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Stress Farting

Posted , 5 users are following.

Excubitor
Excubitor

Hello everyone!  I am a new member of this site and I would be grateful if you could help me with a health problem of mine.

I am 22 years old. Five years ago, when I had to go through our national examinations to go to University, a problem appeared. I started farting at an unusual rate. I thought it was anxiety, so I did not visit a doctor asap. Instead, I waited for my examination period to end before I get an expert's opinion. I was then given some pills. "Ibutin" and "Silactis" are the ones  I remember after all those years. I think I've taken other medication as well, but unfortunately I don't remember their names. Nothing helped. In addition, when the air does not find a way out from "the bottom side", it goes up and gets out from the mouth (aka burping). Over the years I've managed to somehow control it, but it still is painful. Most doctors say it's actually Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is magnified by anxiety.Or anxiety which CAUSED the IBS. However noone has really helped me get rid of the problem. Any ideas?

Thanks a lot for your time!

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • leeniepie
    leeniepie Excubitor

    Posted

    Dealing with stress is a major factor for ibs. So anything to calm yourself down will help. To help avoid gas have you tried limiting gas producing foods like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onion, garlic, fizzy drinks, chewing gum, artificial sweeteners?
    • Excubitor
      Excubitor leeniepie

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your reply!

      I've tried limiting certains foods, however most sites on the internet imply that almost everything worsens the condition (dairy, red meat, various vegetables - that's important stuff of our daily diet, I can't cut down all of it smile   )

      Do you make out of my description, that my condition is indeed IBS? Couldn't it be something else, maybe curable?

      Last but not least, how can one deal with stress?! Easier to say than do, I guess!

      Thanks again!

    • leeniepie
      leeniepie Excubitor

      Posted

      Ibs has to have a change in bowel movements, so gas on its own is not ibs.

      To deal with stress you could try deep breathing, yoga, meditation, exercise, listening to music etc

  • susand1408
    susand1408 Excubitor

    Posted

    Yes ibs will be made worse by stress. You may find eating less complex fibres may help. Also taking a course of good bacteria. I personally couldn't take the dairy form and it made me worse so take the wheat grown version. Dairy can also be a factor. Finding a way to take your mind off stress can help. Meditation can help but I found my brain wandered too much so I learnt to Crochet. The repetitive nature means I forget everything. Hope you find some help. I also take buscopan.
    • Excubitor
      Excubitor susand1408

      Posted

      Thanks a lot for the reply!

      Isn't Buscopan a syrup for cold/cough? And what is Crochet? smile

      Do you think probiotics would help? If so, where can I find them (pharmacy, supermarket?)

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 Excubitor

    Posted

    Buscopan is an anti spasmodic medication in tablet form that reduces stomach pain caused by IBS.   Crochet is a type of needlework.

    Do you have any other symptoms such as stomach pain, bowel changes or bloating? Have you had any tests?

    • Excubitor
      Excubitor philippa61759

      Posted

      Stomach pain, no, not rly. Bloating, yes. I have mostly excessive gas and bloating (when I can't get rid of the gas)

      What do u mean by "bowel changes"?

      What sort of tests are you talkin about?

      Thank you very much for replying!

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 Excubitor

    Posted

    By bowel changes I mean constipation, diarrhoea and changes in the consistency of your bowel movements. By tests I mean blood work for celiac disease, stool samples to test for infections such as h pylori and food allergy tests. I had an ultrasound, a celiac test and stool samples taken for h pylori and inflammatory bowel disease.  All of these were negative so irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed.

    Were your doctors able to diagnose IBS without these investigations?  You could try eliminating gassy foods and see if this stops the bloating and farts and go gluten free to find out if if you have non celiac gluten intolerance.

    Probiotics such as the bifido complex can be bought in health food shops.  Some find this helps their symptoms whereas others don't because everyone is different.  I find Buscopan and painkillers work the best for me.  I started off with constipation, constant stomach pain, nausea and loose stools as a result of stress.  Food doesn't affect me.

    • Excubitor
      Excubitor philippa61759

      Posted

      One or two doctors urged me to have a stool sample test, but the public hospital I visited wouldn't allow me to do that because I'm too young. The examination is quite expensive in the private sector (for the record, I live in Greece) and I can't afford it.

      Regarding the other tests you mentioned, no doctor told me anything about them so I haven't taken them yet.

      Regardless, I appreciate your answer very much!

  • graham9772
    graham9772 Excubitor

    Posted

    I dont know where you are but if you can't afford pathology tests then the easiest thing to do is go on the anti IBS diet and see if it helps.   If you really care about your problem then its no big deal to stay off the foods that are causing it.  If that's too hard to do then just decide to live with the problem and stop worrying.

    You can find details of the anti IBS diet also known as the FODMAP diet on the Monash University website.

    If you decide its worth doing some thingt about it then follow the diet VERY carefully.    Remember not all healthy foods are healtthy for you.  Onion garlic apple pear watermelon etc   BUT there is a whole list of foods that you can eat and enjoy so dont feel glum.

    • Excubitor
      Excubitor graham9772

      Posted

      Thank you for the useful information my friend! Will keep that in mind smile
  • rachel69342
    rachel69342 Excubitor

    Posted

    My sister and I have had a recent horrific experience with stress regarding one of her amazing daughters and we are currently and ongoing raising awareness about "stress farts"... more to follow, but I, as a demi-health professional - i.e. Professional dancer/Dance Professor and Pilates Instructor, have had experience with this and I'm quite certain that an elevated amount of stress in the body can and does produce excessive flatulance!   Many of my male friends talk to me about their farts when they go on first dates... it makes sense... hope youre doing well!!!

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