Please Help I have gas, farting, since Gastric By-pass!!

With a BPD w/o a DS, I'm not sure it's possible to get your old digestive tract back. In the BPD, they actually remove the lower half of your stomach, so your pylorus is gone. I'm not certain, but I *think* they also completely remove a section of your small intestine.

I suggest you post this over on the DS board. We have a couple of doctors (patients) who post there.

I don't know what your name is but you are talking about my life. I had gastric bypass in 2011  and have had lots of problems with gas and farting. I have tried everything to stop it gas ex, prescription gas meds and nothing. I am so embarrassed.  It smells like something has died inside you.  I remember farting really bad in college and they teacher said how rude it was whoever who was doing this I try to keep it in but you got to let it go sometimes. Me and you need answers

I had Gastric Bypass surgery in 2001.

After a few years I developed a gas problem (Flatulence) really really bad!!!

I took an antibiotic for another problem I had and the problem cleared up.

I assume apparently I had an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria.

My family doctor prescribed a low dose of antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin 500 mg I take on even days and Metronidazole 500 mg on odd days.

I have noticed that staying away from breads, noodles, milk and high carb food help quite a bit.

If I eat low carb foods like meat and vegetables most of the day I can skip the antibiotic a day or two.

I have been taking these antibiotics for the last 5 years now and do not know if they can cause other problems in the future.

 Hello Annette,

I had Gastric Bypass in Feb 2009. After the first year I began to have terrible gas. It was so incredibly bad that my husband would need to sleep in the guest bedroom. My day usually began fine and then around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, I was a machine. My gas would be so bad that I would avoid outings and gatherings with friends. I was really feeling doomed. 

I tried all over the counter remedies I could imagine might work. I tried natural remedies including coffee enemas. I even tried spirulina in applesauce, acidophilous and all the "good" bacteria. The list goes on and on.

I was beginning to notice that the more sugar and carbs I had, the worse it was. But nothing seemed to make it go away. Until this past week. I have been so excited at what I have found for myself but I didn't want to post and get anyone's hopes up if I wasn't sure it was really working.

I went gluten free and modified my sugar intake to minimal and very natural sources. It makes sense now that I think about it. With all of our mal-absorb issues and new plumbing. My best guess so far is that for many of us, the surgery might complicate how we react to gluten. I have been gas free for over a week and I am on cloud nine. 

I am finding sites like "The *****y Coconut" and "milk for the morning cake" amazing for recipes and tips. I am not hungry or craving wheat or sugar. The opportunity to be gas free is so exciting and motivating that I'd eat dirt if I knew it would work. I am eating buckwheat pancakes, banana bread, lemon pudding bars and eating incredible dinners like Moroccan chicken with dates and almonds.

Good luck. I hope this helps. I might be wrong. But I have found that I know my body better than my doctors and I can usually find out what I need with some research and an open mind. Message me if you want to pick my brain. We are all on this journey together.

Hugs, Karen