This is VERY embarrassing but...

Marian: I ask what are you eating? Sometimes that can take care of the smell! Here is a cute saying I saved: Gas/odor is related to the malabsorbtion and we can not do much but eat more protein and less carbs. Sugar isn't digested completely and ferments actually causing this! It is an unpleasant side effect of surgery unfortunately. (I am a RNY not DS but it happens to me and I can't stand to be in the room with myself at times! DH has learned to live with it! A fact of life!) I've heard this before on many groups: ~Eat sugar get gas ~Eat sugar free get worse gas. ~Drink sweet - get stinky gas ~Eat carbs - get gas. ~Eat chips - get gas ~Drink Wine- get stinky gas. ~Go on a high protein diet and have NO GAS AT ALL. Devrom but it must be used with caution. It's active ingredient is bismuth subgallate. Bismuth is a potentially poisonous heavy metal. Chronic users of Devrom can experience bismuth poisoining. http://www.parthenoninc.com/devrom.htm _____________________ From Merck Source/Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary: bismuth poisoning, poisoning from excessive or chronic ingestion of bismuth or its salts; symptoms include anuria (complete cessation of urine production), stomatitis", dermatitis (an inflammation of your skin that usually involves swollen, red and itchy skin), and diarrhea. Also called bismuthism and bismuthosis. * Stomatitis has many definitions and presentations. It is essentially a chronic, debilitating bacterial infection and inflammation of the oral tissues that usually begins in the periodontium, which is the soft tissue surrounding the teeth (the gums) or facial area (the oropharyngeal area). Other names include lymphocytic - plasmacytic stomatitis complex and recurrent, severe periodontal disease. Though viruses and immune disorders have been implicated in the cause of stomatitis, it appears that this disease complex is a progressive oral bacterial infection, which leads to a prevalence of gram negative anaerobic bacteria. The intense granulation tissue that forms can actually act as a walled-off bacterial reservoir that is impenetrable to antimicrobials (drugs that kill bacterial). ======================== From the MSDS http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/b3438.htm : Ingestion: Low toxicity. Bismuth salts are poorly absorbed. Should absorption occur, symptoms may include loss of appetite, headache, skin rashes, kidney damage, and rarely mild jaundice. Neurologic disorders may occur after prolonged ingestion. Symptoms, which are reversible, include confusion, clumsiness and the inability to walk. Chronic Exposure: Repeated or prolonged ingestion may cause a "bismuth line", black spots on the gums, foul breath, and salivation. Here's the less cautious UK material safety data sheet (worth reading in its entirety; it's short and interesting): http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/BI/bismuth_subgallate Here's information from a report commissioned by the UK Department of Health http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/chemical/bismuth/ukpid49.htm : Moderate/substantial ingestions: - Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain usually occur within hours and precede features of nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. These may be delayed for several days and include renal glomerular and tubular failure, muscle cramps and weakness, blurred vision and hyperreflexia. Liver transaminase activities may be increased transiently. Bismuth encephalopathy is more typical of chronic bismuth poisoning (see below). - Chronic excess ingestion of bismuth chelate (either the daily ingestion of more than the recommended dose or exceeding the advised duration of therapy) may lead to bismuth encephalopathy with insidious onset of incoordination, behavioural changes, memory deterioration and psychiatric symptoms progressing to fulminant encephalopathy with myoclonic jerks, confusion, dysarthria and in severe cases coma and convulsions. Those who survive the acute phase can make a full recovery. - Other features of chronic bismuth poisoning are erythematous rashes, renal failure, thrombocytopenia, bone demineralisation, spontaneous fractures of the thoracic vertebrae and a paralytic ileus-like syndrome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So if u use it use it ocassionally! I'd shoot to control w/ diet FIRST! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Thanks Catlady, I really appreciate your information and your warning--I am generally not a pill taker--but I get gas as soon as I ingest anything--I take protein only in the morning and afternoon --I rarely eat carbs of any kind--sometimes I get gas for no reason at all--Early in the morning BEFORE I have eaten anything. I have even tried to put off eating until I've completed my daily chores outside--nothing seems to work. I will use devrom sparingly--when I am going out socially.But I really need something to assist me with the problem. Be Blessed, Marian S.C.

There was a product that many considered helpful caused "Innermint." Unfortunately it was a small company run by one man who was tragically killed by (I believe) a hit and run while walking on his local road and the product/business seems to have met the same demise when we lost this very nice gentleman. Some claim success with Devrom but I have not tried it. I have the least amount of gas when sticking with high protein, low carb. This is customarily my lifestyle although with maintenance looming, I have added more complex carbs in my diet and gas does occur. Also anything with sugar alcohols (especially maltitol) will cause gas. Although I've had the DS and can eat sugar, I prefer SF to sugar-laden, so I accept the mal-effects of maltitol as a necessary evil when compared to the addictive properties of sugar that I have experienced in my life. Some time ago I read a post that by integrating peppermint tea into her diet, an OHer found quite a bit of relief from the smells of gas. I have tried this and it does seem to help with continued use. But don't expect your flatulence to have the fragrance of a stick of Wrigley's. Certainly worth a try! Good luck and God bless.

Look into taking some fennel or alfalfa. You can find them at the local health food store in pill form... Go somewhere reputable so you can ask someone who is educated. They also have other options available too. Be sure to advise them about your WLS since you want nothing that will cause bloat or constipiation. Good luck !