IBS and Flatulence

Our top-trump researcher, looks in to the implications of what excess flatulence can mean for for many IBS sufferers!

Gas leaks and the explosions which can be caused by them can be lethal, however it is not that kind of gas I am thinking of.

I am sure sometimes we wish could expire or vanish of the embarrassment caused by flatulance.

Many people with IBS suffer excessive flatulence and trapped wind. Some suffer both so that we are, at some point going to belch ' downward ' or ' upward ', and sometimes in public situations. If walking along a street in a crowd, this will go unnoticed, in a queue, sitting in a room with some-one, in an elevator etc, it's not possible to escape the effects either on ourselves or others.

Stress
Stress has always exacerbated the problem of gas in my case, and even people without IBS have no doubt been in a state of nerves, fear or even excitement which will cause their stomachs to have butterflies or to flip over which can lead to flatulence.

But most people in their everyday lives would rather sink through the floor than admit they are responsible for the aroma which other people may either be too polite to comment on, or at the other extreme, may comment on loudly.

Among friends this can sometimes be laughed off, but have you ever been in a meeting, where it's quiet, in a church, watching television with family, or in those situations where there may be both an audible sound and a definite smell? And yes, I think being worried that this may happen, only makes it more likely that it will, I speak from experience.

I have agonized in elevators, squeezed my rectal muscles and buttocks together in meetings, a waiting room, offices or before strangers in a desperate attempt to prevent anything emerging.

Although I rarely go anywhere now where I meet new people, or relative strangers, I do have to go to the doctor's surgery, or get a lift to certain places to do something, as in going to the post office, dentist etc.

Treatments/Diets for gas.
There seem to be many things on the market which are specifically used to help gas, such as Bean-o in the US, and Wind-eze in the UK, preparations such as Milk of Magnesia, Pepto Bismol, Gaviscon and any antacid liquid or tablet, is supposed to help gas, as are charcoal tablets.

I can certainly vouch for some of them, since they cause me to belch. As I suffer from trapped wind I am glad of it, as trapped gas can cause me a great deal of pain and nausea. However belching like a big man who has drunk a gallon of beer in one hit is something that can turn heads. It sounds rude. And I have not even had the pleasure of drinking the beer!

One of my GP's said basically, ' Better out than in. ' and said it was simply one of those things IBS sufferers must put up with. The same is true of flatulence.

We know that the pain of IBS can sometimes be alleviated when we empty our bowels and the same is true when we release gas. We certainly don't want it inside us, however, we would rather be private and alone when it is expelled.

Diets likely to cause gas, are in my case, unfortunately high-fiber diets, or fruit.

This varies from person to person, sometimes spicy foods can cause it, nuts, whole grain's, etc.

I think we come to know what is likely to cause us gas. Sometimes people will take an antacid or charcoal tablets after a meal to try and avoid flatulence, or peppermint, or chamomile tea.

Probiotics
One things I found did help me with excessive gas and flatulence both was a course of acidolphilus/probiotic tablets. While the yogurt-type probiotic drinks are advertised as containing millions of ' friendly bacteria ', apparently it is not enough to make much difference.

They should be taken in the much more concentrated pill form and usually take about two weeks to multiply in the gut. I found that after two or three weeks of regular use, my gas/flatulence was negligible, and my digestive processes were far more settled. However, if you stop taking them, as I did, it will return.

Acidolphilus/probiotic supplements are also useful after a course of antibiotics, since they are notorious for stripping the gut of friendly bacteria, and I am sure many of us have noticed an ' upset stomach ' during a course of antibiotics. The last time I was prescribed some, in fact two courses, I bought acidolphilus tablets and found that I did not feel as nauseous as normal, nor did I have as much diarrhea.

Is there any correlation between weight and gas?
I have received private messages received through YouTube in which people have said that they are overweight, sometimes morbidly obese and also have irritable Bowel Syndrome and embarrassing gas/flatulence.

The diets/treatments for it and the social embarrassment of it are exactly the same.