Husband feels wife’s gas can run a motor home to Sacramento

December 5, 2012 By

Q: I am 75 years young. About 10 years ago I was told I had IBS. It started out with constipation and an ache in my lower left side. Never diarrhea, but a lot of gas.

I take magnesium capsules for constipation which has helped that. The side ache I can live with but the gas is driving me crazy. It is a lot worse in the PM. I have taken everything they sell over the counter plus some prescription medication but nothing helps. Is there anything that will counteract flatulence? It is real bad and real strong. As my husband once said, I have enough gas to run my motor home to Sacramento and back. Can you help?
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What are changes in bowel habits exactly?

October 2, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: What defines “changes in bowel habits”? Is there anything beyond the typical having frequent diarrhea or constipation? I am a 52-year-old women who seems to have trouble completing a bowel movement at one time therefore leading to two or more in one day.

DEAR READER: “Changes in bowel habits” refers to any change from what is normal. Normal can range from three times a day to three times a week and each person is different. What’s normal for me may not be normal for you.
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Is iridology a scam?

September 24, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 78-year-female, 4′ 10” and 102 pounds. About three summers ago I had a CT scan and colonoscopy for lower abdominal pain and bouts of constipation and diarrhea. Both were negative. I was told it was probably irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to take fiber pills and milk of magnesia when needed. I also take Losartan-HCTZ, Ambien, and am on a Fenanyl patch for arthritis pain.

I heard about an herb, L. acidophilus, which I tried without any relief. When I called the herb shop, they wanted me to come in for iridology. I was told they could look into my eyes and see what was going on in there. Is this just another scam? I don’t see how looking into the eyes could tell you what is going on in the colon. The man who does this has an ND after his name but I don’t know what that means.
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Was Fleet prep recalled?

September 15, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing with the hope that you will be able to give me some very important information on the matter of an FDA medical recall for fleet soda.

First, please let me say that I was advised that some time between March and April of 2010 this medication was removed by the FDA due to the fact that it was associated with giving people either liver or kidney disease. I had used this prior to having some gastric operations for about five years. My latest dose was taken about February 28, 2010 so I need to know whether or not it is still barred from usage.
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Magnesium may help constipation

July 6, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a male of 67 in reasonably good health. For some years I had constipation and stomach cramping. There were several diagnoses of IBS. The usual fixes were tried but only helped a bit and not for long.

Last year my primary care physician suggested I try magnesium tablets. These are sold as dietary supplements, but not specifically for my problem. I gave it a try, which involved several dosage adjustments.

For almost a year I’ve been essentially free of constipation and cramping. I take a 500 mg. Magnesium tablet with breakfast and again with supper. My stools are often soft but that seems a small price to pay for living pain free.
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Constipation and RLS, a frustrating combination

April 6, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 76-year-old female with RLS for many years. The symptoms have increased in the past 10 years. It begins about two hours after supper and I must walk for some relief. Then it continues (many times with jerking) when I go to bed so I have to get up and walk. I average about four to five hours of sleep every night and don’t nap during the day. I have been on the low-dose generic drug for Mirapex for several years. It worked very well for about seven to eight months, then started lessening.

I now suspect that my ongoing constipation problem, which has increased with aging, is the cause of my RLS. My primary care doctor disagrees but the RLS symptoms seem related to my difficulty with having bowel movements, especially since they occur mostly after supper. Have any studies been done on that possibility?
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EVOO fights constipation

October 29, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been reading your column for a while now. I am an 80-year-old woman who has been suffering with constipation for a long time.

I started taking extra virgin olive oil, two tablespoons in the morning and one at bedtime. I immediately noticed a change the very next day. This has helped me tremendously as I have tried so many over-the-counter products and prescriptions to no avail.

I would like you to share this with your readers.

DEAR READER: And share it I will.
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What kind of bran?

July 13, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have checked Kroger, Wal-Mart and Meijer for bran to make your colon cocktail. All they had was oat bran or rice bran. Are these acceptable for the cocktail of prune juice and applesauce?

DEAR READER: There are several forms of bran, including oat, rice, wheat, corn, barley and millet. I suggest you look in the cereal isle of your local grocery to find All-Bran or other labels that list bran as the initial ingredient.
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Fighting constipation naturally

May 27, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I was so happy to see your colon-cocktail ingredients in print, as I have a real problem with constipation. Do you have other ways to stop this annoyance?

DEAR READER: The gastrointestinal tract slows as we age, with dietary and lifestyle changes often being to blame. For example, it is often far easier to eat a frozen dinner or a prepared meal that may be nutritious but that may lack the necessary fiber to keep you regular. Or your previous, faster pace of daily living might be slowed, so you don’t exercise as much as you once did. Both scenarios can lead to constipation. Perhaps a diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and unprocessed bran, an increase in the amount of fluids you consume daily and moderate exercise will get you back on track quickly. [Read more…]

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Where to get bran

April 16, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: In a recent article on constipation, you listed bran as one ingredient in your remedy. I know what bran is, but where can I buy it? I have been unable to find it in any store, nor have any clerks heard of such a product.

DEAR READER: To the best of my knowledge, products such as Kellogg’s All-Bran, Quaker Oat Bran and many others are available in the cereal aisle of most grocery stores. Bran by itself may be beneficial, so if you buy muffins, waffles and other products, be sure to read labels because many commercial oat- and wheat-bran products contain a minimal amount of bran but lots of sodium and fat. Furthermore, oat-bran fiber can lower the absorption of statin medications prescribed for lowering cholesterol.

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