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Suggest Treatment For Body Aches, Headache, Nausea, Fatigue, Stomach Pain While Passing Gas And Continuous Flatulence
Question: I have had flu symptoms for 2 days, the body aches, headache, nausea, very tired, but I also have bad stomach pains, like gas pains, and am passing gas continually. No diarrhea, normal bowel movement, but the gas pains are becoming more often. I'm taking Gas X which has usually helped me in the past with IBS.
Brief Answer:
Diet and Gaz-X in combination with activated charcoal, and magnesium oxide
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Viral respiratory infections (common cold or flu) may cause abdominal bloating and distension especially in a person with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Gaz-X (simethicone) helps to clear excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract. But the mechanism for viral respiratory infections is both excessive gas production and altered gas clearance from the gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore the management of abdominal bloating should target both gas production and the clearance:
To decrease gas production try to drink plenty of water (which also helps flu symptoms), avoid any carbonated drinks or artificial sweeteners and eat food that contains more fiber (fruits, vegetables) but certain fiber may make bloating worse such as wheat fiber. Kiwi fruits were found to help with abdominal bloating. Also to eliminate sugars from your diet.
Gaz-X in combination with activated charcoal and magnesium oxide may better relief bloating compared Gaz-X alone (combination medicine called carbosymag).
Please note, viral respiratory infections usually worsen in 3rd to 5th days of the disease (as well as GI problems) then the symptoms subside gradually as you recover.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you
Diet and Gaz-X in combination with activated charcoal, and magnesium oxide
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Viral respiratory infections (common cold or flu) may cause abdominal bloating and distension especially in a person with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Gaz-X (simethicone) helps to clear excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract. But the mechanism for viral respiratory infections is both excessive gas production and altered gas clearance from the gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore the management of abdominal bloating should target both gas production and the clearance:
To decrease gas production try to drink plenty of water (which also helps flu symptoms), avoid any carbonated drinks or artificial sweeteners and eat food that contains more fiber (fruits, vegetables) but certain fiber may make bloating worse such as wheat fiber. Kiwi fruits were found to help with abdominal bloating. Also to eliminate sugars from your diet.
Gaz-X in combination with activated charcoal and magnesium oxide may better relief bloating compared Gaz-X alone (combination medicine called carbosymag).
Please note, viral respiratory infections usually worsen in 3rd to 5th days of the disease (as well as GI problems) then the symptoms subside gradually as you recover.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for you advise. I'm hoping it will subside soon, its been 3 days now.
But can you tell me what foods I should be eating? Is it true bananas applesauce rice toast is helpful? And what foods should I avoid?
But can you tell me what foods I should be eating? Is it true bananas applesauce rice toast is helpful? And what foods should I avoid?
Brief Answer:
FODMAP diet is recommended for IBS
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow-up.
Eating bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast is called BRAT diet. It is mostly recommended for children with diarrhea. The most recommended diet for irritable bowel syndrome is FODMAP. It stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides (galactooligosaccharides), Disaccharides (lactose), Monosaccharides (fructose) And Polyols (mannitol or sorbitol). Foods containing these substances are not absorbed in the gut causing the build-up of gas and fluids and should be avoided.
To follow FODMAP diet try to limit the intake of the following foods:
Fructose-containing fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries, mangoes, watermelon. Any beverages containing sweeteners or syrup.
Lactose-containing products such as yogurt, ice cream, cow milk, cheese, and pudding.
Fructans containing vegetables: garlic, onions, grains ( wheat or rye), brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus.
Galacto-oligosaccharides: kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, and soy products
Polyols containing fruits, vegetables, and products: apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, watermelon, mushrooms, cauliflower, sweeteners (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, and isomalt), sugar-free gum and mints, cough medicines
The following foods can be taken in high amount:
Dairy products: coconut milk, rice milk, lactose-free milk, almond milk, lactose-free yogurt; hard cheeses such as feta and brie
Fruits: bananas, blueberries, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime, oranges, honeydew and strawberries
Vegetables: Bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, carrots, chives, cucumbers, eggplant, ginger, lettuce, olives, parsnips, potatoes, spring onions, and turnips
Protein containing products: chicken, beef, pork, fish, eggs, and tofu
Nuts and seeds: Almonds, macadamia, peanuts, pine nuts and walnuts (these products are advised to limit to 10-15 each)
Grains: Oat, oat bran rice bran gluten-free pasta, such as rice, corn, white rice, corn flour
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you
FODMAP diet is recommended for IBS
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow-up.
Eating bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast is called BRAT diet. It is mostly recommended for children with diarrhea. The most recommended diet for irritable bowel syndrome is FODMAP. It stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides (galactooligosaccharides), Disaccharides (lactose), Monosaccharides (fructose) And Polyols (mannitol or sorbitol). Foods containing these substances are not absorbed in the gut causing the build-up of gas and fluids and should be avoided.
To follow FODMAP diet try to limit the intake of the following foods:
Fructose-containing fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries, mangoes, watermelon. Any beverages containing sweeteners or syrup.
Lactose-containing products such as yogurt, ice cream, cow milk, cheese, and pudding.
Fructans containing vegetables: garlic, onions, grains ( wheat or rye), brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus.
Galacto-oligosaccharides: kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, and soy products
Polyols containing fruits, vegetables, and products: apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, watermelon, mushrooms, cauliflower, sweeteners (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, and isomalt), sugar-free gum and mints, cough medicines
The following foods can be taken in high amount:
Dairy products: coconut milk, rice milk, lactose-free milk, almond milk, lactose-free yogurt; hard cheeses such as feta and brie
Fruits: bananas, blueberries, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime, oranges, honeydew and strawberries
Vegetables: Bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, carrots, chives, cucumbers, eggplant, ginger, lettuce, olives, parsnips, potatoes, spring onions, and turnips
Protein containing products: chicken, beef, pork, fish, eggs, and tofu
Nuts and seeds: Almonds, macadamia, peanuts, pine nuts and walnuts (these products are advised to limit to 10-15 each)
Grains: Oat, oat bran rice bran gluten-free pasta, such as rice, corn, white rice, corn flour
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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