to admit I stink

[itismesorry]

and to beg for help

I fart ALL the time. It's clearly linked to diet, but I can't think what. I eat very bland foods, I don't eat during the day at all when at work as it just causes terrible gas. I get constipated a lot too.

But the main issue is clearly the farts. I recognise they are totally anti-social but I can't keep them in - they seep out. They are not loud, however they stink to high heaven, I really have never in my life known anyone produce such smelly ones.

Please don't laugh. I swear, I don't "look" the part. I am smart, well put together, neat, tidy - I just cannot help it and honestly don't know why. I've kept a food diary but the doctor wasn't helpful at all and at the moment I am conscious my bedroom stinks like a sewer and I feel sick with it.

[invicta]

You are not being silly. I have phases when it affects me a lot, and then it seems fine.

[fedup21]

I suffer terribly with wind and gurgling noises-it's not tummy rumblings but more like in my bowels. Hideously embarrassing when it comes to being in quiet rooms, eg meetings. I guess it's trapped wind that wants to come out but can't because I'm in a meeting! It isn't smelly though-just loud; like inner-farts. Is that awful-I think I must be the only one!


Would Actimel help with this sort of thing as well? I have been to the GP before but he just sniggered (I was so embarrased) and gave me Fybogel. It didn't work; I never went back. :(

[itismesorry]

I wish I knew what it was! It does seem linked to diet but I really am baffled as to what.

I have wondered if Crohn's disease may be a possibility.

The problem with laxatives is that they make the stools loose but don't seem to clear everything out if you see what I mean, is the prescribed one different? I might ask about that.

I wish I had been able to drop a fart into the doctor's surgery as they didn't take me seriously when I went!

[Halfling]

How often do you poo?

[DIYapprentice]

You probably have faecal compaction, which basically means that your constipation is so bad that it's pretty much permanent. You need to get to a GP and get prescribed movicol. The farting won't stop until that is sorted out.

Because of the constipation, your bowels are over extended and so you can't go regularly, no matter what.

Take the Movicol regularly for several months minimum, to clear out your system and to allow your bowels to go back to normal size. And drink lots of water. If you don't have enough liquids in your diet (and some people need way more) then the fibre will actually become more akin to glue and make the conspitation worse.

[itismesorry]

Fedup, I know exactly what you mean. I don't get it with farts as mine seep out silently but I do get it when I need to poo and have to wait - a sort of rumbling noise that as you say comes from your bowels and not your stomach. It happened to me in Waterstone's once but thankfully I was near the door at the time and the street was very busy.

It's such a relief seeing I'm not alone, as no one else I know seems to fart, EVER! Of course I know that they must but mine seem almost constant and I'd die if anyone found out.

[littlemisssarcastic]

I'm surprised the Dr didn't take it seriously. Sounds like constipation or faecal impaction to me OP. I'd be going straight back to Dr's. Dr can give you medication to empty your bowels fully and then to keep you going regularly which will probably solve the problem.

[itismesorry]

Halfling, I still poo most days, more or less, although there have been some (infrequent) periods where it's been several days, I think a week was my maximum.

But it's poo I either have to strain with and not much comes out, or it's diarrhoea.

[AwfulMaureen]

Yes...how often do you poo?

{Hopes OP is not poo troll}

[Flumpy2012]

Hello itisme,

I just wanted to confess to the same problems
Worse since having my DD I think. But I can identify with the not feeling like its all out after num2.

I have previously had colonoscopy and ibs investigations and been back and forth to no avail.

Diet changes don't have much affect for me either.

I hope you find a solution and if you do pls let me know ;)

[Karenblixen]

Not likely to be Crohn's, you would have diarreah, lose weight, have stomach pains.

[littlemisssarcastic]

Definitely sounds like impaction OP. If you have impacted faeces, you will get diarrhoea or else you will strain.
It's miserable, but it can be dealt with easily.
Go back and try to see a more sympathetic GP.

[PedlarsSpanner]

you are absolutely not being silly

do get up the nerve to see your GP

in the meantime, for the constipation: increase water intake, try to avoid white bread, pasta, banana, weetabix

nannynewo, if you think you might be intolerant of gluten, do see the coeliacs website here which is very careful to say do not change your diet without getting medical advice x

[hiddenhome]

Yes, nanny gluten intolerance can cause these problems. Some people find it happens with dairy too. Keeping a food diary is useful.

Bread these days isn't left for long enough when the yeast is added, so it just keeps working inside your body. This can cause cramps and wind. Wheat is indigestible and causes stress to the gut as it struggles to process it. It can cause long term damage even in the absence of coeliac disease.

[thebellsofsaintclements]

Try charcoal tablets, they really neutralise the smell. I can really sympathise, have been similar (although not as extreme) for years... :(

[itismesorry]

Thank you, that is really helpful. I will see the GP ASAP.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I'd also say go back to your GP - movicol would probably be prescribed. Just keep pushing until you get help, it can't be very nice for you at all.

[PedlarsSpanner]

oh FUUUCK hope it ain't the bloody poo troll

ah well, advice is advice innit

[Gullygirl]

I think you may have an impaction.
It happened to me several years ago,was easily sorted.
Nowadays I fart like that if I drink too much coffee,especially frothy milky coffee.

[Adeleh]

Fed up - how dreadful of your GP to snigger! No wonder you never went back.
It's e - this sounds more and more like faecal impaction. If there's a blockage then what comes behind can't get through and seeps round. Movicol , like another poster said. And sorry for being graphic.

[BillyBanter]

I think going back to the doc and pressing for a referral is the way to go.

In the meantime most shop bought bread isn't very high in fibre. Also bran is too harsh for my stomach, maybe it is for yours too, so something like all-bran might help, or might not, as in my case. Drink plenty of water. you could sprinkle linseed on your food. It helps ease poo through. Beetroot is good. Oranges (tho they give my DS evil farts so maybe not) Lentils, brown rice. Any veg really. Also are you short? Even if you are not buy a cheap plastic low footstool and put your feet on that when on the toilet. squatting straightens out the rectum making pooing easier.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/spotlight-high-fibre-diets

[itismesorry]

Gosh, I am certainly not a troll

I'm sure it's a massive joke to some people, but just think for a minute how you would feel if you couldn't go out for a meal with friends or even eat a sandwich or have soup during the day when at work? How you would feel being in pain every time you went to the toilet? Would you find it funny?

It might be a laugh to you but it took a fair amount of desperation for me to post at all as I was worried people would laugh or just say it was my fault because of my diet when I'm convinced it isn't.

Thankfully I have had useful advice and I am really grateful for that.

[MomOfTwoGirls2]

Can confirm what littlemisssarcastic says. Diarrhea after constipation is a cycle. I experienced this during pregnancy (Iron tables made me constipated), and currently as a cancer patient (anti nausea meds making me constipated for a few days). Onc. nurse recommended Senna tables for night time. Your local pharmacy can help you wit over the counter medication available for constipation.

Also, a vegetarian diet can contribute. At least in the case of my DH...
Broccoli, cabbage and other green vegetables are mostly to blame in his case.

[fedup21]

In my case, I don't think it's impaction; I am not constipated and 'go' regularly. When I have bad wind though, I notice (and this is far tmi) that my poo is in small harder lumps/nuggets (!) rather than in a soft long sausage like it is when I don't have wind! I wonder if the wind is gurgling noisily around the lumps??!

I can't believe I just shared that on a public forum...!

[Toecheese]

No one had mentioned this yet but I would stop eating oats completely. Oats effect me the same - really really awful stinky wind. Also swing between very runny sloppy poo and hard stuff. All oats effect me but gluten free oats slightly less so. Wheat also effects me but in a different way. It gives me indigestion.

Cut out the oats!!