Why am I so gassy?

[susanwood]

how can I deal with flatulence?

[Fluid]

I found cutting hummus, onions and garlic from my diet. Helped a lot.

[Lilagrace87]

I struggle with this myself, after lunch and dinner (not breakfast strangely), lasts for 2-4 hours. Haven’t yet found a cure but I keep trying different things, one thing I did find that helped a little, buscopan Ibs tablets, but didn’t eliminate the problem.

Also make sure you don’t drink any type of tea before or after a meal, at least an hour, the tannin in tea can effect digestion x

[Maxsmudge]

I avoid onions as they definitely cause me problems. I had started taking peppermint capsules 1 hour before meals which really helped with gas but gave a very strange sensation when passing urine

[one-n-den]

The FODMAP diet (really a list of ‘high’ and ‘low’ foods, gives you a good guide to those foods likely to cause you problems. As Fluid says in a reply, hummus, onions and garlic are obvious no-no’s, although it’s likely to be the garlic in hummus that’s the issue, not the chickpeas. I find that chickpeas are a ‘safer’ (low FODMAP) alternative to beans (virtually any beans!), which are nearly all ‘high’ rated.

A surprise one for me was that cauliflower is high, whereas broccoli is low.

There is a very good explanation by the University of Monash, as to why ‘high’ foods cause you problems.

There are several apps for your phone that help to choose low FODMAP foods when shopping or dining out. You will soon get to know your ‘demon’ foods!

On the other hand, to reduce flatulence whatever you’ve eaten, I’ve found charcoal tablets quite effective. There are just some days when a diet of beer and beans seems impossible to avoid!!

Hope that helps.

[alicemarsh]

Keeping a list of what you are eating is invaluable so that you can see what is causing the wind. It may occur after a day or two no necessarily on the day you eat the offending food.

Things that may help

Peppermint tea - but not just after a meal (may cause acid reflux if with food)

Peppermint capsules -from doc or counter -Colpermin is one make

Charcoal tablets

Shreddies - special underwear with charcoal filter to absorb gas- google it

Cutting out foods that make it worse - beans, garlic onions cauliflower

With me many more foods cause it but those are the main ones for many people that make it worse

Keeping the bowel regular also helps - yakult probiotic drink is very good for preventing constipation

Obviously fruit and vegetables help too find how much you can tolerate

Last thing -exercise helps shift the wind and prevent stress - even if its walking a bit more

And drink plenty of water / fluids to help constipation - at least7/ 8 glasses a day

[301246]

I think mine is methane caused by SIBO. Plus IBS-C, just horrible

[Philbs1980]

As well as the advice you have received so far try and avoid raw vegetables. Only vegetables that have been well cooked. Avoid spicy food.

[sg25]

I'm like you. No problems after breakfast but twenty minutes or so after any kind of lunch even if very light as in nuts, banana, it kicks in. I work in a shop so it can be most embarrassing, upsetting and infuriating also. The same happens after dinner but less so even though there is more food. I feel that as soon as lunch goes down it sends messages to the gut to start working more hence all the movement and gas. Also I do find it worse if I am constipated. Having a good bowel movement in the morning generally makes the gas a bit less......but not necessarily!! If only there were hard and fast rules to follow to make everything ok or better.

[josephinemarion]

My problem also, have had for many years! As others say, the worst time is after lunch when whatever I eat - and I follow a strict FODMAP diet - I'm struck with this problem! Puts me off going out after lunch as it can be SO embarrassing!! I have found that stress often exacerbates it, then can't get it off my mind and the whole thing is a vicious circle....

[Tig345]

Elimination of gassy foods are good particularly garlic, onions, soda artificial sweeteners dairy some veg

[lYNNETT]

l do also! Have tried to figure that out myself!! I've had a colonoscopy test done and Cat Scan done!!! Same thing.... you have I B S!! Even went back to Gastro same thing, and l worry to much!! I'm fine with breakfast and my next meal is supper! Still suffer with it after my main meal supper!! I dread even eating supper!!

[golf99 in reply to lYNNETT]

I am same way. I hate the thought of eating anymore!

[golf99]

In addition to food eliminations my gastro has me on simethicone (phazyme, gas x) as a maintenance drug daily. It helps but not totally.

[Tig345 in reply to golf99]

Agreed it only helps a little that day I don't take it my body feels like it will explode bubbling gas moving through ready for the bathroom