Constant gas and noisy colon are going to make me lose my mind!!

I've been in remission for a while now but I can't remember when this problem started. All I know is that almost every single day, I wake up with ferocious intestinal gas and it follows me through the day no matter how many times I go to the bathroom. It gets much worse after I eat. I always expect that after my morning BM, it'll be released and go away, but it immediately returns. I feel this constant rumbling that makes me want to jump out of my skin. When I push on my stomach, I can feel and hear the air bubbles. I think it irritates me so much because it makes me paranoid that I'll have to go to the bathroom again soon, even if that's not the case. It isn't usually painful, just extremely, extremely annoying and uncomfortable. No Gas-X, Beano, Phazyme, charcoal pills, even Digize essential oil, etc etc. seems to touch it. I'm on a probiotic (with strains that my gastroenterologist originally recommended). I'm also on a good fiber supplement (acacia senegal from Heather's Tummy brand) that seemed to help a lot at first but no longer does.

I'll admit my diet sucks. I feel overwhelmed at the idea of an elimination diet. Should I get tested for lactose intolerance? Ever since I was diagnosed with UC, I stopped drinking milk for the most part, but there are other forms of dairy I still have. Unfortunately, digestive enzymes give me nausea for some reason, so if I am lactose intolerant, I guess I'd have to cut it out completely, which would suck.

Neither my gastroenterologist nor my regular doctor have any recommendations. So I'm turning to you guys. Help!!

quincy said...
If you can take mesalamine, try the retention enemas.
Antiapasmodics can help calm things down.
Probiotics.

q

Retention enemas during remission? I know people like to use those to stay in remission, but Humira got me there. As bad as this gas problem is, I guess I'd rather have it than go back to doing enemas.

Antispasmodics, do those have to be prescribed?

It's possible you have a lactose-intolerance, try skipping all dairy for a few weeks and see if that helps any. A non-celiac-gluten-intolerance is also possible, you'd have to avoid all bread, pasta, and other forms of gluten for a few weeks to see if it helps out.

For me (although maybe not for you) extra gas and rumblings is a low down proctitis flare up. If you can't wrap your head around enemas, how about mesalamine supps? You could try and see if it makes a difference. Just a thought.

I had mindboggling incredible massive gas while taking probiotics. Maybe it was the particular kind I took and if I had tried other kinds I would have found something better but I just said forget it.

Hi Marjiekay, Welcome! I also suffer almost exclusively with chronic proctitis and I am always tamping it down (never really seem to get into a full remission). When things start to act up again, for me, it seems like gas and noise are my first indicators.(almost like trapped gas that can't escape). So for me, picking up more in rectal meds is my first line of defense. If I wait, I will start to get mucus and then blood. I don't want it to get to that point. Interesting that this doesn't happen to you when you start to flare. Seems we are all different. I try to notice the little things so I can smash it down at the first sign. Oh, the joys of this disease.
B

Lol, there are words you didn't think you would ever say... needing to be back in the farting game but I hear you-- anything that is normal is good! Funny our symptoms present a bit differently-- trapped gas and rumbling noises , constipation, mucus then blood. I hear you with the long symptom ride-- while I can mostly keep the blood and excess mucus away--I am forever fighting it. I feel like that guy in greek mythology- who rolls the rock up the hill painstakingly, only to have it roll back down again and you have to keep repeating the process. If you find something that works, let me know--I am game for trying something new!
B

MarjieKay said...
@iPoop.....fartzilla? (insert little laughing head icon here) hehehe....

It's very important to laugh a little with all we deal with due to UC (I believe it is the only way to stay sane at times when we're going through the worst of it ). I'm always glad to provide a daily helping of it.

MarjieKay said...
Could you first try eliminating the probiotics and fiber one by one? maybe what was once good for you now isn't? I have had that happen before with probiotics especially.

Then if that doesn't work, first try eliminating ALL dairy for a week as was suggested, if that renders no change, try to eliminate other things like gluten one at a time.

I bet that does drive you nuts. We want to enjoy these remission periods. good luck!

I don't think I've ever tried eliminating the probiotic, so maybe I should. Thanks for understanding and for the advice.

hateuc said...
For me (although maybe not for you) extra gas and rumblings is a low down proctitis flare up. If you can't wrap your head around enemas, how about mesalamine supps? You could try and see if it makes a difference. Just a thought.

Don't want to jinx myself but, no, that doesn't usually indicate a flareup. Hmm, trying to remember if I had the gas problem when I was on Lialda.

hateuc said...
Hi Marjiekay, Welcome! I also suffer almost exclusively with chronic proctitis and I am always tamping it down (never really seem to get into a full remission). When things start to act up again, for me, it seems like gas and noise are my first indicators.(almost like trapped gas that can't escape). So for me, picking up more in rectal meds is my first line of defense. If I wait, I will start to get mucus and then blood. I don't want it to get to that point. Interesting that this doesn't happen to you when you start to flare. Seems we are all different. I try to notice the little things so I can smash it down at the first sign. Oh, the joys of this disease.
B

I don't think that's what's going on in my case BUT "trapped gas that can't escape" is definitely one of my symptoms. Other times, oh, it can escape.

MarjieKay said...
Yes, I definitely "get it".....I have been shuffling things around myself now for 19 months trying to get a combination to work.

Knock on wood, today is (I believe) 9 days without symptoms. Several periods of constipation though that have been about 4 days each. One at the beginning and one at the end of that time. I wonder if the lack of stool passing through has actually been beneficial to healing?

I wish colons could speak......well, maybe I don't actually (mine would need to be censored a lot)

Good luck , GloGirl. Keep us posted. I have added fiber now, too, to help with the constipation episodes and haven't really gotten a lot of help from it.....I may end up dropping mine at some point if it doesn't start doing the job !

Thank you, good luck to you too!

An "elimination diet" doesn't have to be so daunting. Try eating just meat/eggs, fruit, and veggies for a couple days and see what happens. Add stuff back leaving junk foods and lactose for last. For me, lactose causes incredible gas...so foul I have to sleep on the couch. Certain complex carbs do it to me too, minus the foul odor. I'm still trying to narrow down which are OK.

Realize that milk in some form is in lots of processed snacks.