After colon resection: What helps with severe gas?

Posted by karina1954 @karina1954, Aug 9, 2022

11 weeks since surgery, I was wondering if it's fairly common to have severe gas to the point that it hurts, so bad that it feels like your back is gonna break 😔

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Profile picture for larust8 @larust8

@mfinley Hi, yes it's by a company called Canlist Health. PROBIOTIC 3 Prebiotics 120 Billion CFUs 18 Strains. The cost is $9.99 for 60 capsules (1 per day) on Amazon. it's very affordable and seems to help a lot with regularity for me since I tend to constipation and gas sometimes. I especially like it in the winter when I'm not eating as many fresh fruits and veggies from the garden. I do like to treat myself to fresh fruit salad too, that makes my digestion very happy.

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@larust8
Thank you will definitely order some. My problem is that I cannot have raw vegetables. Even some cooked I cannot because it causes obstructions
if my intestines get into scar tissue and twist. And there are some certain fruits.I cannot have no nuts.

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Profile picture for mfinley @mfinley

@larust8
Thank you will definitely order some. My problem is that I cannot have raw vegetables. Even some cooked I cannot because it causes obstructions
if my intestines get into scar tissue and twist. And there are some certain fruits.I cannot have no nuts.

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@mfinley We are all different and that’s the tricky part about all this, isn’t it? We have to experiment and find out what works for us. Hope the probiotics help.

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I am a month out for colon resection, and I am having the most painful gas cramps. Literally double me over at times. From what I have read from other posts I can see this is a common problem. What do I do for the gas? Any over the counter meds that have worked for anyone?

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Profile picture for teemetiki12 @teemetiki12

I am a month out for colon resection, and I am having the most painful gas cramps. Literally double me over at times. From what I have read from other posts I can see this is a common problem. What do I do for the gas? Any over the counter meds that have worked for anyone?

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I too had this problem.Food wise took lot of fermented food.Fermented the vegetables at home.Practiced breathing exercise.The 4:16:8 ,count of 4 breathe in,16 is hold your breadth and 8 is breath out gently.16 hold comes with practice.At 4 weeks exercise may not be possible but definitely walking is allowed and if you are allowed to bend forward ,it helps a lot.Gradual increase of exercise alone helps.I went vegan to make the food light.No raw food.Only cooked food.Rarely used enzyme tablets with charcoal.Please consult your doctor and then try.It gets better with time. All the best

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Profile picture for teemetiki12 @teemetiki12

I am a month out for colon resection, and I am having the most painful gas cramps. Literally double me over at times. From what I have read from other posts I can see this is a common problem. What do I do for the gas? Any over the counter meds that have worked for anyone?

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Thank you for replying. Today so far has been better. I am afraid to eat though, because that triggers it. At this point I don’t know what to eat. I’m going to try white rice. I am having a hard time with movement too, I’m sure because of my age, Rheumatoid arthritis, and general fitness. I am determined though to walk a little today. I appreciate the response. I think I was hoping for a magic pill, but after so many GasX with no relief yesterday, I am realizing that’s not realistic.

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Profile picture for teemetiki12 @teemetiki12

I am a month out for colon resection, and I am having the most painful gas cramps. Literally double me over at times. From what I have read from other posts I can see this is a common problem. What do I do for the gas? Any over the counter meds that have worked for anyone?

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@teemetiki12, you're right that gas cramps after surgery is commonly discussed in the Colorectal Cancer group. I moved your question to this existing discussion that you might find helpful:
- After colon resection: What helps with severe gas?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/colon-resection/

Are things improving?

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Profile picture for karina1954 @karina1954

Thank you so much. I go from constipation to diarrhea and that's when I get gas.. I take gas x helps some. I'm guessing that these kinda surgeries have this effect on the stomach, as you said one day at a time. Thanks again and cheers..

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@karina1954 hi, I have and ileostomy since about 1982. Open whipple procedure since 2012. Ureteral reimplantation from cancer since about 2021. 9 months later bladder cancer. What i learned that works for me. Beano with first bite of food, which helps food from making gas. The the gas-x that help break the gas bubbles up in the intestines. Also marshmallows help thicken the diarrhea and bananas help with that also. Bringing knees to chest are helps with the pain. With the beano and gas-x might take awhile to work (a couple of days) but hang with it. Been using this system for about 45 years. I am also a coffee drinker when it comes to constipation. As for abdominal cramps or intestinal cramps the doctors give me leasing and it works on bladder and intestines at same time. Bladder and intestines pain (one causes the other one to hurt). Hope this information helps good luck.

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