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Suggest Treatment For Uncontrolled Farting
Question: This time last year, a surgeon removed a section from my bowel. from that time til now I am experiencing profound uncontrollable farting. When I put the matter to the surgeon he advised me that it was normal.
I have removed countless foods from my diet to no avail,
I have removed countless foods from my diet to no avail,
Brief Answer:
Need more details
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXX,
How are you? Thanks for writing to HCM. My name is Dr Suresh Raghavaiah. I am a Surgical gastroenterologist and I hope to answer your question today.
I am sorry that you are experiencing all these symptoms after surgery. If your bowel habits were regular before surgery, then there should be no reason to suffer these new symptoms after surgery
But before I can guide you any further it will be a great help if you could provide me a few more details regarding your medical history.
1. What were the symptoms before the surgery which prompted your visit to the surgeon?
2. What was the diagnosis which prompted removal of the bowel?
3. Which part of the bowel was resected? (Small bowel, Junction of small and large bowel, large bowel, or rectum).
4. Any complications post surgery?
5. Are you a diabetic?
6. Are you a smoker or drink lots of caffeinated drinks (Coffee, tea, Colas)
7. Other than mintec and inner health plus, are there any other medications you take on a regular basis?
Please do get back to me with these details and we can work out a treatment strategy (If one is required) to treat your difficulties.
I do hope I can help you feel better.
Dr Suresh Raghavaiah
Need more details
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXX,
How are you? Thanks for writing to HCM. My name is Dr Suresh Raghavaiah. I am a Surgical gastroenterologist and I hope to answer your question today.
I am sorry that you are experiencing all these symptoms after surgery. If your bowel habits were regular before surgery, then there should be no reason to suffer these new symptoms after surgery
But before I can guide you any further it will be a great help if you could provide me a few more details regarding your medical history.
1. What were the symptoms before the surgery which prompted your visit to the surgeon?
2. What was the diagnosis which prompted removal of the bowel?
3. Which part of the bowel was resected? (Small bowel, Junction of small and large bowel, large bowel, or rectum).
4. Any complications post surgery?
5. Are you a diabetic?
6. Are you a smoker or drink lots of caffeinated drinks (Coffee, tea, Colas)
7. Other than mintec and inner health plus, are there any other medications you take on a regular basis?
Please do get back to me with these details and we can work out a treatment strategy (If one is required) to treat your difficulties.
I do hope I can help you feel better.
Dr Suresh Raghavaiah
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
1. Chronic and severe Diverticulitis.
2. Diverticulitis
3. Large bowel, specifically Sigmoid Colectomy. Did not require stomosis. Took place September 2013
4. No complications to the Sigmoidectomy however abdominal hernias developed. Operated on umbilical hernia three months later. This procedure failed and whole stomach now is one large hernia. I am booked in on September 10 2014 to have surgery on this. Will have 10cm Divarication from sternum to pubic bone with component separation on both sides to close up the opening.
5. Not diabetic
6. I drink two or three coffees and one or two colas daily. I am a non smoker and non drinker.
7. Other Medications: Asprin, Magnesium Plus, CoQ1050, Vitamin B1, Fish Oil, Nexium, Pravachol, Nitro-Dur 10, Nitrolingual Pump Spray, Isosorbide, Coversyl, Coralan, Diltiazem.
Thank you XXXX
2. Diverticulitis
3. Large bowel, specifically Sigmoid Colectomy. Did not require stomosis. Took place September 2013
4. No complications to the Sigmoidectomy however abdominal hernias developed. Operated on umbilical hernia three months later. This procedure failed and whole stomach now is one large hernia. I am booked in on September 10 2014 to have surgery on this. Will have 10cm Divarication from sternum to pubic bone with component separation on both sides to close up the opening.
5. Not diabetic
6. I drink two or three coffees and one or two colas daily. I am a non smoker and non drinker.
7. Other Medications: Asprin, Magnesium Plus, CoQ1050, Vitamin B1, Fish Oil, Nexium, Pravachol, Nitro-Dur 10, Nitrolingual Pump Spray, Isosorbide, Coversyl, Coralan, Diltiazem.
Thank you XXXX
Brief Answer:
Laparoscopic or open surgery?
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly. I truly appreciate all the clarifications you have provided. It does help me understand your problem better.
I do have one follow up question for you though - Was the sigmoidectomy done by open surgery or laproscopic technique? And (as I suspect) was the bowel anastomosis done using a stapler?
Please get back to me with this and we will discuss your problem
Dr Suresh Raghavaiah
Laparoscopic or open surgery?
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly. I truly appreciate all the clarifications you have provided. It does help me understand your problem better.
I do have one follow up question for you though - Was the sigmoidectomy done by open surgery or laproscopic technique? And (as I suspect) was the bowel anastomosis done using a stapler?
Please get back to me with this and we will discuss your problem
Dr Suresh Raghavaiah
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Hello Dr
It was open surgery and completed using a stapler.
thank you
It was open surgery and completed using a stapler.
thank you
Brief Answer:
Possible side effect of Stretching
Detailed Answer:
Hello again Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you for your patience in answering all my questions. I believe I might have the reason why you are having incontinence to flatus.
It could be related to the surgery. When a lower intestine like the sigmoid is resected, to restore bowel continuity it becomes really difficult to work deep down in the pelvis. Modern day staplers have come to the rescue of the surgeon and made our lives easy. I am sure that the surgeon used a circular stapler to anastomose your intestine to the rectum after the sigmoid colon resection. During this procedure the stapler is inserted through the anal canal and rectum and then fired to attach the upper intestine. The problem here is, the diameter of the stapler is bigger than the diameter of the anal sphincter. So to insert the stapler through the lower end, the surgeon has to stretch and dilate the anal sphincter. This is the normal practice and also used during stapled haemorrhoidectomies. Stretching of the sphincter usually causes weakness of the sphincter. The most common side effect of the weakness is incontinence to gas and occasssionally liquid stool.
I believe you are having this. I would suggest you to start performing some sphincter strengthening exercises (Kegel exercises). This has helped a lot many of my patients to recover sphincter tone. I would also advise you to pass stools at regular intervals and also avoid beans from your diet till you feel better. Activated charcoal tablets are available (Gasex) which when taken help absorb the excess gas in your intestine.
Hope this helped and hope you get to feel better soon. Please do not hesitate to ask for any further clarifications.
have a great day
Dr Suresh
Possible side effect of Stretching
Detailed Answer:
Hello again Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you for your patience in answering all my questions. I believe I might have the reason why you are having incontinence to flatus.
It could be related to the surgery. When a lower intestine like the sigmoid is resected, to restore bowel continuity it becomes really difficult to work deep down in the pelvis. Modern day staplers have come to the rescue of the surgeon and made our lives easy. I am sure that the surgeon used a circular stapler to anastomose your intestine to the rectum after the sigmoid colon resection. During this procedure the stapler is inserted through the anal canal and rectum and then fired to attach the upper intestine. The problem here is, the diameter of the stapler is bigger than the diameter of the anal sphincter. So to insert the stapler through the lower end, the surgeon has to stretch and dilate the anal sphincter. This is the normal practice and also used during stapled haemorrhoidectomies. Stretching of the sphincter usually causes weakness of the sphincter. The most common side effect of the weakness is incontinence to gas and occasssionally liquid stool.
I believe you are having this. I would suggest you to start performing some sphincter strengthening exercises (Kegel exercises). This has helped a lot many of my patients to recover sphincter tone. I would also advise you to pass stools at regular intervals and also avoid beans from your diet till you feel better. Activated charcoal tablets are available (Gasex) which when taken help absorb the excess gas in your intestine.
Hope this helped and hope you get to feel better soon. Please do not hesitate to ask for any further clarifications.
have a great day
Dr Suresh
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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