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[creedo23]

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Alright, I'm trying to figure oout where leaky gas comes from but no one really seems to know. Like it's obviously little amounts of gas that are passing freely, but some people say that complete evacs help, when really you can't completely evacuate your self because it takes 20-30 hours for food that you can tolerate to digest. I also want to know what kind of reactions you guys get when your LG is kicking in. Do people always say something or is it actions that you assume are a direct result of you?

[anmegrl]

Alright, I'm trying to figure oout where leaky gas comes from but no one really seems to know. Like it's obviously little amounts of gas that are passing freely, but some people say that complete evacs help, when really you can't completely evacuate your self because it takes 20-30 hours for food that you can tolerate to digest. I also want to know what kind of reactions you guys get when your LG is kicking in. Do people always say something or is it actions that you assume are a direct result of you?

You'll just have to read through old posts. Everyone is different and not everyone experiences the same symptoms. I think many rely on other people's reactions although it's not very accurate to judge on that basis. If you have a fan, try some experiments and see if you can smell yourself if blowing air in a certain direction. The time it takes for food to digest has little effect on whether you'll have complete evacuation or not.

[AIRPLANE]

I pretty much know if I have a burning-type sensation then I must smell- usually people at work will say something like 'You can smell it all the way over here' or you hear the word 'gas' a lot. And the bosses usually look at you with an amused look on their faces. The irritated feeling always coincides with the usual comments. I get the same thing when my left-sided vulvodynia acts up- I can feel the irritation but can't smell anything- apparently that smells like gas as well (Of course they are 'somewhat' careful when they say stuff- maybe because you might file for harrassment due to disability though trying to prove what is said would probably be futile- and I suppose some statements might not be considered as harrassment even though they all feel like it!)

[annie7]

sounds like harrassment to me..and yes, of course they are careful about it--they know what they are doing, all right..as far as proving it--do you have witnesses to this who would write up a statement on your behalf? sounds like your fellow employees are as unkind as the supervisors. so sorry you're stuck in such a cruel--hostile--workplace..no one should have to work under these conditions.this is from the eeoc on harassment: "Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information...Offensive conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs.." http://www.eeoc.gov/.../harassment.cfm

[Silent]

Sniffing, coughing, convos cut short, nose rubbing, sneezing...I can usually feel the sensation and see an instant reaction

[AIRPLANE]

sounds like harrassment to me..and yes, of course they are careful about it--they know what they are doing, all right..as far as proving it--do you have witnesses to this who would write up a statement on your behalf? sounds like your fellow employees are as unkind as the supervisors. so sorry you're stuck in such a cruel--hostile--workplace..no one should have to work under these conditions.

Unfortunately, everyone seems to hang together on things like this. It's pretty much a 'boys club' where I work- all of the other employees- except for one- and the supervisors are male. I tried explaining once to the female employee about adhesions and the issues they can cause but get the feeling that it did no good- she wants to be 'one of the boys' and not spoil the fun. They are such hypocrites- one employee recently died from an accident (I felt it was karma because he was not very nice about my condition) and another one is fighting leukemia. They seem so upset and sympathetic if death is or may be involved while at the same time making me feel like I have no right to walk the face of this earth because my condition isn't fatal. Nobody would speak up on my behalf. And there are 2 supervisors who obviously don't have enough to do- they sit around playing loud music and gossiping about people while 3 or 4 of us work yet they are cutting more of our jobs.A few years ago there was an employee at this location who suffered from depression- I didn't work there at the time. I met him once and he was very nice. He committed suicide and while he had depression issues I can't help but wonder if the hostile work environment could have played a role in that. I got the impression from another employee that people made fun of him because he was somewhat hyper.I have thought about the agency's Employee Assistance Program but then I figure they work for the company so what help would they be. Plus, as many of us here know, our health isues and the stuff that goes with them can be hard to discuss, and would it end up in my records which supposedly are private but then one never knows for sure. Don't know what they could do anyway- I'd be willing to take some unpaid leave if it were allowed but of course that could only last so long- at some point I'd owe for insurance and other benefits. I'd much rather retire- even with reduced payments for doing so early. There was talk last year of adding 3 years to an employees length of service but haven't heard anything about it since. I'd still be a couple of years short age-wise and service-wise but at this point I don't care- I want out just like you did! My sanity and personal well-being are also important and at some point assume I could get a more decent, maybe part-time job to supplement.

[annie7]

oh yes i know all about the boys club--pervasive and ongoing where i worked too.and sadly, the suicides. we had a few over the years and one in particular seemed to a number of us to be directly related to the hostile work environment but management just swept it under the rug, inspection service came out to talk to us about eap and "we care"...all the required lip service but nothing changed.and i think you're right about eap--like you said they work for the company and i personally would never trust them to keep the records private.oh and you are so right about the top heavy management. we had that too. they kept cutting the workers' jobs but not the supervisors who, yes, just sat around and gossiped, surfed the net etc etc...i do so wish you could get out of there. all that ongoing stress plays havoc with one's health. i found it such a vast relief to take the early retirement even though of course money is tight now but at least i don't have that oppressive ongoing stress every day. yes, your sanity and well being are of utmost importance. fingers crossed they'll be offering another early out soon maybe even a buyout.

[AIRPLANE]

Annie,Good to know that someone else understands this environment. Today I did speak to another employee who had complained about me to a supervisor while not far away from me- tried to explain about adhesions and what I was doing to try and improve things. Hard to say what good it did- felt that the way things are going I had nothing to lose. I often feel that if something is not fatal, people think you should be able to have control over it and are just making excuses if you don't. I did see him speaking to a supervisor shortly after and then the next time that supervisor came over by me he had his hand covering his face (previously he hadn't done that). Then later in the day when the other craft employees came in, a couple of them were obviously discussing my 'problem'. One of them, who seems to always find something to whine/complain/mouth off about, said 'How much would it take to just walk across the room and use the restroom? How much would that take?!' Obviously he has never heard about anything like Crohn's, IBD, IBS, and of course not Adhesion Related Disorder. Certainly not difficult/incomplete evacuation due to a rectal bulge which I seem to have. Incredibly, a gastro/surgeon I went to a few years ago said something similar- you feel the need, you just go. I should have said well in that case I guess you probably wouldn't see many patients!Yeah... still thinking about the EAP. I went to the site and read about it and they make it sound like it is confidential and that you would meet at some location- I wouldn't have to go the main plant which I want to avoid at all costs. I worked there a few months last year and of course that was a disaster. I haven't had much luck searching online for the appropriate psychologist- I figure some of them would just say the expected things- make a joke of it, explain it to them, don't let it bother you it's not your fault which doesn't work and is not worth paying for. I don't see the gastro until probably April for my colonoscopy- he told me it'd probably only be a couple of weeks. I wanted him to take a look at that left side bulge which is where the main problem currently seems to be. The diet I'm on is working to help me lose weight- which does put pressure on the adhesions and makes it feel like tight rubber bands about to break but it is a slow and painful process. Hard to say if it will get me complete and/or permanent relief but I told him about the diet and he said to stick with it- no wheat/gluten, no dairyor sugar which all might be causing an inflammatory response which in turn would encourage/reinforce adhesions. Pretty dull diet though nice to lose some weight- never could lose weight before so it could very well be inflammatory issues from food- never got blood test results and maybe won't until my colonoscopy.In any case, I need to speak with someone as I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. Obviously, I have to have a job. But I can't stand it that people feel that it is an unfair imposition on them that they have to work in my presence. I don't want to be the source of any problems- I just want to peacefully do my work and go home. I generally don't like attention of any kind- I like to be invisible. But this kind of negative attention is too much. And while I'm in the process of this diet my symptoms are exacerbated- the adhesions are causing my rectum to spasm which means more passing of you-know-what. So a leave of absence would be nice though as I said not sure for how long I could do it financially speaking.

[annie7]

omg can't believe the insensitivity, callousness and cruelty of your fellow employees--but then again i can because we had people like that too. that's truly a toxic workplace that you are forced to deal with. and the gastro/surgeon saying the same thing--"feel the need, just go"--oh would that it would be so simple and of course then we wouldn't be in such misery all the time. and you're right--neither would the gastro docs have as many patients either! what an attitude--and sadly all too common.that's good you researched eap--maybe that would work out. sounds worth a try. and yes you are unfortunately stuck between a rock and a hard place--need the job but no one should have to work under such pernicious conditions--all the harassment and the cruel and hurtful remarks. that kind of thing is so harmful to your health both mentally and physically as well as being detrimental to your production. studies have shown that workplace harassment negatively affects production. that's why it's in management's best interest to put an end to harassing situations--and not encourage them, as the supervisor with his hand over his face is doing.about taking time off--a leave of absence--do you think you could get a doctor's note and take fmla? that way management can't harass you for taking time off--after all fmla is the law. although at our office they still found ways of harassing people out on fmla--so it might cause more problems than it's worth--you're office sounds as bad as mine was/is.. and of course there's the financial side to fmla although maybe you have a lot of sick leave built up? but yes it would be such a welcome relief for you to get out of there for a while and take some time off to rest and hopefully get at least a little bit better. the diet sounds like it's helping--that's great! good for you for finding and trying this diet and sticking to it. good luck to you. i really do hope things get better for you--and quickly. that's such a bad situation you're in. wishing you all the best and feel free to pm me if you want..you truly have my sympathy and empathy.

[AIRPLANE]

Yes, I have wondered about FMLA too though I have heard that my agency has been getting real picky about it- think I heard awhile back that they were no longer accepting the FMLA forms that the Union was using- not sure. However, I know from past experiences with doctors, back when I was having the worst pain and symptoms, my requests for some kind of documentation for work were immediately denied- they scoffed at the idea. It feels like doctors discriminate against people with invisible GI conditions in this regard- probably because we can't prove we're ill even though they 'claim' to believe what you say- hypocrites! I know of so many people with back problems, migraines that get FMLA with no problem. Yet for some reason those of us with these painful, sometimes socially humiliating symptoms are expected to carry on with no assistance. I'd like to know just exactly what determines which patients get assistance like FMLA and which ones don't- just what is the criteria you have to meet or is it solely up to whether a doctor is the sympathetic type? Maybe an attorney is sometimes necessary?That's one reason I keep thinking about a psychologist though hard to say if they'd be any better with agreeing to help with FMLA- it'd be real important to find the right one- somebody who has a lot of experience with issues like ours- and I suppose that could take time and the last thing I feel like doing is going to fruitless appointments- not worth my time, energy and money. This is what a fellow employee suggested to me a few years back. He wondered why in the world didn't I have FMLA and I explained to him that because nothing shows up on tests with our conditions, doctors don't believe we are really sick. He then said I should consider the psychological route because that would be harder to deny. I do have quite a bit of sick leave. Also carried out close to the maximum allowed vacation time at the end of last year but I'm hoping to have much of that at retirement for the extra $$ then.Even if I did get FMLA though I'd have to be careful. There are a few employees who seem to be OK with my issues- they know I'm a good employee who does my fair share of work and appreciate that- but they'd be peeved if I called in sick too much because that makes their job more difficult, especially with the severe job reductions. I'm currently detailed to a specific location while someone is being treated for a serious medical condition. But once I'm back to where I have to work at various locations then I wouldn't care so much though management could get back at me by making me work in that awful nightmare plant facility- I've seen them do that to others who call in sick too much- even if they have FMLA. Heck, I was a very dependable employee for years and they took my job, you know? Kicked me in the face, so to speak.

[anmegrl]

Airplane, check this outhttp://www.bloodbornebodyodorandhalitosis.com/2012/02/legal-perspective-on-employment.html

[annie7]

the us dept of labor website has the fmla forms as well as tons of info... http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmlabut yes i do so know what you mean about the intricacies of fmla especially with this particular employer. fmla is the law but they still don't want to accept it and depending on the office there can be a lot of harassment and inequities involved. and part of the battle is geting your doc to co operate with the paperwork. some docs don't even want to get involved--although the way i see it, getting involved and dealing with the paperwork is part of the doc's job--they are supposed to be helping you, the patient...anyway, i've also heard that a lot of docs especially don't want to get involved when the employer is the us government. and yes i've know people who had to hire an attorney to push their fmla through and also to keep management from continually harassing them even though it's illegal to harass people on fmla.. your fellow employee had a good point about going the psychological route---i've known people who were successful going that way when the other way--with the medical conditon--didn't work.and yes i sure do know what you mean about fellow employees getting upset when someone is out sick too much. and that comes directly from management and all the drastic job cutbacks. in the business world, sick leave is a part of doing business and should not result in an emergency but now with all the jobs they've cut resulting in short staffing and people being forced to do the work of two or even three clerks---now with such a bare bones workforce--- every sick call becomes an emergency and that puts a tremendous burden on the workers. and yes like you mentioned, management could definitely try to get back at you by reassigning you to a job and facility even more miserable than the one you're at now....yup, they sure do kick people in the face. even the good dependable workers like yourself. and they are trying to get rid of people--especially the older csrs employees--and they'll try to get rid of them any way they can--even by harassing them out of there...saw a lot of that at my office. still going on from what i hear.you're in a tough position..i wish you luck and truly hope and pray you can find a way through it all... anmegrl--great site--seems very helpful!

[Sad_lady]

I pretty much know if I have a burning-type sensation then I must smell- usually people at work will say something like 'You can smell it all the way over here' or you hear the word 'gas' a lot. And the bosses usually look at you with an amused look on their faces. The irritated feeling always coincides with the usual comments. I get the same thing when my left-sided vulvodynia acts up- I can feel the irritation but can't smell anything- apparently that smells like gas as well (Of course they are 'somewhat' careful when they say stuff- maybe because you might file for harrassment due to disability though trying to prove what is said would probably be futile- and I suppose some statements might not be considered as harrassment even though they all feel like it!)

[Sad_lady]

Just wanted to say I know how you likely feel with colleagues. I've been suffering from symptoms that include LG for nearly 10 yrs. been to doctors and hospitals to find a cure and so far had no joy. My life is humiliating as a dress well, look reasonably attractive, yet my body lets me down. I've put up with years from colleagues smirking and laughing and muttering about me. I catch comments and side glances. I dread going to work. I do consulting and my symptoms have turned me into a pariah which ever company I work for. I feel desperate and sad. It's humiliating to say the least. Was in a meeting last week, and all I could see was the guys coughing, needing fresh air and rubbing their nose and giggling to each other. It's a joke to them but to me it's humiliation.

[NewUser2012]

You'll just have to read through old posts. Everyone is different and not everyone experiences the same symptoms. I think many rely on other people's reactions although it's not very accurate to judge on that basis. If you have a fan, try some experiments and see if you can smell yourself if blowing air in a certain direction. The time it takes for food to digest has little effect on whether you'll have complete evacuation or not.

I have been reading through older posts and I was honestly surprised to know how many people suffer from LG. I thought I was the only one. I have suffered from this for 17 years. I will never forget the day it happened. Why it happened? No idea. When I finally had the guts to talk to my GI about my problem to try to fix it, he got super upset and told me that it was all in my mind. There was no way gas could leak out. Otherwise, everything else would too. It's like if I had offended him. I felt so humiliated and belittled that I don't want to go to any other doctor who will not have a response for me. I was under Paxil for my anxiety and it did improve, but the reason I got anxiety was because of LG. I need to treat the root of my problem (LG) in order to treat the anxiety. But, unfortunately, I don't know how. I eat healthy, I drink only water, I take probiotics, avoid gassy foods, exercise, you name it. Yet, I still have LG and the only reason I know is because of the comments. I have noticed that during the time of the month, it gets worse. I think in my case there is a link there that I have not had the guts to ask the Ob Gyn because I am embarassed.

[lone_paladin]

Just wanted to say I know how you likely feel with colleagues. I've been suffering from symptoms that include LG for nearly 10 yrs. been to doctors and hospitals to find a cure and so far had no joy. My life is humiliating as a dress well, look reasonably attractive, yet my body lets me down. I've put up with years from colleagues smirking and laughing and muttering about me. I catch comments and side glances. I dread going to work. I do consulting and my symptoms have turned me into a pariah which ever company I work for. I feel desperate and sad. It's humiliating to say the least. Was in a meeting last week, and all I could see was the guys coughing, needing fresh air and rubbing their nose and giggling to each other. It's a joke to them but to me it's humiliation.

This may sound a bit naive, but I always thought people were well mannered in the U.K.

[pengu]

i didnt have time to read all the posts but 9 times out of 10 its coming from ur ass.Sometimes its the reactions sometimes I can smell it myself. But there are other sufferers that can't smell it so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[missy2009]

I usually can't smell my leaky gas except once in a while. I can only tell by people around me sniffling, wiping their noses, clearing their throats, making indirect comments and walking away quickly. Some people think it's me not wiping well, what I eat (I do eat pretty healthy), not showering or going to the bathroom when I need to. I wish it was this simple. I also get laughs or giggles, sometimes people make farting noises around me. I feel mortified not knowing how I am going to smell from one day to the next and it is worse when I am on my period. I think I have had it since about 2007 but didn't come to realize I had it till about 3 years ago. It's really changed the way I feel about myself. Some people tend to stay away from me as though I am dirty and has hindered my professional life. I am overqualified for the job I do and believe it has to do with LG and think I will never be promoted in to anything higher till this LG goes away. I have been to doctors who have told me it's in my head, it's a fissure, acid from my stomach but nothing has permanently cured this leaky gas. I even had one doctor accuse me of trying to get medications and just making it up! I do try and eat well but it doesn't seem to work all the time.Although you might get comments from ignorant co-workers, I would try and talk to your superiors and let them know that it's a digestive issue that you are trying to get resolved. I have told my supervisor and a few people whom I am close with at work and there seem to be fewer comments at work (although people are still wiping their noses and coughing).

[AIRPLANE]

I feel so bad for all of us... and the loss of our full 'potential'.... career-wise, relationship-wise. And for something that probably could be remedied if only we would be taken seriously. But in today's medical world, if it doesn't show up on a CT scan or lab test (that is, if it is one of the things that actually gets checked on those) then you lose, the imaging or lab test wins. There is no time for a trivial issue like this in today's assembly-line doctor appointments- I think the mentality is get em' in, get em' out.While I know that part of my problem is incomplete evacuation, and probably partly due to stool not moving consistently due to adhesions, it's pretty clear that I have something else going on. I have a bulging sensation on the left side of my butt or vaginal area. I think that this bulge might be contributing to the incomplete evacuation as it feels like I have to slant to the left to accommodate what feels like an angle in the sigmoid and/or rectum. I did have a colonoscopy this week and the doctor said he saw nothing wrong- I was totally knocked out so wasn't able to participate. This bulge throws my left side out of whack and at least I get some comfort knowing that a physical therapist I saw a few years ago as well as the massage therapist I now go to notice it also. They would sometimes grab my feet to check my alignment and could tell that something was throwing my left side off. My massage therapist has also commented on the bulge. Whatever it is, I can feel an irritating fluid moving under the skin- sometimes inside my left leg and also into my left vaginal area. I'm pretty sure that this is what causes my sciatica and vulvodynia. Been to a few gynecologists who do the usual exam and lab tests- thought maybe it was a Bartholins abscess but they say they can find nothing. I don't smell the fluid very often but I think it is somewhat sulfur-like. Then if I get the leaky gas in addition I'm really screwed- a double whammy.It is very frustrating that nobody really seems to want to do anything more in-depth to find the cause. I did have an MRI which showed a couple of inflamed nerves. When you google sciatica, it almost always says that sciatica should be viewed as a 'symptom'- not a diagnosis. You still need to find out what and where along the nerve the problem is. Well, I've sure tried but to no avail.I imagine it could be adhesion-related as well. But I also wondered about a Pilondal abscess. I had hoped to discuss this with the gastroenterologist I just saw, in fact did mention a possible abscess, but he seems to have his own agenda. I did tell him about the hostility I had to deal with on the job because of this. He seemed somewhat sympathetic- saying how hard it was for some of his Crohns patients while on-the-job-but that's all.

[pengu]

man those are a lot of wordsis adhesion when the poo sticks to the wall of the rectum?