Question:
Embarrasing but has to be asked :)

I am 9 1/2 weeks out from RYN and the last few weeks I have noticed I have had an excessive amount of gas and, not that it ever smelled like roses or anything, :) BUT it is HORRIBLE now. Has anyone had a problem with this? Could this be a sign of something more going on? Thanks for dealing with my embarrasing question. :)    — juliebelle0402 (posted on November 21, 2007)

November 21, 2007
Get used to it! Our surgeon says it's because your diet has changed and you have lost some intestine that helps process/break down things. I hear people years out talk about it at our support group. One of the negatives to such a great positive! Happy Weight Loss!
   — Lost4Ever

November 21, 2007
There is nothing wrong with you. Im ten months out and Im still having horrible smelling gas. My husband was just talking about it the other night. Good luck was the weight lost. Patricia
   — barfiep01

November 21, 2007
Julie, you are not the first and will not be the last. For awhile I stopped taking the Pepcid Ad and since I've started back that appears to have calmed the gas but not totally removed it. I also started back working out and I believe the combination of the two has helped tremendously. I can get up in the morning and lead a ship through the fog and as the day goes on it's not so bad. I also believe that as my diet changes -- where I can eat more foods -- the gas will also be there because our stomach is always adjusting. My surgeon also suggested I try Beano and I also take Digestive enzyme pills which are suppose to assist in breaking down the foods in the digestive tract. So don't think it's embarassing --- it's just frustrating and something we have to deal with the best way we can. I believe this is probably the worst side effect of this surgery -- well the worst I've ever had. Fresh fruits and veggies have always given me gas even before surgery, but now the gas just comes quicker.
   — the7thdean

November 21, 2007
GAS is a problem for some patients. I suggest you go to some support groups for RNY patients. You'll hear other people mentioning they now have gas, when they did not have it before. Some foods may cause more gas than others. The RNY sugery is not a "clone surgery", meaning that every patient is not the same. Virtually every post op patient I see at my multiple monthly support group meetings have different experiences. Some can't eat bread or pasta. Some gag on chicken. Some do not have any problem with sugar, while others have diarrhea from one Lifesaver. I have minor problems with gas, and I hear from women (most who attend these meetings) that they have terrible gas post surgery when they NEVER had gas before. And it may peel wallpaper, if you know what I mean. I think it's just a sign that your digestive tract is functioning. Things are different post op, and you'll have to find the foods that bother you and how deal with the problems associated with those foods.
   — Dave Chambers

November 21, 2007
I am 3 years out and the smell doesn't go away. I've had to run to the restroom in grocery stores and when someone else would come in, they'd start cursing to the top of their voice until they left the room. I tried Devron, but it didn't seem to work for me and you have to remember to take it everytime you put something in your mouth and it's limited to 3 per day. I found it cumbersome. I'm trying something called Nullo now. It doesn't completely eliminate the smell, but it at least makes you think it does to an extent. This stinky smelly gas/BM isn't discussed as a side effect. I wish it was so that I'd known fully what I was getting into. Thankfully, I have a loving husband who sticks it out no matter what. I wish you the best, but just prepare to get used to it and carry a little room spray from Bath & Body in your purse!!! :)
   — poodie

November 21, 2007
I have some Devrom, which I've used, but only sporadically. Previous responder, did your doctor limit you to just three Devrom per day? There's no such limitation on the bottle, which suggests a rather open-ended "one or two tablets up to four times per day." Some people, especially DS'ers and others with distal bypasses, use ten or more Devrom per day. Devrom's effectiveness on odor tends to depend on whom you ask.
   — Virginia N.

November 21, 2007
Take Gas X with Malox. It will help!
   — Carlyn M.

November 21, 2007
Honestly I am almost 8 months out and it really depends on what you eat which sets off the gas... whenI am at work I try to stick to safe foods, so I get no gas, when I eat something now that I know sets me off I am usually alone or at home with my kids and they are getting used to it. Ia m single now and dating so I am very careful when I go out on a date and I have had no problems... and sticky Poop is well sticky poop no matter what I eat its the same... so when I meet someone and we want to spend the weekend together I either try to make sure we are on the ground floor of a hotel so I can use the public wahsroom and take spray with me..LOL you learn to live with it. I would not trade stinky gas and poop to be heavy again for anything in the world. I love my RNY and I feel great. Just be careful what you eat .. it will all be ok.. Elisa
   — Elisa S.

November 21, 2007
You are normal! I have also used devrom. It helps a bit. I agree with the post that it depends on what you eat. Carbs make it worse for me! I have been able to deal with it. I would rather have foul gas than carry the extra 100+ pounds!! Gas X strips that melt on your tongue seem to help!
   — robinmarra

November 22, 2007
I'm a year and 4 months out from RNY. The smelly gas started about the time I got back to eating regular food. I've tried Gas X with Malox and it does NOT work for me. It smells much worse than prior to surgery and is VERY copious. (It even smells terrible to ME!) My only recommendation is to light a candle with a fragrance you and those around you like. So, you are not alone with this problem and, from what I've read, it's very common among RNYers. I think it's a small price to pay for the otherwise positive health benefits of the surgery.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 22, 2007
Pardon me if my first comment is that certain RNYers and even their surgeons like to put down the DS because of the potential for gas issues, but then don't talk about the same thing with the RNY. Which brings me to my second point -- not that many people read this area, so if you want more advice about this, I suggest you ask it on the DS forum -- since we expect to have issues with gas due the malabsorption (of fats that gives us the freedom to eat a high fat diet, and of carbohydrates, which also allows us more leeway with our intake, but can cause gas), we have LOTS of tips, tricks and advice about how to deal with it and are more than happy to share it (we talk gas and poops without shame!). Now, for my advice. The gas issues are highly variable person to person -- what sets me off isn't necessarily going to be your trigger food. I chose to deal with my issues exclusively by "TiVoing" my carbs. I just don't eat my trigger foods for breakfast or lunch on work days or within 4-6 hours before I have to be around people other than my family if I have a event to attend. For me, those foods are white bread, pasta, other white flour products, beans, broccoli, battered and fried onions (not other fried foods, and not all onion-containing food -- go figure!), and too much milk. And even that can change -- I had been happily having a grande Starbucks mocha for a couple of years, then one day had one at the airport on the way to an all-day conference, and omigod! I had to keep getting up to take jet-propelled walks around the hotel! However much milk in it there is now seems to be more than my limit. If you come over to the DS forum, you can get more advice from people who take different things to help with the gas. Some people swear by prophylactic doses of Flagyl (I'm not crazy about the idea of taking antibiotics prophylactically); some use specific probiotics that they swear solves the problem; Devrom is also used (I worry about that because it has charcoal in it, and that can bind and prevent absorption of certain medications and vitamins); but if you need help, come on over and ask -- we'll give you more advice than you'll know what to do with, and almost certainly, something will work for you!
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 23, 2007
Some choices to get rid of/avoid gas/poop smells: Devrom, probiotics, antibiotics such as Flagyl, Sutenax, which may be a probiotic, Ozium spray freshner, you may be lactose intolerant so drink lactaid milk or take lactaid tablets. Diana was right, come to the DS forum as we are always are up on things for smellies.
   — KRWaters

November 23, 2007
I have found that when I limit carbs I don't go through this but if I ingest a lot of carbs I have awful gas by the evening every evening and this is 7.5 years out. I'm a newlywed and it gets to be a pain having to constantly leave the room in the evenings but I'm not ready for hubby to have to deal with that aspect of me yet lol! I'd say you're entirely normal.
   — Kellye C.

November 24, 2007
Besodes Gas-X with Maalox as Carlyn suggested my surgical group recommends Beano or some people find relief with papaya tablets (I found them at Whole Foods).
   — obeseforever

November 24, 2007
First of all Gas X and the like actually encourage farting to get rid of trapped/excessive gas in your intestines. The best thing I ever found has been Chlorophyll, a plant extract. It can be found at GNC and other health stores. I have not seen it at Walmart or other stores like it. I was amazed at how effective this is! After about 2-3 days of taking it I still tooted, but the smell is pretty much gone. It comes in gel caps and liquid. Hope this helps.
   — tazthewiz23

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