gas & loud bowel movements

This isn't the first time I've seen a thread similar to this here. I'm not in denial about it either, it is embarrassing. I don't know how I've survived 24 years of it? The only consolation I can give you is some foods are less noisier than others. Unfortunately you're learning about the laws of physics now the hard way. I say that because the average colon is 5 feet long. And all that length gave you a lot more control than you'll ever have now. I just hope for the sake of us all, colon transplants become routine surgery in the near future and saves us all from this and many other J Pouch embarrassments.

It is a bit of a nuissance. When I expel gas it is often very loud. I've gotten more used to it as time has passed; when I'm alone it can be almost comical, but yes, in public settings it can be annoying. I definitely get more gas now than I did with the colon, but that just has to do with the fact that we technically have the same amount of gas as we did before, but have less space to "store" it now that we have half a gut. At least the gas doesn't smell 99% of the time!

I work in an office building, and I try to use the restroom when it's least occupied whenever I feel I need to expel gas. But, obviously that's not always possible. If you are very concerned about it, a courtesy flush can drown out the sound. But otherwise it's unfortunately one of the nuissances we have to live with.

That said, there are certain foods thought to reduce gas, including cranberry juice, buttermilk, and yogurt. My dietician suggested crushing up fennel seeds, placing them in a tea ball and brewing them as a tea. You can also try probiotics, which can limit gas production, or a digestive enzyme like Beano, which can make some foods a little more digestible.

Well, have a look at my nick and guess why I picked it

I have a very "rumbly" stomach, I don't really fart at all except when doing my business at the loo but boy does it rumble I feel like it's a summer's thunderstorm brewing up sometimes, especially after dinner and I lay down in the sofa. My problem is more that when I do my thing at the loo it can take forever since that gas needs to get out (or I'll need to get back as soon as I'm comfy in the sofa again) before I can leave and it can take a loooong time. At home where no one is bothered by me occupying the loo I can sit for an hour easily. Ironically, I'm writing this on my mobile and you know where, my bad after having two huge burgers with those god awful white buns. I have no idea why white bread is worse than downing a bottle of Tabasco but those gasses and that burn. I never learn to keep my hands away from white bread

On a recent trip to China I had a brief layover at Narita airport in Tokyo. Love that airport because the bathrooms have TOTO Bidets! (I have one at home but an old one.) The newest models are installed at the Narita airport and I almost burst out laughing when I saw that the newest model has a button to push which emits a flushing sound (without actually flushing the toilet). Wow! Water and embarrassment saved at the same time! (See, not only J-pouchers are concerned about these noises!)

i don't understand... people could care less about farting in general and think it's funny but when poo is coming out you can't make noises? haha whatever i go for the loudest noise i can make all day everyday!!!

Thanks for the replies everyone I love how helpful everyone is on this site. If anyone has anymore suggestions, please keep 'em coming!

Oh we ALL become experts at this, Warren! Running taps helps disguise noise, as does hand-driers in public toilets (where they are in reach). For smells - just a really good air freshener! Friends and family are going to understand, and in a public place people aren't going to be too bothered. Have you ever sat on the toilet in a large public bathroom and heard all the other noises (and smells) people with supposedly "healthy" colons make?!

Of course it's a bit embarrassing, and it does make me cringe a little sometimes, but it is so much more preferable to the shame and humiliation that the disease left me with before, so I try to teach myself to embrace it.

It doesn't bother me, because for one, I most likely will never see that person again. Secondly, the great feeling of just letting it rip is outweighs any feeling of embarassment I might have.