Question: I have a chronic problem with 'flatuence.' I am always passing gas. (My sister has the same problem). I am a Catholic Priest, 58 years old, in fairly good health. I sometimes have IBS Systems (
constipation versus
diarrhea). But the biggest problem is that I am "farting" 60-70 times a day. It is really embarrassing because they are smelly, silent or loud and it has been a problem for years. I have been to a GI Doctor in the last year who did a
colonoscopy and an
endoscopy and found nothing out of the normal. I have tried those 180 mg tablets of
simethicone taking up to 10 a day (no change) and other over the counter gas remedies (no change). I cut out aspertermine (arficial sweeteners) no change. I do have
neurofibromatosis type 1. I have had malignant tumors in my chest, lungs, heart area and had a
thoracotomy two years ago that was a large malignant nf type 1. I have a PET scan every 6 months, and total spine, neck, brain and thoracic MRI's every 8 months to make sure the NFs have not degenerated (again) to a malignant state. There are no NF-1s in my abdomen that could be causing this.
What should I do about all this passing gas and the embarrassing farting? Sometimes when I do pass gas, I loose control of my spinster and end up having an accident (loose uncontrollable stools come out) and it is a real mess.