

Fruits
Prunes; apricots; apples; raisins; bananas (why bananas? They are part of the traditional D prevention diet..)

Cereals, breads
All foods that contain wheat and wheat products including cereals, breads, and pastries. Check labels.

Fatty foods
Pan-fried or deep-fried foods; fatty meats; rich cream sauces and gravies; pastries. (While fatty foods are not carbohydrates, they too can contribute to intestinal gas.)

Liquids
Carbonated beverages, medications, or powders
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Here's some interesting info on fiber, from the FAQ's of renewlife.com: "Renew Life uses flax fiber instead of psyllium fiber. Psyllium absorbs 40 times it's weight in water. This means that it can absorb all the water in the glass it was mixed in and keep on absorbing water all the way through the intestines. Many people are constipated because they do not drink enough water. Psyllium can compound a constipation problem by absorbing water that the body needs." "Flax is about 50% soluble and 50% insoluble, which is a proper ratio of fiber. Psyllium fiber is also more gas-forming than flax fiber."

At times, fiber seemed to help me achieve that elusive dry fart. At other times it made things worse. The book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" says "Avoid high-fiber foods, which may stress the digestive system". (contradictions abound). "Instead stick to foods that are easy to digest such as cooked potatoes, rice, bananas, applesauce, or toast." Are any of you having luck with fiber or other "bulking agents"?
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And finally, we have this: BRAT DIET - A bland diet consisting of ripe Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. This diet is easier for the intestines to digest. http://www.medhelp.org/glossary2/new/GLS_0879.HTM I noticed that this MC Support site has defined BRAT as "Tea" rather than "Toast" (likely due to Dr. Fine's work = many of us are gluten intolerant). When I first came down with chronic "D", a nurse suggested the BRAT diet, and said to "really burn the toast". She pointed to the diaphragm, and said it would create a feeling like there is a "foundation" or stability. I found that to be somewhat helpful at the time (while poisoning myself with wheat). Do any of you have a remedy along those lines? I am trying to keep a focus on the "gas" thing - as burnt toast reminds me of charcoal.

[mle_ii]

What works the best for me is to avoid gas producing foods or take a digestive enzyme that helps with those foods. Seems to help a lot for me.

And Simethicone or Gas-X or what ever it's called won't work for lower GI gas. It only helps the swallowed air gas normal associated with burping.

I've never had fatty foods contribute towards gas. Protein either.

HTH,
Mike

[mle_ii]

Oh and "why banana's". Most likely it's the complex sugars/starches that make it to the colon undigeseted. Bacteria has a great snack and celebrates by producing gas.

[bobh]

...take a digestive enzyme that helps with those foods. Seems to help a lot for me.

OK, is there a particular product that is working for you? Curious if you are using a "multi-enzyme" formula, or one that is specifically targeted for a "problem food" such as beano - only taken when you eat that food item?

[Jean]

Bob,

The gas does get better as you rid yourself of your intolerances and heal. Matter of fact, my sister went gluten free just because of the gas her system produced. I doubt you'll be able to find a gas med that doesn't contain some of your intolerances.

I have the same problem if I eat a lot of mixed nuts. I've looked to make sure that there's no hidden intolerances, but have never seen any on the labels. I know I'm OK with small amounts of pecans, peanuts and chashews, but I've been too chicken to try mixed nuts again. So, I don't know if it's a contamination or I just can't handle the mixture.


Love, Jean

[bobh]

I have the same problem if I eat a lot of mixed nuts.

That is really interesting, because when I read your article on the elimination diet, what foods cause a particular reaction in what time period - I thought "that's what happens to me". http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=732

[tex]

I have to agree with Mike. I just avoid the gassy foods, (if I want to avoid gas). Fatty foods and protein have never caused a gas problem for me, either. He's right about the bananas, too.

I find nuts to be rather hard on my colon, even now that my gut is healed. IOW, a significant amount of them, usually causes problems. I don't get D, they just make me feel as though my digestive system is thinking about swarming on me, and it makes me wish I hadn't eaten them.

Tex

[Jean]

Bob,

I'm glad my article help you! I can usually still tell what I've acidently ingested by the reaction time.

Love, Jean

[Matthew]

Bob
I have had the same problem with nuts or mixed nuts. In much the same situation at the start of a restricted diet, I got so hungry at times mixed nuts were the only thing that seemed reasonably close to the diet at those inconvenience stores.

First off, I was so hungry that I did not chew them well enough. I have to chew nuts until they are like nut butter in my mouth before I swallow.

Second, High protein nuts take a long time for me to metabolize, they are not like the high carb snacks I used to eat. Because of that it is way to easy to eat lots and lots hopping for the quick energy I used to get from high carb snacks. In the end eating so many nuts that my already compromised digestive system rebelled in that it could not absorb fast enough to give me what I really craved.

A sort of solution. I try my best to have things with me on the road that I never get that hungry. Desperation always leads me the wrong way. Hahaha like I am telling you something you don’t know. Nuts work great if chewed well but I always combine them with fruit of some kind. The sugar in the fruit satisfies the first need for nourishment in that it is absorbed very quickly and the protein in the well chewed nuts keeps me going.

I can keep symptoms to a minimum by eating a good breakfast, lunch and dinner but I suspect my experience is far more easily controlled than yours in that a travel to one place and can establish a temporary home where I can retreat to eat safely.

In a perfect world we would find just what we need on the road. In an imperfect world we can help each other to figure out how.

Hope this helps

Matthew

[bobh]

Awesome, thanks for the help folks! I am gonna have to start each day with a "survival kit" to take with me. I learned that I can't tolerate a large quantity of nuts - but seem to do OK with GF muffins made from almond flour. I suppose the inclusion of eggs & a small amount of honey helps to make it a more "varied" food than just the raw nuts. And I throw in some raisins.

I finally learned how to bake something, now I have to learn to take some with me in the morning. My dog got 1/2 of the last batch I made, so it would be a good idea not to leave them all on the counter...

As I narrow down my diet, I am "working with it" rather than fighting it. I would eat sawdust if it would help control the "D" and gas.

[tex]

Bob,

That sounds like a good plan. Be aware that some of us have problems with grapes/raisins. In my case it's probably the citric acid that causes the problem, but others have to watch out for sulfites. Blueberries might be a safer option, or maybe dates, (packed without preservatives). Dates might not work for you, though, because of all the natural sugar.

Tex

[Liz]

Hi Bob

I have a problem with most nuts as well. They are far too hard on the system. Can tolerate a few cashews or macadamiams & the odd almond but any more than a few of any of them, and not too often, & I am trouble. It is simply a matter of trial & error to find out what your particular food problem. What effects one of us is not necessarily a problem for another.

Too much fibre upsets me as well. Doctor put me on 'Fibregel' but I found it made me worse. Have had to cut out many of the things that I love because of their fibre content. I still manage to have a faily varied diet though.

I experienced my first colonoscopy more than 30 years ago & it was not very pleasant at all. They did not have the drug that they use now days, only an injection of Valium to make it difficult to run away. You could feel everything & it was most uncomfortable, even painful. Have had many of these tests over the years.


Liz

[bobh]

Have you ever heard of a condition where someone simply produces lots of gas no matter what they eat? The last 2 days I have made a point to consume only home cooked meals consisting of meat and non-gas-forming veggies, in small servings, and still have the "gurgles" of gas forming within an hour of eating.

Typically I don't belch a lot, it forms just beyond the stomach and the gas "rolls around" the upper GI. The sounds are hilarious until it gets further down. Then the "hydraulics" of the situation become intense. Kind of like the hydraulics in a fork lift, or bulldozer, with the power to move mountains (or send you looking for a bathroom).

This has been going on for years, but when it happens despite careful eating - it makes me think that "all food becomes ammo" in my system. I have had many "stool samples" over the years, they commonly find a few bugs you aren't supposed to have, but the "remedy" is worse than the disease (Flagyl, etc.). I did start taking some DF acidophilus, may have exacerbated the condition.

I see the MD today and hope to get on some Meds...

[cludwig]

Hi Bob,

Good luck with your doctors appointment today. You've been dealing with this way too long. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Love,
Cristi

[barbaranoela]

good luck BOB----

Will check to see your report back to us--

luve Barbara