Bad Flatulence Problem 😰😰

[GBoyL]

Anyone has/had this flatulence problem and know how to treat it because its really embarrassing for me when I'm in school and I release gas due to my bad diet and ibs problem

[patientj]

This is/was my main problem with my IBS and I really sympathise - I know how you must feel. I have tried various remedies. First off all I used Rennie Deflatine but that didn't seem to help. And it doesn't actually reduce the volume of gas it just tries to bind the gas bubbles so they are expelled less frequently.

Because of the smell I though that maybe charcoal tablets would help, instead (note: don't take these if taking other medication without speaking to your pharmacist or doctor). However, this only served to make me more constipated and I find that being constipated makes the situation worse.

I then tried peppermint tea. This sometimes worked to soothe my gut if I was have cramps but did nothing to manage the flatulence, although I think camomile tea may have been slightly beneficial.

I kept several food diaries but could never find a specific food that increased my flatulence. Then I finally found My Shreddies underwear. They are expensive but they absorb the malodorous gases when you fart. This wasn't totally effective for me but loads of people swear by them.

I'd followed various bits of dietary advice for IBS with mixed effect. I was told to increase the amount of fibre that I ate but I wasn't told I should increase soluble fibre and decrease insoluble fibre, and make sure to drink plenty of fluids. This helped to keep me more regular and, with less constipation there was less gas.

The biggest improvement came from following the low FODMAP diet. The first part of this diet (which should be followed with the help of a trained dietician) is the elimination phase where you cut out eating specific foods (there are quite a few) that contain a load of carbohydrates the body can't digest but bacteria can. The bacterial digestion leads to the production of gas and your problems. I found that cutting our wheat, and onions to a lesser extent, cut down some of my problems overnight.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the panacea I was hoping for and the flatulence was still a problem and I have since discovered that my IBS (and consequently my flatulence) is modulated a lot by my anxiety. Until I started doing therapy at the end of last year I hadn't realised how anxious I had been getting over the last few years, and now I'm starting to get this under control, my IBS has become more manageable.

So, what have I learned over the last few years? My flatulence is worse when I am constipated; and when I've had a bout of diarrhoea I could often get away with one or two days largely gas free (not suggesting you try laxatives, this is just an observation). Now, I can generally predict when I will get gassy. Often shortly after lunch - eating kicks the gut into action so might push some undigested food prematurely into the path of the bacteria. And commonly in the late afternoon, early evening. When i get it then, it's often a sign that I need the toilet and then, after I've been, all's good. I also notice that the flatulence is a problem when I'm hungry/not eaten for a while.

What do I suggest? Maybe try the Deflatine and see if it works for you but forget about the charcoal tablets (didn't work for me and studies show it doesn't really help either). Diet will probably be a big thing for you. You say you have a bad diet - what do you eat? You could keep a food diary to see if any certain foods trigger it, but from what you're describing your problem sounds a bit more ubiquitous. If you are also suffering from constipation, try drinking more fluids and increasing your intake of soluble fibre. And if that doesn't work satisfactory, investigate the low FODMAP diet instead.

I do also wonder whether you're also suffering from a bit of anxiety and maybe some counselling and/or medication could help with that.

If you're still reading this far, let us know how it goes and come back with any follow-on questions you like. It took me years to fully understand my IBS and flatulence including a lot of over analysis on my part that probably only made things worse. Mine hasn't gone away (it never will - we all need to fart) but at least now I find it's usually more manageable and I have fewer problems in public situations.

One final question: do you also experience bloating or pain/discomfort along with your flatulence?

[susiewusie in reply to patientj]

I had this problem, along with constipation. I cut it wheat and keep carbs very low generally and have cured the sney gas completely. I still suffer with pain at night which I think is linked with slow motility and constipation but at least the bloating and smelly gas has gone

[sandybeach12066]

I take gas x when iam like that however sometimes these make me worse.

[Rere2016]

I get lots of wind when I have dairy. But for years I never associated the diary with flatulence, I just thought I was a windy person! I used windeze tablets, which were quite helpful. Don't need them as much these days as I've reduced the dairy, but the windeze were a fab at times, particularly if I knew I'd be in close contact with other people

[patientj]

How could I forget the obvious one as well: cut out fizzy drinks...