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What Causes Excessive Flatulence?

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Posted on Wed, 9 Jul 2014
Question: Hello,

I am 39 years old male and I am a bit concern with too much farting. I started noticing this about a year ago.There are times that I fart more frequently but if I try hold it for a while when surrounded by people then It can give some discomfort in my left lower abdomen. I also have bowel movements 3 - 4 times a days, especially after eating. If don't then the pressure in the lower left side of my abdomen will be uncomfortable. So, I have to sit and try to have a bowel movement. The consistency of my stool is ok. sometimes it is soft but formed. I also feel this more when I am tense or stressed but sometimes even if am just watching a movie, I have to leave the theater just to fart or it will be uncomfortable again in my left side. I have read Candida may cause this problem or irritable bowel syndrome, I hope it is not something serious. What do you think is the next step for me?

Hope you can help me better understand this doc. Thanks

See doc, I feel nervous while writing my question. I had bowel movement earlier about 45 minutes ago but now I started farting again. I went to the toilet and just had some bowel movement again. It is not much but its softer as compared than my first BM today. I hope this is just caused by my anxiety or fear of the unknown or fear of colon cancer. I heard people with colon cancer fart a lot too.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Diet is the key

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

The most probable reason of your digestive problems is diet and bacterial problem. Please note that intestines are covered with good bacteria which protect us against bad bacteria. If there is a problem with good bacteria, the bad bacteria start growing. Gas is mostly produced by bacteria (the bad bacteria can produce more of it). Moreover diet has also great impact to gas production. Please note that some products (like sugar rich or protein rich) stimulate gas production by this bacteria.
Here is what you should do:
- improve your diet (increase fiber rich products, mineral water intake, avoid sweets, soft drinks, chocolate, fruit juices, fatty foods)
- start probiotic intake

If it wont help, next step is a stool test.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (19 minutes later)
I don't drink soda, avoided concentrated sweets and chocolates. I eat plenty of bananas, but I regularly drink orange juices. I am also not a fan of fast or processed foods. but I will start taking probiotics doctor.

You mentioned of stool test doc. That is to rule out what?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
Stool test is to see if there is any blood in stool, leukocytes, bacteria. Generally it will tell if there is any infection and in case of blood in the stool, colonoscopy will be done.
Please try to decrease bananas intake. Banana causes constipation and can cause some digestive problems.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (11 hours later)
Yes, I will do that doc. Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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What Causes Excessive Flatulence?

Brief Answer: Diet is the key Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. The most probable reason of your digestive problems is diet and bacterial problem. Please note that intestines are covered with good bacteria which protect us against bad bacteria. If there is a problem with good bacteria, the bad bacteria start growing. Gas is mostly produced by bacteria (the bad bacteria can produce more of it). Moreover diet has also great impact to gas production. Please note that some products (like sugar rich or protein rich) stimulate gas production by this bacteria. Here is what you should do: - improve your diet (increase fiber rich products, mineral water intake, avoid sweets, soft drinks, chocolate, fruit juices, fatty foods) - start probiotic intake If it wont help, next step is a stool test. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.