I am 1.5 weeks away from moving back to college and my gas is still horrible! Simethicone doesnt work, Beano doesn't work, the antispasmodic (levsin that my doc prescribed) doesn't work. I haven't tried VSL3 yet because the pharmacies in town dont have it (but it has been ordered) so I'll try that ASAP. Is VSL a "take when you need" type thing or a take consistently and it will get better type of thing? Which is Levsin, for that matter? On the bottle it says take every 4 hours as needed and I have taken a couple once in a while but I didn't notice an effect.

I'm really worried about going to school with all this gas. The reason being, if it happens when I'm walking, I have to immediately stop and concentrate very hard and hope nothing comes out! If I keep walking, I will surely have stuff comin out! I don't want to have to just stop when I'm walking on campus, thats odd.

I have no personal experience with this (takedown the 26th of this month) bit I can tell you that probiotics have been reported to be helpful with gas, the caveat being that the gas is often worse for a week or two while your GI flora reaches a new balance. As you have likely discovered already, VSL #3 is expensive; some elect to go with cheaper options such as Flora Q and Culturelle, which may have the additional advantage of being available locally (otherwise order online). Also - you can order VSL #3 directly from their website. Two day shipping is standard.

Levsin is an antispasmodic that did nothing for me when I still had a colon. I really don't know if it's helpful for gas, particularly in those who've had a colectomy. Talk to your GI about how long you you should wait to judge its efficacy. I wouldn't be too optimistic, though. Out of the handful of people I've spoken to who've taken it for IBD or IBS, none have had any success.

Good luck.

My doc prescribed levsin because he thinks the thing causing my pain is the pouch contracting or something; so he thought an antispasmodic would help. But it isn't .

But I have good news... I have gone about an hour and a half or two with only a couple gas problems!!! I think its because I laid down and took 10 minutes farting. It felt great... And I've felt great since. I'm coming up on 3 hours since my last BM - and I think I can go 4! I've only done 4 hrs once (besides in the morning when I go quite a while without one for some reason). Maybe I should lie down and fart more often!

While you are waiting for the VSL why don't you give soemthing like PB 8 a try? You should be able to get it at any Rite Aid or longs, even your grocery store. I know that probiotics helped me with frequency and quality of stool. The other thing to do if gas is really bugging you is to get up and move around...Walking or even try doing the bicycle exercise, where you lay down and put your legs up in the air and pump your legs like riding one....
Julie

Your bowels may still filled with gas. It took mine a while to get rid of it too. I wish I had another suggestion. I hope it goes away.

Ok, they got my VSL today and I had two tablets in the afternoon and two just now, and I dunno, I think it might be helping a little tiny bit so far. I do understand that it takes a while to get the full effect - I'm going to try and take 6 a day (morning afternoon evening two each). 60 tablets for $50... :S But hey, if it works, its worth it! I loaded up on a couple immodium and metamucil for one of the first times I'm going out for a while tonight. I also just got some boxer briefs (going to those from boxers, they are surprisingly comfortable!) with some pads from Depend in them, they are working better than diapers. I'll probably wear a combo of boxer briefs and pads for the first couple weeks/until gas goes away at school.