Flatulence

On my consult visit the surgeon warned me of the gas and diarrhea DS patients experience. My response was, "I've had diarrhea for more than a year with my gallbladder problems and I've always been gassy". Well they took my gallbladder with the DS and My diarrhea has changed to a controllable frothy soft stool. However the Over- whelming gas  and I find the stench totally un-acceptable socially.  Still trying to decipher what foods to eliminate (as culprits). Any solutions? 

I had RNY but I can clean a room if I am not careful. To limit gas I had to eliminate sugar alcohols, beans and starchy carbs. Lactose also created a problem.  Onion and garlic may cause gas even for normal people. 

I know that some raw veggies are also my issue.  Try eliminate some off the worst and see if that helps.  I know that soy proteins (a bean) gave me lots of gas. Also try adding good probiotics and that may help a lot. 

Ta

First, eliminate carbs;  I've read where carbs are really wicked on DS'ers.

Next, eliminate sugar alcohols;  any sugar substitute the ends with "OL" such as sorbitol, malitol, etc.

Get some Devrom, available online.  It's a fecal deodorant, doesn't remove the gas, just the odor.

Thankyou   SOoooooo Much.

Usually the biggest culprit is simple carbs (think sugar and flour).  Another culprit could be the need for probiotics.  SOme take an extra pill or two daily, while others like me do fine with some daily yogurt. What gives gas is a trial and error kind of thing.  Other surprises for me were onions, terriyaki, and many artificial sweeteners.

Ta, for your reply.  It really helps to hear others experience.

You should not have to deal with stench, but these surgeries with bypassed guts can get some bacteria in bypassed limb that can cause problems. In addition to determining what foods my cause issues, I also like the idea of asking you doc about a round of flagyl to kill of any unsavory growth in there causing gas/smell/diarrhea, and then start using probiotics for maintenance.

I also endured diarrhea my entire life, and maybe it's because I now take supplements that can cause both extremes in poop, but they balance each other out and I just have consistent, softish poos. Maybe TMI. The probiots I KNOW eliminate most gas and stinkyness with me, and I'm pretty sure it helps with the consistency too.

Ta.

If you'll put your surgery type and date on your profile, it will show up each time you post. This will help us help you.

I'm ten years post-DS, and my gas smells much like whatever I ate yesterday. (Think broccoli. *grin*) Simple carbs, like white flour and sugar, cause the stinkiest gas, and the most of it. Cruicerferous veggies run a close second.

Try probiotics, and maybe talk to your PCP about a round of Flagyl. The idea is to kill of the 'bad' bacteria, and re-populate with the 'good' ones.