Hello,

I'm a twenty one year old university senior. Up until last October,
I had a very 'American' Diet, with very little fiber (soluble or insoluble, really).
The first week of October was very stressful, for several reasons. As the saying goes, "my nerves were shot!". Up until that point, I was always very calm, never much anxiety, and no abnormal stomach problems. For a couple of days my stomach was always rumbling, but I wasnt able to go to the bathroom. I was planning on going to Toronto, Canada on a bus trip with some friends that weekend, so I took some laxatives early the day before. It seemed all well and good until the next day when I woke up. My stomach was rumbling again, and it seemed I had some gas that was always being passed... smelled awkward... maybe sulfur? (Something like that?)

After a less than pleasant trip (constipation, awkward gas) we arrived home and I tried to relax for the day, hoping it would be fine for classes the next day. I was wrong. Due to various problems with insurance, I was unable to go to a doctor's for a few months. I wasn't even able to get to the family doctor until just this winter break. He didn't really seem like he was paying attention to me. Then he just said something very basic, saying how a few different foods cause gas. He seemed uninterested so I didn't push the issue (grumpy old man).

Now I'm back at school, and I'm still having the problems. It's always on my mind when I'm around other people. It's like I'm always looking around to see who is noticing it... and it seems nearly everyone who is very close to me does. It's virtually ruined my social life. I've not dated in over a year. I've been missing class often. I need this to be alright, but it's not.

I'm going to try and schedule and appointment with a gastroentrologist for when I get home next time (two weeks?). I know some people can relate to the pain, constipation and so forth. But the gas? The smell?

I'm currently checking out information on IBS, but I'm not diagnosed. Alot of the symptoms match, but there doesn't seem to be anything about the awkward smell. Anybody? The isolation is killing me...

Faolah,

I don't know what to tell you about your problem, but I do know that my husband had very severe gas problems while he was working his last job. The stress that he endured caused his stomach to be a roiling mass of nastiness. His gas was just about unbearable. There were many nights of me sleeping somewhere else. Since he's moved on to a different job entirely, it's changed. He's no where NEAR as bad as he was before. I've noticed, and so has he. He had a very american diet, meat and potatoes kind of life, too. I chalk it all up to extreme stress. Lower your level of stress, if you can...I know easier said than done, but try.

aaronon :wave:

There is a web site about Controlling Gas that may be helpful:
http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/gas.html

You also need to take enough fiber so you have regular BMs w/o straining.

I can totally relate to your problems, and I'm especially angry at all of these doctors who don't really care about you, dont take you as an individual and simply rip off your insurance. What seems to help me a little bit with the rumbling stomach is dicyclomine, has anyone else tried it? My major problem though is constipation. I eat like 40 g of fiber a day, but that doesnt do it..only laxatives work..its horrible, dont ever get your body used to laxatives.

gas is also very annoying. I take zelnorm which seems to help it a little bit, however if you have problems with your insurance, it could get VEEEERY expensive!!
good luck, and let me know how things go.