Coping With Severe Gas

[arch8]

Hello, this is my first post. This is a great website with lots of great information by the way.

Ok, so I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago and I have been on a strick gluten-free diet for about six months. I think the severe stress of graduate school and living in a new city for the first time in my life brought on my celiac disease as well as some hereditary gastro problems. I get severe gas and some stomach pain from gluten/wheat. It got so bad that I had to drop out of graduate school because I couldn't sit in class without passing gas every five minutes. It was just too embarrassing and depressing. I also got fired from my job because I would go to the bathroom every 20-30 minutes to relieve myself (I was just trying to be courteous to others). My girlfriend even broke up with me because she couldn't handle it (she didn't tell my exactly why she broke up with me but it was obvious why). Its gotten to the point where I can't socialize, go to a movie, go on a date, or do pretty much whatever becuase my flatulance is so bad and so obvious and so EMBARRASSING. My life is pretty much in a downward spiral, all because of my flatulance. I am extremely depressed and find myself recently doing a lot of drugs just to forget about how bad everything is right now (actually works better than the prozac and wellbutrin I was on). A year and some months ago I was on top of everything and now I am at rock bottom.

I just moved back home and am continuing on my gluten-free diet. My flatulance has gotten better since I started my gluten-free diet but still not to the point where I would feel comfortable sitting in a class full of students, being in a crowd of people, going to a movie, etc. Instead of passing gas every five minutes it is about every twenty minutes now. I find it very difficult to leave the house, not because I don't want to but because I don't want to go out in public and embarrass myself. It just makes me more depressed and staying home in turn depresses me more. I want to finish graduate school, get a good job, keep a girlfriend, and get on with my life.

I don't know what else to do. Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else have any suggestions for me? This is not the way to live. This is so unfair.

[jerseyangel]

Hi and welcome!

Sorry you're continuing to have problems. Have you tried eliminating dairy foods for a while? Your still-healing villi may not be able to handle it yet.

What finally helped me with my gas was omitting legumes. Beans, soy, cashews, peanuts, etc.

[codetalker]

Keeping a log might help. For a couple of days, list everything you eat/drink along with quatities and time of day. If you want, post each day's info. I'd bet that after a couple of days, you and the members on this board would have some very good insights on the specific cause(s) of the problem.

Just a suggestion.

[ravenwoodglass]

I think many of us can identify here. I know I can.

You got some good advice about the dairy, cut it out pretty much completely for about 6 months or so then you can try to reintroduce using hard cheeses and yogurt. The villi that are damaged by celiac are also needed to absorb and digest dairy, they may just need time to heal. You could also be casein (milk protein) intolerant in which case dairy would be out like gluten but you most likely are at least lactose (milk sugar) intolerant right now.

Another thing that will help is to drop any carbonated beverages out of your diet and if you consume sugar alcohols you should drop those for a while also.

Once things get better you can try adding stuff back in and see if you react but the best thing you can do right now is eat simply and avoid any over the counter gas relief products. If you must use them be aware that many do contain gluten so be sure to call the manufactor before using.

[jhun]

This happened to me but just for a day, it is really embarassing and it feels like you have a gas factory that keeps on manufacturing gas to no end. The next day I did the lactose tolerance test which turned out positive so I eliminated dairy in my diet. The gas just magically went away. You could be lactose intolerant, try to eliminate dairy and see what happens.

[debmidge]

Try the suggestions in the other posts but the gas should lessen as time goes on.

My husband had gas for many, many years while he was misdiagnosed and after going gluten-free strangely enough his flatulence became less but when he did have it, it had odor, something he never had while eating gluten. We could only come to conclusion that his body was finally really digesting his food and giving off the proper & normal type of gases that goes along with food digestion. I would tell him that the odor didn't bother me as I now knew he was healing. After a while, even the odorous gas went away and he rarely has gas issues (he's 100% gluten-free). But it did take at least a year being 100% gluten-free and Never cheating nor eating out in restaurants to resolve itself.

[SchnauzerMom]

I definitely second the idea of cutting out diary, at least for a while. I always get gas really bad if I get too much dairy. Soy also causes gas in me. It's a process of elimination.

[par18]

My foul gas went away with all the other symptoms when I went gluten free. I am not sure but I think when food is somewhat undigested then things like foul gas and stools are the result. All I know is that it was really "obvious" prior to going on the diet.

Tom

[mndude]

Your story is the same as mine. It does seem unfair. I've been gluten-free for about two years now. It took this long to feel very close to normal again but there are days I feel better than I ever felt before. So have hope. Don't give up. Some sugestions

- post what your eating. people can make obsevations

- keep a food diary

-consider a warehouse type job or work form home stuff for now . probaly not what you ever wanted to do but think of it as practice til you get a job you want . Better to know your limits now than ruin your dream job. and it is only temperary.

- until you can go to classes in a school what about an internet type school . Might sound lame but it shows you trying dispite your setbacks.

- try to lose the drugs. I'm not condeming you. I understand but It's like putting a bandaid on a missing limb and people will blame the drugs rather than celiacs for your ills. also you end up masking simptoms and makes finding a good balance to your diet so much harder.

- be patient your changing your entire life it takes time for your body,mind and emotions to catch up and catch on. Somedays it feels like your moving backwards but in the grand view your moving forwards but its so slow you can't always see it.

- be optimistic with other people. celiacs is hard to explain to others and even when you do they still don't get it. Expect that and learn not to be troubled by ignorance. It's hard to do.

- I hate giving advice on diet stuff but giving up sugar,cheese,and pop helped with my gas issues.

anyway take from this what you will and good luck.

[Nancym]

Chances are you're still eating something your body doesn't want you to eat. Try to figure out what it is with a food journal and/or elimination diet.

[Carriefaith]

I am really sorry that you are going through that... I can totally relate...Severe-explosive gas is one of my major symptoms for celiac disease and for some of my other food allergies. The gas is so bad that it is painful and I cannot concentrate. It seems to effect most of my system, making it hard to breath by times (because of pain), and giving me chest pain along with stomach and intestinal pain and discomfort.

If you have been on a strict gluten-free diet for 6 months and still have problems, I would suggest that your body is still healing, that some gluten may be sneaking into your diet, or that you may have another food intolerance or have a food allergy. My suggestion would be to get food allergy testing done or ask your doctor about trying some bendryl the next time you get severe gas. When my gas is due to an allergy, benedryl will help the situation 80-100%. If benedryl doen't help, then you are probably dealing with another food intolerance. If you body is still healing than lactose and starchy sugars may be your problem. The enymes which digest sugars (ie lactose, starch) are located in the villi in the small intestine. When these are damaged due to gluten ingestion, then these sugars go undigested, causing problems. If benedryl doen't help try going lactose free for a month and see if that helps.

[Debbie65]

This was also probably the most pronounced symptom I had and not wanting to be sexist but guys can usually joke that off easier than females.

I don

[arch8]

Thanks guys. I am amazed at the support and feedback from everybody. I really appreciate it. It's good to know I am not the only one with this problem.

I will start with eliminating dairy from my diet and making extra sure that I am not eating foods with gluten in them. I will keep a log of my diet and post it as well. I will be sure to try everyone else's suggestions, too.

I feel a sense of optimism and rehabilitated energy now on overcoming this thing!

[Looking for answers]

A lot of us have experience the same problem. Dairy causes bad gas for me so I've eliminated it, and soy too. I've notice now that the only thing that causes flare-ups is some refined foods. I try to eat whole foods only, and take enzymes and probiotics.

[super-sally888]

Hi,

I am reading a book at the moment about food allergies / intollerances. It says that the most common intollerances / allergies are to gluten/wheat, dairy, soy, sugar, corn, peanuts, and eggs and that these may be best to start with for a not so strict elimination diet.

They also recommend that you eliminate anything that you eat all the time (as we can also get sensitized to things we eat all the time). You eliminate all for an initial period, and then add single foods in one at a time, spread a few days apart and observing any symptoms.

Alternatively just cut these out one at a time (you already have cut out gluten/wheat and know you can't have it so it stays out), and see what happens to your symptoms.. Just give each elimination long enough to see if it makes a difference.

I am going to try this as I am convinced that my problem is more than just gluten... maybe this would be a way to get to the bottom of your problem too....

Sally

[kevsmom]

My brother was diagnosed with Celiac several years ago. About 1 1/12 years ago I developed chronic diarrhea. I asked him what made him go to the doctor, and what symptoms did he have that that helped diagnosed him. He told me that he had really smelly gas. My first thought was that don't all men?

Cindy

Welcome to the board. (This post was not meant to be mean. I just can't pass an opportunity to man bash).

Don't forget to check things like medications (Open Original Shared Link) and personal hygiene products for gluten. If you have a pet, make sure that you wash your hands after you feed it.

Good luck! I hope you are doing better soon.

[Sweetfudge]

I also have always had lots of gas problems. That was the reason I was initally tested for celiac disease, is my gas was so severe and painful, not to mention stinky, that I just couldn't deal w/ it any more. I must say it's gotten better since going gluten-free, but I still have problems w/ beans, even when I take beano. I also got glutened twice last month, and I think it may have opened up some wounds, causing my dairy intolerance to go up. Gas is so annoying, I feel your pain. I don't know if yours is painful, but when I'm having a bad bout, I will curl up with a hot bean bag on my tummy. That helps me to relax a bit.

Hi,

I am reading a book at the moment about food allergies / intollerances. It says that the most common intollerances / allergies are to gluten/wheat, dairy, soy, sugar, corn, peanuts, and eggs and that these may be best to start with for a not so strict elimination diet.

They also recommend that you eliminate anything that you eat all the time (as we can also get sensitized to things we eat all the time). You eliminate all for an initial period, and then add single foods in one at a time, spread a few days apart and observing any symptoms.

Alternatively just cut these out one at a time (you already have cut out gluten/wheat and know you can't have it so it stays out), and see what happens to your symptoms.. Just give each elimination long enough to see if it makes a difference.

I am going to try this as I am convinced that my problem is more than just gluten... maybe this would be a way to get to the bottom of your problem too....

Sally

I was wondering if you could tell me the name of this book you're reading. I'm trying to figure out what other intolerances I might have. Thanks!

[Canadian Karen]

Try experimenting with eliminating some foods on this list:

Gas-producing foods and drinks

The amount of gas that different foods cause varies from person to person. Examples of gas-producing foods are:

Peas, lentils, and beans of all kinds.

Vegetables, such as artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, peas, radishes, and raw potatoes.

Fruits, such as apricots, bananas, melons, peaches, pears, prunes, and raw apples.

Wheat and wheat bran.

Eggs.

Carbonated drinks, fruit drinks, beer, and red wine.

Fried and fatty foods.

Sugar and sugar substitutes.

Milk and other dairy products in people who have trouble digesting lactose, the main sugar found in milk.

Packaged foods that contain lactose, such as breads, cereal, and salad dressing.

Also, here is a link to read:

Open Original Shared Link

Welcome!

Karen

[ravenwoodglass]

I still have problems w/ beans, even when I take beano.

Just a note, beano has added wheat to the label, I haven't contacted the company but have see it in the store. It may be the cause of the gas not the beans.

[Labb543]

I STRONGLY suggest finding out what your blood type is and then following the "Eat Right For Your Blood Type" program/book.

It is how I found out that I was wheat/gluten intolerant. It prompted me to go get tested.

Almost everything on the "avoids" list for a type O bothers me-- milk, dairy, coffee, peanuts, wheat, and many other grains.

It is amazing what a strong correlation there is.

I suggest trying this and eliminating things on your avoids list. It will totally help you.

I also suggest doing a vegetable juice fast of some sort to make sure you are eliminating your bowels properly... you never know what could be in there causing the gas-- and how long it's been in there! You must make sure that you are able to get rid of waste.

Try food combining. If you are suffering from gas, NEVER eat fruit with other food. It takes different digestive enzymes to digest different foods.

carbs and proteins shouldn't really be eaten together and fruits most ALWAYS be eaten alone on an empty stomach.

Lastly, you may have an issue with yeast... it will make you a farting machine! Cutting the sugar, fruit, carbs and dairy will help tremendously... and it will help to kill off the yeast.

Also, start taking acidophilis to bring good bacteria and flora in to kill the yeast over growth.

[OptimisticMom42]

Ha it was the horrible smelling gas that convinced my family that this was real!

Give up the dairy, soy, nuts, beans for a bit and take acidophilus.

[Reba32]

I had gas so bad I couldn't stand myself. My eyes would melt sometimes!

As soon as I gave up gluten, the noxious cloud was gone. I guess I'm lucky that I don't seem to have any other food issues except gluten. I've had some problems with cross contamination on some packages of nuts and seeds, but other brands of nuts or seeds didn't bother me. Thank goodness! I don't know what I'd do without macadamia nuts.

Bread I can live without. Macadamia nuts...I dunno!

[Streetlegal]

First post! I have been gluten-free for three months and my symptoms have actually worsened--more diarrhea and more gas

I take Simethicone and this helps with the gas, making socializing a lot easier

[Jennywenny]

Hi arch8,

I have been having the same problem and am just realizing that i might have gluten intolerance, but am reading more about it every day. My social life has severely suffered (especially not being to go to the movies - everyone loves going to the movies!) I know this is a really old post and I'm not even sure if you still visit this forum, but I was just wondering how you've been doing with everything and if being gluten-free has helped you??

[mender8]

I could use some help as well. I just started a gluten, dairy, yeast and fried food free diet. Though I had gas before starting this diet, it was mostly odorless air. Now, since starting the diet, gas has increased and is odorous. I'm afraid to go out ... I don't even want my husband to sleep with me!! If I hold it in, I'm end up in pain.

My abdomen is bloated and I'm very sleepy. I feel like I'm doing a good job with my diet, eating mostly fruits, vegetables and meat. When I went out to a restuarant this weekend, I specially requested gluten and dairy free items.

Why are my symptoms worse?