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Question about gas pains and water

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 4/25/2008 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
I know this question will be nigh impossible to answer for most, but my question is how long does it take for something to cause gas pains? I started having severe pain in my abdomen due to gas this morning that gradually grew from a mild ache last night. The only things I could think of that could have caused this are a cream filled donut I hadn't wanted to eat, but was too hungry not to and the bbq chicken breast half I had last night.

I know someone who gets sick right after eating and has to rush to the bathroom because of IBS, but I've never had the rush to the bathroom unless it was to expel fluids (you know what I mean). I find I have to do that a lot even though I just barely drink 70% of the daily recommended allowance of water. Before recently I drank very, very little water and had 1 bowel movement every 2 or 3 weeks, but it wasn't difficult to get out. I wonder if this may be because my body isn't used to all the fluid? I'll tell my doctors about this if just because I don't know what it means. Just drinking 6 glasses a day makes me feel bloated and I have to force myself to drink more, but the nurse told me I need that much at least to make sure my bowel movements are okay. Am I just weird like this? confused
Posted 4/25/2008 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
The guidelines about how much water to drink are pretty bogus. The thing that people don't understand is that most of the water we need in a day comes from the foods we eat, not necessarily from the tap itself. Anyone who is gulping down liters of water during the day is going to feel bloated.

What is important is to drink when you are getting thirsty. It's of no use to force yourself to drink water if your body is not sending the signals that it needs it. There can be problems if the physiological triggers for thirst are imposed upon (and there's a lot of ways that can happen), but if you are a normal, otherwise healthy individual without endocrine or renal problems, learn to recognize the sign of thirst and respond to that.

It is unlikely that water is causing your gas pains. How can you be sure it is gas? You've felt this pain before, I assume? Have you tried something OTC like Gas-X to try to relieve it?
Posted 4/26/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
I've had the gas pains before, but only once in a while and rarely would it be bad. I see now that I probably misunderstood the water recommendations and have been forcing too much in. It has given me this painful bloated feeling that I'm certain isn't gas. I did have gas this morning, however, and I went to the store to get relief for it since I was out.

The week before last I was taking Mylanta Gas Maximum Relief after each meal, but I stopped that. I'm planning on taking a Gas-X extra strength before bed tonight.
Posted 4/26/2008 7:16 AM (GMT 0)
Let us know how it goes, Noda...one way to make sure you are hydrated enough is to check the color of your urine. It should be in the pale yellow range. If it's very dark, you're probably not getting enough water. If it's clear, you're getting too much!
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