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16 replies

Oooo oooh that smell...

SP SemiColon PhilMember
...the smell of death surrounds you.

I'm not a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, but those lyrics go through my head every time I sit on the throne lately!

I am revisiting this forum after more than a decade-long layoff. I had my pouch and takedown in 2000 and have had nothing but very minor issues since.

What I am experiencing for the last six months is what some would still call a minor issue, but it is starting to affect my marriage...

The smell I am producing lately is off the charts. I feel like I should always find the most remote bathroom possible wether I'm home or not. The worst part is at night. The foul smelling gas finds its way out and under the covers while I am in a deep sleep...

My wife wakes before I do and is known to wake me up by throwing a pack of matches at me. We laugh about it the next morning, but it is becoming less and less funny to her.

I feel fine. No other symptoms. Don't think it's pouchitis. Poop seems the same. Just a lot more gas and IT IS FOUL!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on a supplement or anything else I can do to cut down on the volume (both noise and space) and most importantly the terrible stench that I am producing? The future of my marriage depends on it!
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SpookySpookyMember
It may not be pouchitis, but foul smelling stool is often indicative of bacterial or yeast overgrowth in the gut, particularly if it's accompanied by a lot of gas, which you also seem to have.

You could try probiotics if you are not already taking them. That can help normalize the flora in your gut to a more friendly variety.

Otherwise, maybe contact your GI to discuss your symptoms, even the fact that you have had a change in your function in the last few months. Your doctor may suggest a round of antibiotics to see if that settles the problem, though if you have yeast overgrowth that would be contraindicated. If it is yeast, you'd need treatment with an antifungal such as diflucan.

Some foods, such as yogurt, cranberry juice and buttermilk, are thought to help reduce odour and gas. You can also cut out refined sugars and gas-producing foods such as veggies in the cabbage family, but I would still suggest a call in to your doc just to make sure there isn't anything else brewing.
CTBarristerCTBarristerMember
quote:
I'm not a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, but those lyrics go through my head every time I sit on the throne lately!


The song is actually about the smell of cooked heroin, not stool. The smell of cooked heroin brings you right back into shooting it. The song was not written for J Pouchers (actually no J Pouches existed in 1977) or for those with UC. It was written about the band member's personal experiences with heroin.

It's actually probably my favorite song by Lynyrd Skynyrd, although mainly because of the haunting guitar lead by Steve Gaines, tragically killed in the plane crash that also killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant only 3 days after release of the Street Survivors album on which this song is featured. IMHO it is the best album they did as a band.

Here is the studio version of the song, although I see there are many live versions from 1977 floating around the Internet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix-ObS1NU0w
Last edited by CTBarrister
SP SemiColon PhilMember
I have never taken a probiotic supplement, but I eat a lot of yogurt. Too much dairy? Never had a problem at all for ten years. I have always been a very happy poucher. My Doc has called me a posterboy for the procedure and have always known that the only regret I have about making the decision to have the surgery is that I didn't do it sooner...

Has anyone ever tried Beano? Any success with that?
CTBarristerCTBarristerMember
By the ways I get foul smelling stools when a pouchitis bout comes on, though I am led to believe now that it is actually bacterial overgrowth that causes the odor. I suppose if it is not causing pouchitis like symptoms and just some gas you need not be concerned but these issues CAN be a prelude to pouchitis. If frequency and urgency goes up and you have a sensation of incomplete evacuation, pouchitis can then be suspected. If this does not happen you probably just need to buy a few canisters of Lysol for the bathroom.
TinCanTinCanMember
If it is bacterial overgrowth, perhaps a good dose or two of metamucil or other soluble fiber would help? I think someone has suggested this in the past on this list. The theory being that the fiber acts like a plow - taking away some of the excess biota. Maybe followed by a probiotic chaser.

I'm currently haunted by "Tell Me Why" by the Backstreet Boys when I enter the reading room. And no, I'm not a boy band kind of guy.
J jwil44Member
Hi Scott F,


Does your insurance cover the VSL 3 or do you get it from somewhere else, it is sooo pricey before I moved from Georgia I received samples from my GI. I have been procrastinating on finding a new doctor here in Georgia one because I don't know who or where to start with a good one two dreading all of the questions that come with a new doctor and three just plain scared of all the doctors bills I just got rid of.
Scott FScott FMember
Prescription drug coverage generally covers the double strength (DS) form of VSL #3. DS is prescription only. I have only had trouble getting it through the mail-order option, because some plans only do that for what they consider "maintenance medications." The denial of mail order service is cryptic and misleading, in my case. I have never had coverage denied at the pharmacy, on two different plans, though at the highest co-pay tier. So about $50/month for me.

It seems like most of us take Metamucil, or Konsyl, or some sort of soluble fiber to help sculpt our stools into modeling clay.

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