Excessive Gas

[andy12351]

I am a 27 year old male. I have had extreme excessive gas for a few months now.  It is usually worst at night, maybe because of eating dinner, but not sure.  It does not seem to matter at all what I eat, it happens every night.  I am amazed at the amount of gas I have, it just keeps coming, I can feel it building up inside me and after I expel it it just happens again.  I went to a Doctor and he thought I was probably lactose intollerent, but I don't drink or eat much dairy, and after he told me that I drank 3 big glasses of milk to test it and I felt fine.  I do have some anxiety issues so I thought it might be IBS, but now I doubt it because it seems to be related to after eating, and also it happens at night when my anxiety is lowest.

This is becoming a very hard thing to live with because since it is happening at night it effects my romantic life, I have to keep trying to hold it in so my girlfriend doesn't notice.  There has also been some changes in my bowels, I seem to go more often and they are loose.  This is not as hard to deal with as the gas, but thought it might be important to help with a diagnosis.  Everything I read about online says try changing foods that I eat, but I have tried all kinds of food and the gas still happens.  I have never had problems eating any food either so that seems weird.

Here is a list of other things that might be useful in finding an answer.

1. I take Remeron 22.5 mg a day. I have been gaining weight because of this drug I assume, but I am not sure if these gastro issues started at the same time I started taking remeron but it was sometime around the same time.

2. Even though it is worst at night it is still common during a lot of days, just more noticable at night.

[Suzyq60]

I starting having really explosive gas one summer, then it went away.
Then it came back again with diarhea and vomiting and severe cramps

But now that I have had my gallbladder removed I think all the gas problems were due to my gallbladder disease, as since it has been removed I do not have the same gas problems like I did before.

And I understand how embarasssing it can be.

Good luck in your search for your problem.


sue

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I agree with the possibility of lactose intolerance.  Obtaining specific breath tests can be done to exclude the diagnosis.  I would also consider bacterial overgrowth, which also can be evaluated with breath tests.

Evaluating for various forms of dyspepsia can be done as well, including GERD, an ulcer, or gastritis.  An upper endoscopy can be done if this avenue is pursued.

If the tests continue to be negative, irritable bowel disease can lead to increased gas.  Antispasmodic agents and tricyclic antidepressants are normally medications that can be tried for refractory cases.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
www.twitter.com/kevinmd