The gassssss...please help!!

LindaDarnell

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2017
Messages
219
I know gas and flatulence have been discussed here ad nauseum, and there's no treatment except proactive avoidance of the foods that cause it. But I'm 8months, still losing weight..more cognizant of my diet than ever. Yet, the flatulence has increased and is worse!! The first few 6 months it was "manageable". But lately it is intolerable and hard to control. I'm gassy all the time and the stench lingers. OK TMI, but I'm tired of trashing panties bc the odor can't be washed away!! If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. It's gotten so bad that I don't eat during the day bc I don't want to set it off at work. The downside to that is that I pig out at home bc I'm starving. Any suggestions are welcome!
 
Oh, and yes I've tried Devrom. It helped at first but I think I've built up a tolerance bc it's no longer useful. Plus, when it does work it makes me runny
 
You probably need a Flagyl (metronidizole) reset - clean out your gut of the bad bugs that are causing this, and repopulate with (and daily maintenance with) good probiotics. I have found a combo of Primal Defense Ultra once a day and Culturelle once a day. But there are lots of possible options. VSL#3 (vsl3.com) is supposed to be the best of the best, but it is pricey, needs to be refrigerated, and has to be mixed in a drink (which would gag me).

My Flagyl routine is 250 mg x 2/day for 10 days. Some people take more, or longer - this works for me. Don't drink alcohol while taking Flagyl (it will give you Antabuse-type reaction). You should get it from your doctor if you can - they should know what you're taking. And remember that Flagyl shouldn't be abused by taking it chronically - it is a first-line defense against C. diff. - don't grow yourself a batch of Flagyl-resistant C. diff, which most people have in their gut.
 
Thank u ladies! After posting this, I stumbled upon other posts and research about probiotics, and went and bought a bottle to add to my regimen. So glad to know I'm on the right track there.

I guess my next move is to have a conversation with my doctor about Flagyl. I've had H. Pylori a few years back, so hopefully she'll go along with prevention treatment.
 
Just want to raise the possibility of lactose intolerance as it can have a post DS onset and there is skim milk powder hidden in many foods. Skim milk powder is the devil for the lactose intolerant. Also, some foods, like Hershey's chocolates, have *added* lactose as a cheap sugar. Check labels of any foods / drinks...
 
I'm a huge believer in probiotics, and will take different types for multiple strains, and I'll start with a petty large dose and only cut down as there are no farty episodes, but I never go off them. They have many benefits, so worth always taking a minimum dose even when there is no gas. This is coming from a person 10 years out, so I am NOT always careful with diet, and deserve gas diet induced farts, but credit probiotics for saving me from my bad habits.
 
Soooooo glad you posted this question. I struggle greatly with this too. I actually resigned to the fact that I would just never, ever date again! And I do the same thing as you - I avoid eating much during the day and then can't wait to get home to finally eat. Then I don't go anywhere at night because I know what's coming. Not my favorite way to live life :( But tomorrow I'll go buy some probiotics!
 
First, thank you all for the advice and tips. I picked up a probiotic in Walmart listed for digestion specifically, and I took a double dose last night and this morning. I'm noticing a difference already. Not nearly as gassy as I have been. And definitely not as stink!! I'm going to call my surgeon's office for an appointment to be checked for C different. I thought about my primary but I don't think she'll know how to manage it properly for a DS patient... And I don't feel like being a Guinea pig.
I'm also suggesting to the hubs to start on probiotics as well. He hasn't been as gassy but definitely BM episodes. His 1 year of his surgery is next month. So he could benefit from a probiotic regimen
 
Soooooo glad you posted this question. I struggle greatly with this too. I actually resigned to the fact that I would just never, ever date again! And I do the same thing as you - I avoid eating much during the day and then can't wait to get home to finally eat. Then I don't go anywhere at night because I know what's coming. Not my favorite way to live life :( But tomorrow I'll go buy some probiotics!
It is the worse, isn't it?! Just awful. I purchased a probiotic from Walmart last night, probably not the top of the line, but I did see some results already. It's called fortify 50 billion, extra strength. I'll switch to one of the ones recommended by some of the vets when I finish this bottle. But Goodluck girly, I share ur misery!
 
@LindaDarnell it's C. difficile, named because it's difficult to test for. Any pcp should be able to order the appropriate test for it, and will probably know just as much as your surgeon as to how to treat it. The available treatments aren't different for someone with the DS, and either the bug will be resistant to a given drug or it won't. If your pcp can't get you fixed up, they can refer to an infectious disease specialist.
But frankly, your gas problems don't sound like C diff to me, they sound like a DS with bacterial overgrowth that should respond to a short course of Flagyl. C. diff usually causes awful diarrhea, whereas anyone with a DS can have issues with gas.
 
I have nothing to add about the gas itself, but I’d encourage you to experiment with different ways for the laundry. Some things to try are oxyclean, soaking in a weak bleach solution prior to laundering (will affect colors of course), or and/or adding some essential oils to the wash or in the dryer. You can use the sanitize setting if you have it. If you are buying more, I’d suggest buying all white so you can bleach as needed. Don’t overdo the bleach ratio or the clothing will fall apart fast. Sometimes simply putting the same garment through the wash twice does the trick.

My son has had recurrent pee issues (not to mention the occasional insufficient cleaning that leaves streaks) so I’ve had to deal with clothing smells fairly often.
 
Someone who knows more about probiotics (@DSRIGGS from memory?) might be able to point you in the direction of how to get a good bacterial balance in your guts.
Hi Harriet. This is kind of amusing as I was pretty anti-probiotic just a few years ago but Dr K and Dr David Caya (David is a Dr K paitent from many a year ago and retired now) both have provided a lot of great information on the importance of a good gut biome. David tells me that really the best source of probiotic from both and effectiveness standpoint, is home made yogurt. He buys a starter probiotic culture and then keeps it going with his yogurt making. I have never heard him complain about the gut issues many of us have but he also eats better than I do. He has his home yogurt daily with his own granola that he makes from ingredients from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods I believe. His recipe may be on this site somewhere. I know he has posted it in Dr K's DS FB page.

As a goof probiotics. I used Garden of Life PDU per Diana and Larra's recommendation (I think it was them) but Jarrow S boulardi is a good one as well. That strain is supposedly best for dealing diarrhea. VSL3 is supposedly really good but that is the prescription version and I hear it is expensive....that actually reminds me. I need to get my Dr to prescribe that for me and I will see if insurance will cover because PDU keeps going up in price so the script might be cheaper for me ...if they will cover it.
 
You probably need a Flagyl (metronidizole) reset - clean out your gut of the bad bugs that are causing this, and repopulate with (and daily maintenance with) good probiotics. I have found a combo of Primal Defense Ultra once a day and Culturelle once a day. But there are lots of possible options. VSL#3 (vsl3.com) is supposed to be the best of the best, but it is pricey, needs to be refrigerated, and has to be mixed in a drink (which would gag me).

My Flagyl routine is 250 mg x 2/day for 10 days. Some people take more, or longer - this works for me. Don't drink alcohol while taking Flagyl (it will give you Antabuse-type reaction). You should get it from your doctor if you can - they should know what you're taking. And remember that Flagyl shouldn't be abused by taking it chronically - it is a first-line defense against C. diff. - don't grow yourself a batch of Flagyl-resistant C. diff, which most people have in their gut.

My VSL #3 is pricey (just under $50 for 60 capsules), and needs refrigeration...but it's just CAPSULES...swallowed whole. Am I doing it wrong!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top