To go to the GP for smelly wind?

[Jellyjoy]

NC as this is embarrassing.

For over a year I’ve suffered with frequent and very smelly wind. It affects my social life as I don’t want to go out because it’s so uncomfortable to hold in the wind, but it’s so smelly I couldn’t let it out. My poor DH is at his wits end with it too.

I eat a healthy diet with daily healthy bowel movements. I’ve tried keeping a food diary but the wind is constant so there’s nothing obvious there (excite I know sugar makes it worse).

i don’t eat dairy so it’s not a lactose intolerance.

WIBU to go to the GP for smelly wind? I feel like they’ll laugh me out and just say it’s normal, but believe me this isn’t normal.

Maybe try the pharmacy first? Ask for a private conversation

Don't fart! 😆

This, legumes and cruciferous vegetables are dreadful for wind and ibs.

Could you ask a pharmacist first?

You say you eat a healthy diet, but can you be more specific about what you're eating?

When I was first diagnosed with IBS (different symptoms - just giving this as an example), the consultant advised me to increase my fibre intake. So more fruit/veg/pulses etc. But actually that made things worse. When I reported that back at my next appointment, he said that increased fibre could make IBS symptoms worse (hmm - would have been nice to have been told that!), and therefore I should look at a lower fibre diet.

I was going to say the same thing - I fart more if I eat this sort of thing.
Was on low fodmap for a while and it definitely helped.

I don't see any issue in asking GP for advice.

If you have no luck in finding a permanent solution, you could insert one of these 'siren whistles' in your bum and at least people around you will be forewarned and can get to a shelter when you 'let one go'.

GP’s are useless with this kind of thing. I went for similar, bloating, constipation, acid reflux, excessive smelly wind. They diagnosed IBS.

it got unbearable, painful at times so I decided to embark on an elimination diet. Within days of cutting gluten my symptoms disappeared. Returned to the doctor and it turns out I am coeliac.

i suggest you take control of your own health (because the doctor won’t!) and try an elimination diet and keep a food diary. Dairy is a common issue, as is gluten, so start with one of those. Good luck.

Agree with the comments re coeliac disease. I had the most embarrassing wind, like someone recently deceased had been dug up. The worst occasion was in a shop and a member of staff actually went around with an air freshener spraying the whole shop! I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me 😟. I had no idea what was causing it, but drs did a blood test and it showed up.

Hi @mamabear715 - I had all the usual symptoms of ibs for years, and my poos became quite sticky and runny (🤮 - sorry but you did ask!). Kind of like tar.

But the main thing was wind that could clear a room and was fairly constant throughout the day - as soon as I mentioned that the consultant was like ‘it’s Bile Acid’. A quick secat scan confirmed it.

apparently it’s a common thing but most gps don’t know about it or won’t prescribe for it because the medication is off label (it’s for cholesterol but just helps with this). I had a private referral in the end - so thankful for work health insurance!

interestingly latterly a nutritionist found I had SIBO so it might have an underlying cause after all - probably from a number of bouts of food poisoning whilst travelling. I’m also quite intolerant to cows milk. So lots going on.

Definitely go - a friend of mine had been suffering from vile wind, but was otherwise healthy, maybe a bit bloated.

Ended up in a sudden emergency operation having a blockage removed from his bowel and now has a stoma.

I don't want to panic you OP, as there are so many things it can be, but you would be right to get it checked.

Could it be you’re just eating a lot of fibre or too much fibre? You’ve mentioned you eat a lot of fruit, veg and legumes. That’s a really good thing obviously, but I think it can make people more flatulent, and can lead to more burping and smelly farts.

I should emphasise though I’m not a doctor, so please do go to your GP and have a chat if you’re worried, especially as it’s been over a year since your symptoms started.

If you eat onions try swapping to red ones

Thanks @Passanotherjaffacake Do you get the 'greasy film' too? That's what alerted me first. I was DX with IBS donkey's years ago but that was new.
I don't touch cows milk either, but have been trying the kombucha etc that PP's have mentioned!
I will see how I get on with my (nice) GP, but will bear in mind going private, thank you. I've got enough going on with sodding arthritis, without this too! :-) Thanks again. x

I went to my GP with that kind of change to my digestion and it turned out to be something very serious indeed.

Omg I thought I was the only one that can’t eat onions.
I miss them so much. They’re in everything.

Go and see your gp.

Don't try elimination or specialised diets like FODMAP without seeing your gp first.

Honestly some of the advice I read on mn! 🙄

Charcoal tablets have really helped me before!

This was my only real symptom when I was diagnosed with coeliac disease

Yep to onions

Or perhaps you try eating a bowl of potpourri each morning instead of muesli? 😁

Get intolerance testing done.

For me, it was sunflower oil and wheat.

Everyone I know who has gone vegan and switched to a diet of lots of fruit, veg, legumes..has complained about awful gas.

Have you examined your processed food intake? I recommend listening to this:

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-thorough-examination-with-drs-chris-and-xand/id1625865924

I had your issue and after years of being at my wits end, this was the answer... I felt like I was eating a super super healthy diet (stews etc) - but it turns out that things like shop-bought pitta breads, humous, those sachets of rice - almost anything that comes as a convenience ready to eat, has weird chemicals in it to preserve it and those chemicals were causing havoc to my digestion/bowel. I was horrified how things that seem non-fancy and non-processed are far from it.

It's effort but after cutting those back as much as possible and cooking everything from scratch (as much as I can). If I'm lazy and lapse though, like using store-bought flour tortillas, I know instantly!

We had vegan lodgers about 40 years ago and you can guess the main thing that I can remember them for 😂😂😂

TBH it put me off ever becoming a vegan.