[2muchgas]

I went to the doctor that did the Solesta Procedure and he said that my gas issue is due to an overgrowth of bad bacteria. He gave me Amitiza, Florastor (one of the few probiotics that has worked for me), and about 2 weeks worth of 550 mg Xifaxan (aka Rifaximin). He wants me to do Rifaximin for one or two weeks and then the probiotic for one week. Then he said since my dad had colon cancer it would be a good idea to get a colonoscopy. So I made the appointment on the 29th.

I'm currently on week 3 of the regimen and my gas has decreased by about 50% but I still have leaky gas/FBO. :-(

[anmegrl]

Interesting new cure. That's one way to fight the good fight and actually win (for the time being.) Decided to drop in for new years to see what's going on and of course had to check this forum. Too bad some people were against you, cristhmart but much thanks for the information. If I was here I would have defended you

Having been a member off and on since '99, you read so many suggestions and "cures" from people and they're usually re-imagined, re-packaged versions of the same old advice that's been kicked around for forever. Nice to see something new and cutting edge for a change. Hope you keep us updated and don't let anyone discourage you from posting. It'd be nice if diet and toilet habits cured LG but, as of yet, no one really knows what the cause is and the symptoms are so various you can't rely on any particular method to provide similar results for most (or even just some) sufferers. Sometimes you just need to try everything - and then try it again - just to be sure you've done all you can do.

Good luck.

[puma]

Where can i get this operation done in England? and does anyone know how much it will cost? My Ibs is constant constipation with the worst leaky gas, i've tryed low food map diets, charcoal tablets and nullo and nothing has cured it. I'm paranoid of leaving the house, constantly on my mind, i cant stop thinking about smelling, my friends avoid me and my girlfriend left me. Everyone at work stays well clear of me and i'm at breaking point, i really want to leave but i wont cope financially.

[purica]

Cristhmart, thanks for sharing this possible cure for us! Do you completely cure now and back to your normal life? Did anyone else try this and succeed? Could you give me some update, I really want to get rid of this awful disease and get back to my normal life. Plz if anyone tried it, share with us. If this is the cure to leaky gas, I would rather pay air ticket and everything to get this operation.

[2muchgas]

I was told by my Gastro that the Solesta procedure is for people that have fecal incontinence, and he said he strongly does not recommend it for people that have excessive gas or leaky gas. Then he mentioned that my condition may worsen if he did the procedure on me. He said the next thing to do is another cycle of antibiotics - Rifaximin, followed by probiotics - Florastor and he'll see me in 3 months.

I'm currently on the Low Fodmap Diet, Gas-x, Colace, Florastor, Rifaximin, Ativan for Anxiety, Digest Gold, and Kefir almost every morning (I always get a very good bowel movement after drinking that stuff). Right now, I'm about 25% better than where I was in December.

[anmegrl]

Not to second guess your doctor 2much but doesn't sound right that he's making you take antibiotic after antibiotic. Does he think you have SIBO with all that rifaximin? Did he even test you for it or is he guessing - like too many gastro docs are doing with regards to IBS and anything else they don't understand? Do you have excess gas or just emit odor without sensation throughout the day - do you feel gas pressure in your lower intestine? The more I read your past posts the more it sounds like this guy is a ND, not an MD. Or could be an MD since he's trying to give you the brush off. Take antibiotics and I'll see you in 3 months. Idiot!! I hope he gets something incurable or very difficult to cure and unpopular and is told the exact same thing so he can see how it feels.

I'd call up someone else and get a second opinion. Also if calling someone else, take mmx's advice and say you think you have a mild flatus incontinence or that resting pressure in your rectum is low so an odor emits there often (meaning it may not be "gas" leaking out but that there is a weak seal allowing internal odor to come out). If you don't need a referral, contact a colorectal surgeon or a general surgeon with colon/rectal experience directly. I've done that twice in the past with no difficulties. They will at least take you more seriously.

@purica - a couple of people here are getting this procedure done in the next week or so. They'll probably post results on a different thread.

[cristhmart]

Although the procedure seems to be helpful, it is always necessary to keep on diet. This is definately a seal problem, but the core problem seems to be the colon get deformed making imposible to keep the sealing, specially during the inflamatory process. In my case, low fat diet seems to be working.

[2muchgas]

anmegrl, on 02 February 2012 - 11:47 PM, said:

Not to second guess your doctor 2much but doesn't sound right that he's making you take antibiotic after antibiotic. Does he think you have SIBO with all that rifaximin? Did he even test you for it or is he guessing - like too many gastro docs are doing with regards to IBS and anything else they don't understand? Do you have excess gas or just emit odor without sensation throughout the day - do you feel gas pressure in your lower intestine? The more I read your past posts the more it sounds like this guy is a ND, not an MD. Or could be an MD since he's trying to give you the brush off. Take antibiotics and I'll see you in 3 months. Idiot!! I hope he gets something incurable or very difficult to cure and unpopular and is told the exact same thing so he can see how it feels.

I'd call up someone else and get a second opinion. Also if calling someone else, take mmx's advice and say you think you have a mild flatus incontinence or that resting pressure in your rectum is low so an odor emits there often (meaning it may not be "gas" leaking out but that there is a weak seal allowing internal odor to come out). If you don't need a referral, contact a colorectal surgeon or a general surgeon with colon/rectal experience directly. I've done that twice in the past with no difficulties. They will at least take you more seriously.

@purica - a couple of people here are getting this procedure done in the next week or so. They'll probably post results on a different thread.

Last year, I went to the Mayo Clinic - arguably the best hospital in the U.S. - and my Harvard trained doctor said I had SIBO and I should use Rifaximin. However, I told her no because I read some horror stories about antibiotics. So she referred me to a nutritionist, psychiatrist - to better cope with my condition, allergist, biofeedback therapist, and a lot of tests in the anal region; which came back "normal".

I saw some improvement however I still had the leaky gas and occasional FBO.. Then my insurance ran out in April 2011, and I no longer could afford and go to the Mayo Clinic. Fast forward to December 2011, I was in bad shape and I just received new health insurance. Decided to go to a doctor that actually does the Solesta procedure and he said basically the same thing as the Mayo Clinic doctor - Take Rifaximin. However, he said that I must use probiotics and so I went along with it.

There was someone in this forum that said he went through 5 cycles of Rifaximin and it "cured" him, and I'm on cycle number 2 (with probiotics) and I'm alot better than where I was in December. Also I've drastically changed my diet, increased my water intake, exercise more often and I get at least 2 bowel movements a day.

As for a colorectal surgeon, I went to one in January and he said I had a "Thrombosis Hemorroid" and as for the leaky gas, he recommended kegels. But I'll check out another colorectal surgeon and see what he/she says.

[anmegrl]

okay give it a try. I know some people here have been cured of SIBO and others haven't no matter how many times the took Rifaximin. And of course yellow just posted that he's cured of SIBO but still has odor.

I like to attack as many fronts as possible but if you feel it is SIBO then just concentrate on that.

@cristhmart, thanks for updating.

[varma]

Thank you soomuch cristhmart. Now there is a hope for me. Anyone knows the best doctor in singapore to administer solesta.

[westr]

varma, on 11 February 2012 - 04:41 AM, said:

Thank you soomuch cristhmart. Now there is a hope for me. Anyone knows the best doctor in singapore to administer solesta.

that was a pub quiz question last night

[NewUser2012]

cristhmart, on 14 November 2011 - 06:08 PM, said:

No pain at all, just small uncomfortable bowel movements (sometimes constipation, sometimes diarrhea I think now were more related with diet changes) and normal bowel noises in the past. In fact, one gastroenterologist suggested a year and half ago the noises were a good signal of healthy bowels. I’m not suggesting all the “IBS cases” are equal to mine, but I’m almost sure every symptom involving LG/FBO is related with anal sealing problems. Off course, I’m just a patient and for me was very difficult to convince any doctor about my symptoms like everyone else. Now I’m here trying to bring good news to everyone but I’m not very willing to pass through the same experience trying to convince other sufferers that I was in fact ill or I am cured yet.

I got my surgery maybe because I happened to visit a colleague and friend of the current surgeon after not finding any help from this one (nor from three other gastroenterologists, nor from one allergologist, nor from one infectious disease specialist, nor from one bacteriologist, nor from one internist). I sent a desperate e-mail to the second coloproctologist complaining about the distrust in my history by any physician, including his colleague/friend and himself and demanding a surgery for one of my two diverticulous found by the first gastroenterologist who assisted me. I think this two people chat between them and then came out with this solution which is the standard solution for wind incontinence.

I am not pretending anyone suffering from LG/FBO came to my country (Venezuela) to undergo surgery with my doctor, but I think it will be easier for anyone to make a better choice knowing this precedence exist and it is real.

What was the surgery to remove your diverticuli? What were your symptoms of diverticuli and did they have anything to do with your leaky gas?