Annoying nocturnal gas? Any ideas?

So, uc has started something new and annoying within the last week and it is affecting my sleep -- nocturnal gas. I'm waking up about 3 times during the night due to loud gurgling and slight abdominal discomfort. I end up farting a couple times while still in bed to see if it will ease up. It usually sounds like there is a whole lot going on down there and since I don't want to wake up my wife, I decide to get out of bed and sit on the toilet for a little while. There I fart a bunch more times until things seem to settle down. I then go back to bed and fall asleep (luckily I can quickly fall asleep afterwards). Repeat about 3-4 times during the night and yawn, it gets so tiring.

I am tapering off of pred currently on 20mgs (dropping 5mg every two weeks) and I started VSL #3 DS on 6/26 (currently taking 1 satchel per day). Nothing radically new in my diet to explain this, I adhere to the eat whatever I want philosophy and some of it is healthy other bits aren't (mmm cake and beer) lol.

Any ideas?

VSL can cause tons of gas. You could try taking Gas-X at bedtime (the strips that dissolve under your tongue are great), or cut back your VSL dose temporarily and increase it more slowly.

PS - Good on you for being able to fart in bed! I haven't farted in over a year :-o

Well, it is easy enough to skip the VSL for a day or two and see if that solves the nighttime gas issue. I take the VSL about 10am. Does it take that long until it creates the gas? Would I be better off taking VSL before bed?

No real big improvements from the VSL just yet, but it has been only a couple weeks. I am going to give it a bit more time before I pass judgement on it.

Quincy, I take the VSL 10am in the mornings. Yes, I've been on the nightly Rowasa gig since Sept 2012 -- never miss a night.

I don't take probiotics and I am not flaring and I have night time gas as well. There are times I wake up, and it's so loud, I must wake the whole neighborhood. Quite embarrassing. Not sure how we can get rid of it but if it's just noise, that's not too bad, it's better than getting up wit cramping and urge to run to the toilet. I am sure it will become less frequent as you get into a longer remission.

1. Eat a very early dinner and eat light
(e.g. scramble egg/toast, 1/2 turkey or chicken breast sandwich) & water. In other words, nothing gas-producing.

2. Don't eat anything after dinner (e.g. desserts, snacks) - this is a tough one

Whenever I'm going through a tough time and do this, it stops. Of course, it's no fun always eating like this and avoiding those delicious evening desserts, but it works! I also do this before a tough day of meetings, travel, etc.

Good luck