Karl, I am about in the same boat as you, so welcome aboard mate. I had my take down on April 21, 2006. Yes, I experience excessive wind down there too which isn't necessarily a problem unless you choose to dispatch it. Then as you know, there's no test firing on this one. Either it's wind or wet. Yuck. Anyway, I have been using some Gas X tablets, and they really calm things down. Usually I only have to take one a day when I get real gassy. Also, of course, watch what you eat. If you are like me though, you probably are about tired of rice, potato's, bread and banana's.
Did you have a J-pouch? If so, there is a great J-pouch community that helped me alot with the butt-burn issue. The biggest key is to get it under control first, then it's easy to do maintenance to avoid another round of it. I tried alot of cremes down there. I've used the Calmoseptine which is good. The only downside is the menthol that is in it. Sure it feels good after awhile, but if you are raw, YIKES when it first goes on. The hospital sent me home with Aloe Vesta made by Convatec. It doesn't do too bad. Kind of a mellow creme that doesn't really burn, just kind of coats the skin. Then the J-poucher's recommend the ilex creme. I ordered some over the internet. I like it also, except it becomes really sticky, so down in the nether region, you have to coat it with petroleum jelly. Otherwise when you wipe, you're paper doesn't come back out. Sorry, but that's the way it is. I will give it credit though, it hangs in there. It won't come off until you are in the shower or tub and use soap and alot of water to get it off.
Hope that helps and keep me updated as to how you are doing.
Phil