[ms flib]

My DH has always had flatulence and he hates it if I complain. He's really bad at the moment but just won't even try to do anything about it. Even the kids have been complaining.

Any ideas?

[Paddlepop]

Does he have any food intolerances eg dairy, gluten? I have intolerances and those farts could be classed as biological warfare or at least a toxic substance.

Does he eat a lot of onion/cabbage/other stinky vegies? Reduce them if necessary.

Does he have healthy regular bowel movements, or could he be constipated, meaning the food is staying in his gut for longer and getting smellier? If he is constipated get him to increase his fluids, fibre and exercise to get things moving and hopefully smelling better.

What about charcoal tablets? I think that they help to reduce the smell.

I think that beer can also make some people quite smelly.

Otherwise, get him to go outside or at least into a different room if he feels the fart coming so at least you don't have to suffer as much of the smell. I say this as the younger sister of two older brothers and a father who could fart and burp like champions.

[Roselet]

What has changed recently to make it worse than usual? Is he the kind of person you can get to see a doctor as it could be a symptom of actual ill health. Would you be able to ask about whether there have been any issues with bowel habits etc, (or have you noticed any such evidence - no man I know is any good at cleaning the bowl when they've made a mess so it's always evident when there is a gastro problem).
TBH, there isn't a great deal one can do about bad wind - I have asked doctors for remedies as I have a bit of a problem with it due to a chronic bowel disease and the best I've ever been offered is to take charcoal tablets (not suitable long term as they absorb nutrients from your food and prevent the body taking them up properly), or peppermint tablets (not sure how effective they are or if tehy just mask the smell), nothing that actually gets rid of the gas. There are underpants with charcoal filters but I don't like the idea of them, and if he is in denial I don't like your chances of getting him to use them. I find my wind is worse before a bowel motion, so making sure there is enough fibre in his diet should help make that more frequent, thus improving the wind. I swear by benefibre - easy and unnoticeable in the first coffee of the day. (One mum I know sneaks it into her son's juice and he is none the wiser.)
Other options to manage the smell. A flame will burn the smelly gas, so if you like candles, and there aren't kids young enough to be at risk of burns then you can have a candle in whichever room he tends to let them off. Or train him to light a match after using the loo for example. My DH is quite considerate about leaving the room to pass wind normally, so it isn't so in your face, when I'm having a particularly bad day I'll find lots of excuses to go outside and try to get rid of them while i'm in the open.
Hope this is of some use.

[Paddlepop]

I just had another thought: is your DH eating any low sugar/no sugar products like weight loss bars or chewing gum? Most of them will contain alcohol sugars like mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol etc and they can cause upset tummies. I think that chewing gum has a warning about excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Some medications and tablets also contain these, like chewable antacids. I think that nicotine replacement gums and tablets contain them too. Might be worth checking some labels, then avoiding those products for a few days and seeing if the smell improves.

[WinterDancesHere]

I just had another thought: is your DH eating any low sugar/no sugar products like weight loss bars or chewing gum? Most of them will contain alcohol sugars like mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol etc and they can cause upset tummies. I think that chewing gum has a warning about excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Some medications and tablets also contain these, like chewable antacids. I think that nicotine replacement gums and tablets contain them too. Might be worth checking some labels, then avoiding those products for a few days and seeing if the smell improves.

I second this. I am sensitive to alcohol sugars and have had to switch to a natural toothpaste as even the amount I absorbed brushing my teeth my enough to give me (way tmi) major gas issues, and a single piece of gum or a mint will have me in pain and diareah (sp?)

[Bart.]

He could also be eating too much meat. Eating red meat more than three times a week has been proven to increase your chances of bowel cancer dramatically and fish shown to decrease your chances [1]. Try for at least three vegetarian dinners each week and where possible, throw in some psyllium husks, chia, flaxseed (which have little flavour) to add lots of natural fibre. Quinoa and polenta all make great, filling meals and are really good for you.

Personally, I go atomic if I eat more than a small serving of red meat and avoid it if possible!



[1] http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/...on-cancer.shtml

[countrymel]

I've had my gallbladder removed and my farts are utterly repellent and frequent!

It is something to do with missing that digestive assistance that the bile your GB produced.


Anyway - there is nothing I can do about it, and when DP carries on (even if he is 'semi joking') it makes me feel totally disgusting and utterly repulsive.

Can you raise the issue with your husband without making him feel like the 'disgusting smells like poo man'?

As in address the issue because you are worried about HIS health, not carry on that YOU don't like it.

I imagine you will get a less defensive response.

[Roselet]

Totally agree with Country Mel. It's embarassing when you know you smell and can literally not do anything to prevent it. When your most loved one is rude about it it makes you feel like poo. So whatever you end up doing about it, please be gentle to him.

[ms flib]

I tend not to say anything but I can't stop the kids. I am not being mean to him.

We do not eat meat nor do we eat too many fart producing legumes. He drinks soy instead of dairy. He's very fit and at a good weight for his size and is not using any low sugar foods.

I suggested he try some probiotics - we have some in the fridge. He probably needs to drink more water.

The main issue is that he's a bloke - and a very nice and fine one - but he's not proactive with his health like I am.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[CheriDeMomie]

Try removing gluten, wheat and yeast - you can buy bread that doesn't have these things in it.

Oh and balance out the protein, so not too much red meat but rather more balance.

This post has been edited by CheriDeMomie: 07/04/2012, 04:49 PM