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Flatulance relief desperately needed

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/18/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Is there ANYTHING I can do to stop the excessive gas/pain I get every night when I'm trying to get some sleep?    I'm taking nightly cortifoam enemas and theyr'e quite easy to retain despite an inflamed colon, but they do absolutely nothing to stem the annoying flatulance that is robbing me of my much needed sleep.

I asked my GI a couple of weeks ago and all he could tell me is it is something we have to endure as unfortunately, it's one of the main symptoms of UC.  He said maybe probiotics might help.   Over the past years I've tried most of the big expensive probiotics eg VSL3 etc to no measurable avail.     I've even tried the overpriced Beano but  it seems to be no match for UC.

I thought maybe there might be someone out there who can suggest trying something that will help my plight.    I can put up with the morning 2 hour 4-6 bm frenzy but I'm sure that if I can solve the night flatulance problem it could help me overall.   Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Posted 11/18/2011 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I found that if I stay completely away from dairy it helps quite a bit, but everyone is different.
Posted 11/18/2011 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Try peppermint oil capsules. You can buy them in health food stores or on line.
Posted 11/18/2011 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Carlie, but I'm not really a big dairy user.  Apart from about a cup of 1% milk on my cereal on occasional mornings or a bit of cheese now and again like on a pizza.  I hardly eat ice cream.  I do however take a small probiotic (Activia) most mornings and I'm fairly sure  I'm not lactose intolerant or anything like that either.

Most of the foods I eat would probably create a certain amount of flatulance even for 'normal' people.  A normal colon though, can digest food much more completely whereas we have to find a way to help digest our food better. 

I was hoping that someone knows of any otc enzymes that I could try.

 

Posted 11/18/2011 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
jsummer7, I will add peppermint oil capsules to my shopping list. It's gotta be worth a try.

Keep 'em coming folks...

Posted 11/18/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Try adding a serving of plain boiled white rice to your supper. Avoid carbonated drinks, caffeine, & sugary foods. You could also try taking Culturelle &/or P. reuteri probiotics about an hr before bedtime. Probably you won't get rid of all gas 'til your inflammation comes under control, but you may be able to minimize the discomfort overnight thru dietary adjustment, etc. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 11/18/2011 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
I get the same thing, although not confined to the night- after I eat, no matter what it is or what time of day, an hour later I'm a total gas balloon. Which wouldn't be so bad in and of itself, but sometimes, it's not just gas when it passes! I've tried homeopathic tablets for gas, Gas-X, probiotics (which I take anyway), with no success. Do you find on the nights you take Lorazepam you can sleep ok, even with the gas? If so, I'd honestly stick to that on a more regular basis, just to allow you some relief. I empathize!!!!!
Posted 11/18/2011 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
SCD is not easy but it really helps against the gas/speed symptoms of UC.
Sue
Posted 11/19/2011 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
I tried the Specific Carb Diet for about 10 days. I wasn't able to stick with it, but the one benefit I did notice from it is that it did pretty much eliminate all gas. After that I was able to notice which foods were the worst culprits and sugar and simple carbs like white pasta were the worst for gas for me. I'm sure things like broccoli and beans wouldn't have been great either, but I wasn't eating much of these foods at the time. I'm mostly eating what I like now as I am pretty much in remission, and I don't experience a lot of gas. I attribute this to my probiotic use. I noticed a huge change in the amount of gas and general stomach discomfort (bloating, gurgling gut sounds, etc) after regular probiotic use.
Posted 11/19/2011 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Ive been eating organic swiss cheese and split pea soup, and the gas diminished a bit...
Posted 11/19/2011 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Eva Lou, last night I took 1 mg of lorazapam instead of the usual 0.5mg.

I usually alternate 3mg of melatonin with 0.5mg lorazapam (most of the time).

I have to admit that last night was a big improvement.   I'm always a bit cagey with lorazapam as it's supposed to be addictive but hey, I need the sleep so I'll chance popping the odd 1mg when I feel the need.

I'ts obvious lorazapam does absolutely nothing for flatulance but I guess your brain is telling your colon that it's no big deal.   As in "Keep Calm and Carry On"

 

I guess there's no scientific enzymes been recommended as yet, but I thank every responders' input.

Posted 11/19/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I had severe gas and bloating and the only thing that completely got rid of my bloating and trumpet-blowing butt all day and all night was taking fibre supplements (plus it has many other benefits as well like cutting down on frequency and firming stools up and no more mucous and being able to tolerate eating all fibreous foods).

That said, it still took my system (everyone is different) 3 months to adjust since your system does have to initially adjust to the fibre supplements and can increase gas and bloating discomfort but it was sooooooooooooooo worth it, glad my GI recommended it to me, shame on your GI for telling you that you have to live with it cuz that's simply not true.

If you consider taking fibre supplements, my GI told me to take them daily and indefinitely and only increase if necessary but to do it slowly, thankfully I still only take one fibre supplement per day (I use Prodiem brand) drink plenty of water with your pill form of supplement, be patient and when your body had adjusted you'll likely be wondering why you didn't start using it sooner.

Good luck!
Posted 11/19/2011 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
pb4, I'll take a look at this prodiem, thanks.

At first I thought you were referring to the 'soluble fibre' supplements like Metamucil or Benefiber.   I gather that this is something quite different?

Also what's it like while your system is 'adjusting' to it for 3 months??

Posted 11/19/2011 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Mackster,

Here is a link to the Prodiem (you can google it for more info if necessary)

http://www.prodiem.ca/

I had added gas and bloating in those 3 months on top of the severe amount I already had, but once my system adjusted all bloating went away and very little gas ever since.  It's important you drink plenty of water with it, and be sure you read the lable since Prodiem also makes a laxative and you don't want to buy it by mistake LOL!

Posted 11/20/2011 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
My gas went away once I started using Canasa. I don't know why. but I never had gas at night.
Posted 11/20/2011 10:39 AM (GMT 0)
@Mackster

my gas dissapeared when i've quit the complex carbs (starch) intake and switched to SCD. before this i've had periods when i would pass gas almost all the time, like i was plugged to some gas pipeline...
diary was also a big issue, and i am not genetically lactose intolerant.
Posted 11/21/2011 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Update, tried one peppermint oil cap 20 mins before dinner last night.   there was an improvement but it's early days yet.  Plus i also took 1mg of lorazapam so that may have had some bearing on it.    I'll skip the lorazapam tonight.
Posted 11/21/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mackster,

I found the SCD diet very helpful with gas control.

I noticed you're still taking in some dairy with your 1% milk over cereal, that's still constitutes dairy - and regardless of amount, you may not be tolerating it very well. Why not try to switch to almond milk and give it a try?

Also, how are you combining your foods?

If you have a way to get some homeopathic remedies, you could give China a try, that's what I use when I get bad gas, and it works much better than gas-x.

Posted 11/24/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Update:  Took two peppermint oil caps before dinner last night instead of one.   Quite a big improvement with the bedtime gas issues.

Now here's the weird bit, I usually have at least four bms every morning like clockwork even when not flaring.   Not today though.  Apart from two 'false alarms' (not really urgent) of just gas, I've not had one solitary bm!   Should I be concerned, or happy as a pig in s--t?

PS.  I have a feeling there might be a price to pay for not having a dump all day.    Or maybe I could be headed for a period of remission?

Posted 11/24/2011 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
well, enjoy it while it lasts :) it's the best advice i can give. and i hope it will last forever :)
Posted 11/24/2011 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
The milk on cereal could be the culprit. Soft cheese like than on pizza may also do it. I get gas going too long on an empty stomach.
Posted 11/24/2011 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Update:  Well this morning I'm back to my normal 4-5 urgent bms.

Last night wasn't particularly 'gassy' either.

Yesterday must have been a one-off.  Just how you can be in 'remission' for one day is puzzling.  

What a cruel disease UC is.

Posted 11/24/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
That one day remission thing may be more to do with stress or physical activity than anything else. So often I would have a perfect morning with one formed bm, maybe two days in a row. “I'm healthy again!” I used to tell my wife and friends. I would then overdo it by working in the yard or going for a run and the next day would be tortuous: bleeding, cramping, mucus, bloating, pain…
If I connect the dots to diet I might assume it was related to something I ate or a supplement I took or didn’t take, or medication. That’s what makes me second guess those that report in here about what works and what doesn’t…one really needs many years with this disease or extremely controlled studies to discover the answer.
My recommendation is to not do a lot of physical activity immediately following a great day or two and monitor stress.

Is yours linked to stress or physical activity?

Posted 11/24/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, that is yet another stupid thing about this DD...as my GI's have told me "remission or flares can last from a day to yrs." Stupid isn't it, just goes to show they have MUCH to learn yet about IBD.
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