I am wondering if probiotics can help with excessive gas? I am struggling with what feels like pockets of gas that often block small amounts of stool and make complete emptying of the pouch difficult. I was recently treated for a fistula (they sealed and closed off one end and hopefully will do the same for the other end in a procedure this week) The fistula was a tract that went from two places in the pouch. Since the fistula repair, and also a treatment for mild pouchitis with cipro and flagyl, the gas situation has improved a lot but it is still bothersome. I have been trying a low carb/low sugar diet and I think this helps although lately dark chocolate has gotten the best of me. So chocolate and sweets may be part of the problem. I was just wondering if those of you who take probiotics regularly find that it helps with gas? I welcome any thoughts you have as just about anything can cause gas?!?
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Probiotics can decrease gas but the "wrong" probiotic for you can also significantly increase gas, and there's really no way to predict which probiotic is "right" for you.
When I had an unacceptable amount of gas in the first few months after takedown, the low FODMAP diet significantly reduced my gas within only a couple of days. It is more specific than low carb/low sugar. Here's a good overview: http://stanfordhealthcare.org/...df-lowfodmapdiet.pdf
When I had an unacceptable amount of gas in the first few months after takedown, the low FODMAP diet significantly reduced my gas within only a couple of days. It is more specific than low carb/low sugar. Here's a good overview: http://stanfordhealthcare.org/...df-lowfodmapdiet.pdf
Thanks Pluot. I was afraid a probiotic might be a trial and error thing. I am already following a low FODMAP diet as best as I am able.
I've not had the experience of gas directly preventing complete emptying. Gas can be much more bothersome for me, though, if things are inflamed (e.g. pouchitis or in your case perhaps irritation after your fistula repair). In any case, if the gas is a sign of SIBO then treating that might reduce it. I also use Beano, at least when I'm eating gassy foods. And make sure to tell them about the incomplete emptying when they do the rest of the fistula repair, so they can look for possible explanations (e.g. stricture).
Just thinking about this more... have you tried Gas-X (simethicone)? It doesn't actually reduce the gas but it encourages the small pockets to consolidate into larger bubbles that are easier to pass. Maybe this would help??