Growing up I was always very thin and in shape.  I played tennis, ran long distance and worked out all the time.  I even competed in beauty pageants.  I never had any weight issues and I was told all the time how beautiful I was. I have never really believed that and I still don't, but that is what people would say to me.   I got married very young and after 8 years of marriage my husband left me and our two children. I was fine for awhile, but then the depression set in and I was in a twenty plus year funk.  I quit running, playing tennis, working out and decided I was going to die and then see how he likes it.  Well, unfortunately I found out he really didn't care. Many years passed and I kept getting heavier and heavier. 

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Q:

I had gastric bypass - and I am so gassy some days I just can't stand it.  Is this normal?  Is there anything I can take to help?  Gas X doesn't do much.

A:

Some patients have the complaint and embarrassment of gas after surgery.  Others do not.  I recommend you start with a food journal- and see if there are any "suspect items" in your diet that may cause the problem.  Some patients notice with certain dairy products they have more GI complaints.  Another thing I advocate is the use of daily probiotic supplements.  These natural organisms can help with healthy intestinal flora (organisms) and may alleviate embarrassing gas.   Another benefit from probiotics (in recent studies) is potential improved weight loss.  

If trying these suggestions does not improve your symptoms please call to schedule a follow up appointment and determine if there may be more serious concerns- such as Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) which would require a referral to a gastroenterologist for evaluation and treatment.

You can email your questions to Laurie directly at Ask The Expert. If you have a private question or problem that needs immediate attention, please call the office at 775-326-9152. 

You've heard it time and again -- to lose weight, you need to exercise and watch your diet, so that your calories burned exceed your calories consumed.

But if you've been working out and your extra pounds won't budge, you may be wondering why that seemingly simple strategy isn't working.

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