So we've been to the doctor. He's had issues with constipation in the past. Have done a miralax flush. Last doctor visit they ruled out food allergies as he doesn't have the symptoms associated - no pain, no diarrhea, no cramps, nothing like that.
I'm waiting on a referral to a gastroenterologist to try to figure this out.
Apparently he became very gassy after the Thaksgiving holiday and it hasn't improved. There was no issue from August - November. There's been no change in his diet that would have set this off. We moved into the area in July.
He's turning 11 this month. I don't know if puberty can do this or what. He's on the autism spectrum, and I've heard that sometimes the gastro system can be slow... but there's not much info out there.
Has anyone had this happen? Any thoughts?
In addition to the whole "what's going on, this isn't normal, no other kid is having this issue" thing, there's the social challenge of becoming the stinky kid. His teachers are great - he's allowed to use the bathroom or excuse himself to the hallway when there's a need.
I read an article that said activated charcoal takes the smell out of gas. It comes in polls, capsules and food grade powder. It also has other digestive benefits as well.
One thing to try is yogurt with active cultures. Probiotics can work wonders for a number of digestive issues and I have a relative with a son who has Aspergers and she honestly thinks this has helped his condition.
well, there are healthy gassy foods, and some that are less so. i love me some dairy, but wow, went dairy free for a month and was amazed at how even pretty normal gassiness just went away!
i'm guessing you've tried the usual fixes? probiotics, gas-X, stool softeners and so forth?
it IS a social problem for sure. farting is healthy to a certain extent, but when the smell is frequent and noticeable it is bound to be noticed. super glad you and his teachers have found a quiet way for him to cope at school. also that you have an appointment with a gastro doc.
beyond that i have no help, but good for you for being proactive. hope it resolves soon.
khairete
S.
If the only screening he's done for allergies is symptoms, then you haven't done enough. Excessive gas is a classic symptom of celiac, and he needs to be tested, whether or not he has diarrhea, cramps, or anything else. The doctor works for you - you demand the tests, even if they downplay your concerns.
Have you done a food log?
You just keep track of what he eats - also when he's gassy, constipated, his BM's, etc. then you look for patterns. You take this with you to your GI specialist appointment.
Constipation and gas often go together.
Keep in mind, if he's constipated, gas trapped can be very foul smelling. Up the fiber, water and physical exercise.
One of my kids developed a lactose intolerance as a tween. Gas was the telling sign.
We removed milk. Immediate improvement. We didn't need to do the log. Didn't have pain or cramps - likely because didn't drink milk and didn't eat enough for it to cause distress. Just had gas - and thankfully not enough to become a problem at school. I noticed it at home just because it really kicked up a notch as a tween. Also didn't have loose stools unless had a lot of dairy which wasn't the norm.
Kids that age don't usually tell mom about their bathroom habits so it can be hard to chart this stuff or keep track. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. If you've got quite a wait until you see the GI specialist, I would recommend tracking it as best you can and seeing if you notice patterns though. You can Google a list of common gas producing foods/drinks and see if any of those are the culprits too.
Maybe his doctor already recommended you try some of those methods. Keep us posted :)
Gas actually means your digestive system is pretty much working. Some things, such as beans, create more gas.
My son and his wife and daughter are Vegans, they all pass gas constantly due to digesting all the veggies they eat. They are so used to it as being normal, they dont even think twice about it. My granddaughter will be 10 in July, and you are not gonna tell her to stop "tooting".
If it's not causing him pain, let him feel "free" to digest noisily. Farts are really "everyone elses" problem.
It's good you are checking it out with a doctor.
Every so often - we all get times when we seem more gassy than at other times.
I'm not sure what causes it - but for us it goes away again eventually.
What we do is have some activated charcoal on hand.
When it pops up - we take a dose of activated charcoal once a day for a few days and that takes the stink out of it.
You still pass gas but there's no smell and no one can tell unless you happen to fart loudly.
It's discouraging that your son has had this issue last for several months.
You can try probiotics, more fiber, prune juice, always drink plenty of water, etc if the doctor says it's alright to try.
Talk to your doctor about the activated charcoal too.
https://flatulencecures.com/wp-content/cache/all/what-is-...
Can you tell us something about his eating habits (what foods and drinks he consumes, does he eat at the table or is he the type to eat in the car or lying down on a sofa, for example)?
Does he eat or drink anything (gum, soft drinks, candies, milk, etc) that is labeled sugar-free, diet, no sugar, etc? Often those sugar-free or sugarless foods contain xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, or aspertame or splenda, and in some people, those additives can wreak digestive havoc.
Consider evaluating what he eats (keep a food log as was wisely suggested). If he eats fast food or frozen food or convenience food, consider switching to pure real foods.
Also, how were allergies ruled out? Simply by symptoms, or did he have allergy testing (blood tests, patch tests, etc)?
Does he use the bathroom regularly, or is he the type of kid who won't stop playing a video game or who is socially anxious or who is forgetful and may not sit on the toilet for long enough or regularly enough?
My dd has been to numerous GI specialists for a specific reason, but they always include the same message as a general info kind of thing. Drink enough plain water, have a schedule for using the toilet, sit on it properly (those little step stools that they sell that boost your feet up while on the toilet are actually a good thing), and eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
