Gas After WLS No One Talks About

My RYN was about 8 years ago. I recall reading something about foul gas here and asked my doctor. He acted very surprised and said he didn't know anything about it. 

Surprise-- the gas after WLS is revolting. My husband has slept in a separate room since I've had the surgery. If I only eat what I should it not much of a problem but if I have any sugar or sugar-free candy at all it's disgusting. I have spent a fortune on gas pads and sprays I carry everywhere. I have a fan in every room in the house.

To got an idea read a few post from Sugar-Free Gummie Bears. Thats what happens every time I eat sugar or sugar free candy. http://amzn.to/1vwxvqQ (hysterically funny but so true)

The stench is hard to explain. Somewhat link running over a skunk combined with a sewage tank.  It travels through the house and lingers. 

I'm always surprised everyone avoids this topic. 

The easy answer is to avoid eating the things you know cause you the problem.  That's the trade off for having surgery to lose weight.  Excess starchy foods  (like bread  and pasta) cause problems with me in addition to the sugar free crap.  There is only one product that I found works. It's called Devrom.  I use it when I am invited out and know that I may be eating foods that will make me gassy.  Most days I just stay away from the problem foods.  

As Rocky said, it's not much of a topic of discussion because -- just like dumping -- most of us just avoid the foods that make it happen: "white" carbs and sugar alcohols in sugar-free foods.  The solution is pretty simple, so it really doesn't warrant much discussion.  After being here 8 years, though, I don't see people "avoiding" the topic here, but perhaps they don't discuss it with their surgeons sixne they know their surgeon will tell them "then don't eat tjsoesincehose foods". (Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do THIS"... Doctor: "Then don't do that.")

I much prefer eating a smaller amount of something with real sugar than a larger amount of something with sugar alcohols that may give me gas, mild diarrhea, or intestinal cramping. (Some sugar alcohols affect me more than others.)

Also, people who no longer have their gallbladder often suffer from gas more than those who still have it. I don't have mine and if I know I am going to indulge in a high carb meal/snack (e.g., some pretzels watching a football game), I take a Gas-X chewable as soon as I start eating and that seems to prevent most of it.

Lora

Even with the band which doesn't change the basic anatomy, gas can be an issue. And it does get discussed on here, but as the other posters say, taking a bit of care solves the problem and so for most of us, most of the time it ISN'T a problem.  I don't have an issue as long as I avoid artificial sweeteners. So I avoid them! 

I would rather eat carefully than live as you describe! Especially as you say that you know what causes it for you! 

No avoidance of the subject here - it just really is not a problem - except when I eat gas inducing foods!  It certainly is not to a point where my bf wants to sleep in another room!!!!!

Diet modification would be my recommendation

Like Lora I eat small amounts of real sugar and do not eat anything with sugar alcohols.  One of the things that was causing a lot of gas problems for me was Celebrate chewable vitamins for weight loss surgery patients.  I finally realized that they were a big part of my gas problems.  Taking a probiotic can be helpful, but please never again touch anything with sweeteners that end in itol. 

I pretty much have given up anything with flour, rice, potatoes, and sugar, but I can tolerate one cookie or a few pieces of candy.  I dump, so I don't overdo sugar.

I haven't experienced this problem but I also don't eat sugar nor sugar-free candy.  

It surprises me that it surprises you....especially your surgeon.  This is no secret.  You learn your triggers and avoid them..no longer a problem.

Some other offenders:

artificial sweeteners

sugar

straight milk

other dairy

whey protein

onions

terriyaki sauce

anything flour (bread, pasta, etc)

Hmmm about 8 yrs ago is when i was preparing to get RNY and it seemed to me that's all that was talked about over there. That is where I first heard of Devrom and then again at my surgeons pre-op program. Maybe it just depends on what catches your attention when you are reading. Because with any surgery I think we ignore things we don't want to know about. If your gas is truly too bad for anyone to be in the room there is either something else going on too or you are straying too far from your eating plan. If my hubby had to leave the room I'd be making some real quick changes,,,,unless you prefer him in another room.

It sounds like it's not so much about your WLS but about eating sugar free candy.  As you can see from the reviews of the sugar free gummy bears, that's an issue for many people, not just those that had WLS.

I had RNY six years ago and my gas is no worse than it ever was. 

If yours is only bad when you eat things you aren't supposed to eat, why are you eating those things so often that your husband has to sleep in a separate room every day?  Why do you eat those things every day?