Hey guys
I though it was normal for the valve to leak gas maybe once a month. Does this happen to anyone else. I'm always laying on my back when it passes the flatus. My husband thinks it's funny but I just read a post by Jasmine which said they should NEVER leak gas. Do you think my valve is slipping? 11 month post op.
Thanks
Jeanne

Your valve may have slipped a little...you might try inserting the catheter and leaving it in for 21 days. Eat smooth, non-clogging foods so you don't have to remove the cath. to empty. And when the pouch feels full...take the cap off the end of the cath and empty. Irrigate if necessary. Sometimes scar tissue will grow and re-attach the valve if it has indeed slipped a little. Good luck.

Have you talked to Dr. Launer about it?

I know that when the cath is in the pouch to empty I sometimes hear gurgling and see bubbles. Fazio wasn't concerned but that was with the cath in.....to clarify..the bubbles aren't coming out of the catheter, they are escaping through the stoma.

I can't imagine leaving that catheter in for 21 days because I won't be able to work and I just came back from hand surgery. Gotta do what's necessary I guess

Thanks for your input Bodoni and Leslie. I will call Launer see what he thinks. I'll keep you posted so we can file it away in the kock pouch archives of what's normal and what's not. This site is the only place to share this valuable info.

I found out I am lactose intolerant. I had gas pains so bad I was going to fly down to see the doctor but I tried the pills and pains are gone. Soy makes horrible gas pains too. Leslie I'm drinking that grape juice every day and it's very helpful.
Jeanne

Interesting...I've been thinking lately i may have suddenly become lactose intolerant too....
is it possible to be only semi-intolerant?
Seems every time i eat a bowl of cereal i have more cramping and gas than normal.
but only when i eat cereal. when i have my latte's and mocha's (i.e. mostly milk with a little expresso)
or ice cream or hot cocoa, or anything else with milk in it (i think) doesn't seem to affect me.

what pills work?

I have always been lactose intolerant (L/I).
Some things bother me more than others. I buy organic milk that is L/I for cereal and coffee at home. However when I'm out and use regular milk in coffee I'm okay. Yogurt does me in but I keep trying new products...currently I'm taste testing a Greek yogurt which is really good ...but about 2 hours later I'm cramping. Cottage cheese I never know.

I went to Coldstone's and had a great milkshake knowing I would pay for it and yesterday we were out and had pizza with fresh mozzeralla followed by the yummiest real Italian gelato followed by cramps 2 hours later. This is extremely disappointing b/c we are going to Italy where I planned to gelato everyday

The thing is..if you are going to cramp due to L/I...make it worth it!

They use different milk in Italy so you might want to try some gelato in the evening before going back to your hotel just to see if their product works for you (and it had better!) Also, I don't know how you could go to Italy without drinking gallons (or liters) of cappucinos. I just can't find a cappucino anywhere that tastes like their's.

kathy

quote:

is it possible to be only semi-intolerant?
Seems every time i eat a bowl of cereal i have more cramping and gas than normal.
but only when i eat cereal. when i have my latte's and mocha's (i.e. mostly milk with a little expresso)
or ice cream or hot cocoa, or anything else with milk in it (i think) doesn't seem to affect me.

If I eat cereal with milk (ANY type- rice, soy, dairy) in the AM, I PAY for it BIG time. If I drink a latte later on in the day I am fine, or any milk product for that matter. I have switched over to all organic dairy products but haven't tried to pain any cereal in the AM yet!

Shelby
maybe it's the cereal

There are certain cereals ,usually high fiber though I can eat oatmeal, that make me crampy with gas.

I've tried it all! Healthy cereal, bad sugary cereal, Cheerios. . . I think it's eating milk on an empty stomach that does it.

Ah! genius! milk on an empty stomach!

cuz yes, i've eaten lots of different 'types' of cereal (from corn pops to corn flakes) and it's generally the same...

and yes, i practically lived on cappucino's when in europe last year. i came back home craving em and couldn't get a good one ANYwhere...(actually i started cravin em the minute i stepped off the plane to transfer in london. so even while still overseas i couldn't quite find a good one)

I am totally with you on the cappucino findings. Why can't anyone make a good one over here? I've tried and tried. I've just realized that I'm forgetting what the real thing tastes like. Hmmmmmmmm, maybe that means I HAVE to go back.

kathy

Doesn't happen to me.
Try charco-caps for the gas.
Bill

Regarding the question on lactose intolerance:

Yes, it is entirely possible to have only a partial intolerance, and this is more common than a complete intolerance. As we age, many of us gradually reduce production of lactase. Actually, most races stop production of lactase by adulthood. Humans generally were not meant to be milk drinkers much past weaning from the breast, I guess. But, northern Europeans tend to have the genes to keep making lactase into adulthood. Plus, Crohn's and celiac disease can cause it.

Anyway, you can make small amounts of lactase, but not enough for the bowl of cereal. Solutions are to use lactose reduced milk or just take a lactase tablet with your firt bite or sip of the food or drink you know you will pay for. Just bring the lactase tabs with you to Italy and mangia!!

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/

Jan

I am running to get a few boxes of Lactaid pills because I am SO looking forward to gelato for breakfast, lunch and dinner