Breaking wind too often!

LegacyUser

Hi,

Weird and embarrassing problem here. I fart very often, and am only really realising lately that the frequency is abnormal. It would literally be all day. I spend an inordinate amount of energy worrying about whether someone (e.g. in work) has smelled them, or trying to squeeze one out discreetly without it making any noise. It's not practical to leave the room every single time

So I'm looking for any advice, particularly from anyone who has had the same problem – how did you stop it? I presume that there are dietary changes that can be made. I don't think I have a particularly bad diet – it's pretty variable really. Lasagna, stir fry, risotto, curry, etc. I do drink coffee during the week, but I'm pretty sure that I've had this problem as long as I can remember (I only started drinking coffee a couple of years ago).

Is there some kind of supplement to consider? Is there anything that a doctor might give me?

Thanks

Tokyo

At risk of pointing out the obvious, have you seen a doctor over this? While there are dozens of reasons for this that relate to diet and just getting older, there could be medical reasons behind this too, which would serve you well to get ruled out first.

More than likely it's dietary and you can take steps to prevent it, however see a doctor first just to be sure.

IlmoNT4

First port of call is to the doctor

The stuff you can look at in your life is diet and stress but get yourself checked out

Soilse

Aside from getting a medical check up.
Check out the nutrition forum here as a start your diet sounds like it consists of processed food only.

Start adding veggies, cut back on the processed food to once a week, cook your own meals from scratch, make your own sauces. lots of people have found that they are wheat sensitive and eating only the same food groups for three meals a day only adds to the problem. Bread, pasta are all from the same food groups. Maybe try keeping a food diary and record when you are having these issues.

jippo nolan

<snip>

Tokyo

jippo nolan - well below the standard we expect here in PI. If you have nothing constructive to add, then don't post, as per the forum charter.

Regards,
Mike

Fizzlesque

1. Try charcoal tablets, which can be bought over the counter - they absorb the gas in the digestive tract.

2. Try peppermint tea or peppermint capsules.

3. Exercise.

I suffered from terrible irritable bowel syndrome for years and found these helpful to reduce the bloating, pain and flatulence.

Do visit your doctor as well though, just to rule out anything of a more serious nature that your body might be trying to tell you.

Best of luck.

Feel

Maybe you are swallowing too much air while eating?

Rubberchikken

talk to your gp or a pharmacist.

also you could be swallowing too much air especially if your worrying about it. so a vicious cycle.

also have a look at your diet. too much of certain foods will do it.

Autonomous

Crap coffee makes my arse turn into a pair of bellows

The_Conductor

Excess gas can be caused by unusual intestinal fauna- gas is created by your personal load of gastro-intestinal bacteria, as they digest your food.
While sometimes you can mitigate this with diet- it could be symptomatic of an underlying gastrointestinal problem- and it would be no harm at all to get it checked out.

It may be nothing at all- everyone has a unique collection of gastrointestinal bacteria- its even more unique than finger prints- though not used in the same manner. If your personal bacterial load features bacteria that produce a lot of gas- it could be that this is just the way your bacteria are.........

Go to a doctor one way or the other- and ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist.

Calibos

Drinking lots of carbonated drinks and smoking/vaping can cause excess flatulence.

Sinall

Make sure you chew your food properly. I read something last week about chunks of food that haven't been chewed properly causing problems like that. Also a good idea to say it to your doctor.

Laois6556

Could be intolerant to something.

P. Breathnach

stinky_guy wrote: »

... I fart very often, and am only really realising lately that the frequency is abnormal...

I don't know what normal frequency is. Do you? Perhaps you are supposing that there is a problem when there isn't one - well, there is a problem of some sort, because you are bothered about it.

I'd go along with those who suggest that you have a word with your GP, but don't be surprised if you are told that you fall into the average group.

LegacyUser

Yes I have this problem also, dropping bombs like every 60 seconds after lunch for about 2 hours, doesnt really matter what I eat for lunch either, and they smell beyond shocking. I have a few pairs of these flatulence underwear which filters out the stink, so thats one less worry at least. They work great but they're expensive.

http://myshreddies.com/

LegacyUser

Definitely get checked out, but afterwards or in the meantime have a read about the low FODMAP diet. It's an eating plan developed by Kings College London and has shown great success in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

I have also had gas issues over recent years and the diet is the first thing that has worked for me! I also thought I ate well before, but the diet is based on excluding foods containing particular types of sugar so a lot of fruit and veg is a no-go. There are lots of list of ok and not ok foods online and the idea is that once you exclude everything for a few weeks you can start reintroducing things one at a time to find out what your particular triggers are. For me, like many people apparently, onions/leeks/garlic were the worst offenders and as they were previously in almost everything I ate no wonder nothing else helped! I now use garlic and onion infused oil while cooking instead, as the offending sugar isn't oil soluble, so you can still get the taste without the nasty side effects!

The_Conductor

Go to your GP and possibly a gastroenterologist- if you feel you have an issue- before going off and trying diets etc. If you do have an issue- you could exacerbate it by trying new diet plans etc.

Shrap

Fizzlesque wrote: »

1. Try charcoal tablets, which can be bought over the counter - they absorb the gas in the digestive tract.
Do visit your doctor as well though, just to rule out anything of a more serious nature that your body might be trying to tell you.

Best of luck.

The_Conductor wrote: »

Excess gas can be caused by unusual intestinal fauna- gas is created by your personal load of gastro-intestinal bacteria, as they digest your food.
While sometimes you can mitigate this with diet- it could be symptomatic of an underlying gastrointestinal problem- and it would be no harm at all to get it checked out.

It may be nothing at all- everyone has a unique collection of gastrointestinal bacteria- its even more unique than finger prints- though not used in the same manner. If your personal bacterial load features bacteria that produce a lot of gas- it could be that this is just the way your bacteria are.........

Go to a doctor one way or the other- and ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist.

Totally second these two posters. I take charcoal tablets any time I eat meat, as I've discovered that's the main cause (with me...everyone is different). My Dad and my youngest are similar but react with different foodstuffs. You can identify which foods are ok and which are not if you keep a chart OP.

You need to be aware of the potential for the charcoal tablets to also leach the good stuff. If you are taking medication, you should leave a few hours before taking charcoal, as they will decrease the medication's effectiveness.

Shrap

The_Conductor wrote: »

Go to your GP and possibly a gastroenterologist- if you feel you have an issue- before going off and trying diets etc. If you do have an issue- you could exacerbate it by trying new diet plans etc.

This. I went for a gastroscopy for majorly severe stomach pains that one doctor had attributed to gall stones, but another picked up on the detail that I was too young for them. Turned out I had a stomach virus that had damaged the stomach lining (probably from childhood) and I was unable to digest certain foods well. A course of two (kickass, and flattening) antibiotics and the pains/flatulence were gone. The flatulence comes back sometimes, but like I said, identified and dealt with through a diary and charcoal tablets whenever I eat the stuff I react to.

Not saying this could be the same for you, but that you should go to a doctor. Sometimes there is an obvious cause and cure.