GAS and Poop

Ok DSers give me the skinny.....How bad is the gas and poop?  I have decided on the DS but the thought of being embarressed to go to the bathroom anywhere but home kinda scares me.
 So tell me is it really as bad as they say must I walk around with air freshner in my bag?

I see you've been a member for some time.  Have you read anything at all on this forum?
The answer is, usually, it's as bad as you want it to be.  Quite controllable with sensible food choices.

So, right now, you don't ever go to the bathroom anywhere besides your home?

I have always carried air freshener in my bag, even before DS.  I "go" once a day, same as before DS.  Gas?  If I eat white bread, I can count on having gas pains.  But as far as smelly gas, no.  You will find that it's really an individual thing, and it largely depends on what you eat, and how far out you get.  I'm only 6 months out and I am still staying away from refined carbs because I'm in my weight loss "window".

My surgeon warned me about "paint peeling, room clearing" flatulence before my DS.  I have found that not to be my experience at all. 

Unfortunately, this surgery affects everyone differently, so there is no crystal ball to tell you what your post-op experience will be like, exactly. However, these issues, in most cases, are very avoidable through watching carbs, especially white flour and pasta, and using probiotics.

In my case, I obsessed and worried about this quite a bit before surgery, and now I'm 17 months out and have never had the slightest problem with stinky gas or BM's as long as I stay away from all white flour. I do take a good probiotic three times a day.

I have never liked going anywhere but at home.  And for the first several months I actually had a lot of anxiety about this and feeling like I didn't have as much control over when and where I would need to go. 

Now it's evened out and it's become very manageable.  The gas issue is only bad if I eat white flour.  and It's not like it's not controllable.  It's just uncomfortable until you can let it fly.  While I've been in the weight loss phase the consistency of my poop is very variable:  very soft (which smells more because it doesn't go under the water but sorta floats in a pile on top) to normal so I do carry a strong air freshener (little tiny bottle) with me. 

All that said, is it a huge hardship?  Not at all - totally manageable.

If I eat low carb, stay away from simple carbs, regular milk (only drink lactose free milk) and stay away from sugar alcohols, my farts are less frequent and the same or less aromatic than pre-surgery, probably better because of my healthier diet.

Even if I eat the way I should my **** stinks much worse after DS than before.   My wife keeps a small bottle of Citrus Air Freshner in her purse, which does a good job of killing the odor when she is out and about.  We keep air freshner can in each bathroom and spray after using the head.

If I make a mistake and eat the wrong foods, it will curl the wallpaper.   We keep a can of air freshner in every bathroom, with does a good job of eliminating the order.  If we do it quick enough, we can stop the wallpaper from peeling off the wall. 

PS - Taking a good probiotic can help immensely with the gas and poop smell.

If I eat low carb, stay away from simple carbs, regular milk (only drink lactose free milk) and stay away from sugar alcohols, my farts are less frequent and the same or less aromatic than pre-surgery, probably better because of my healthier diet.

Even if I eat the way I should my **** stinks much worse after DS than before.   We keep air freshner can in each bathroom and spray after using the head.

If I make a mistake and eat the wrong foods, it will curl the wallpaper.  

This is my experience exactly, except I have no problem with milk.  When eating low carb while dropping my weight, I had very, very little gas.  Now that I'm eating lots of carbs, I have more gas.  If I eat a lot of white flour, like pizza and chocolate chip cookies on the same day for instance, as I did yesterday, I can really peel the paint.

I have never liked going anywhere but home and never went at wor****il I was 36 years old and basically had to.  I was very anxious about this before surgery and sometimes still am.  I had my first weekend away with friends (10 people, 3 bedroom house, 2 bathrooms).  I took extra precautions (courtesy flushes during, matches, good spray stuff) and there was NO issues even in a bathroom with no windows. 
I am not completely fearless now but let me tell you.....being 77 lbs lighter far, far, far outweighs my poop fears now.  I felt fat, useless, ugly, out of control, hopeless, unstylish, unsexual 24/7.  I only have to worry about pooping away from home maybe once a month or so.  I'm SO over going in public bathrooms.  I don't really care any more.  It's more friends' houses that I don't feel comfortable telling them my secret that cause me the most discomfort. 
The more weight I lose and great things that happen to me, the less I care about gas and poop.  For me, 80% is dependent on what I eat.  I have control over this issue when I want it!!! 
I would never let this be the reason for not having the DS.  I know an RNY person and someone who only had their gallbladder out that have smelly poop, too.  And as many people will tell you, it stinks no matter who it is.  Good luck on your research and choice. 

Cheers,
Cathy

I was having a problem after surgery with too much poop, but it turns out I had an infection. Now that I've been on antibiotics it's once - twice a day, and under control. Light a match and all is fine, lol. I went away for the weekend last week and stayed in a hotel with others, and didn't have any problems. They didn't run screaming or anything.

Oh, and it was just as bad post-RNY. I think whenever someone works on your intestines things get messed up for a bit but eventually even out.

Yes, it can be horrible. For me. If I eat fried foods. Or aLOT of simple carbs (fruity pebbles, white bread, regular pasta etc...) But, since I have stopped eating those things, it has been quite normal. A poop a day when I am eating right. And the odor is significantly affected by my diet. It's a live and learn thing I think. Regardless, I would rather have frequent, stinky bowel movements if I eat something I shouldn't, than dumping, or foaming/sliming, or food getting stuck if I don't chew it to mush etc...