[Silkymandu]

Hi Kathy. You had once suggested to take pancreatic enzymes for bloating and gas. How is pancreatic different from just complex enzymes? Does it help bloating specifically? I want to make my bloating and gassing go away. Thanks.

 

[Kathleen M.]

There was a study with pancreatic enzymes that are prescription and bloating and they seemed to be effective.I believe the think it is not so much that the enzymes break food down, but how they signal the stomach/upper GI tract to behave. So they behave in a way that leads to less bloating. For me this is mostly the feeling way too full after a small meal and feeling way too full for hours longer than I really should from a small meal.I'm not sure our body is signalled by plant digestive enzymes the same way as by something similar to our own pancreatic enzymes. Some over the counter supplements include pancreatic enzymes in the mixGNC Natural Brand™ Digestive Enzymes has themancreatin 400 mg ** alpha-Amylase 130 mg ** Betaine Hydrochloride 65 mg ** Pepsin 65 mg ** Papain 65 mg ** Ox Bile Extract 8:1 8.1 mg I'm not sure which enzymes something called "complex" would have in them, but it may be more like thisGNC Preventive Nutrition® Multi-Enzyme FormulaCellulase 200 FCC units ** Hemicellulase 500 FCC units ** Diastase 300 FCC units ** Lactase 500 FCC units ** Amylase 300 SKB units ** Protease 300 FCC units ** Lipase 500 L units ** Bromelain 10 GDU ** Papain 10000 NFP units ** Betaine Hydrochloride 100 mg ** L. acidophilus (200,000,000 cells when manufactured) 100 mg Which has some of the same things, but not all of them, but has some plant enzymes in it.Because of the prescription enzyme supplement study I would look more at the first rather than the second for bloating.If most of it is you are just gassy and feel bloated only when you are gassy the second or other probiotic bacteria supplement might be up your alley, if the second worked for farting it is most likely from the Acidophilus in them.K.

 

[Silkymandu]

The fullness after eating from small amounts of food and hours after eating is definitely one of my many symptoms. I get attacks of them every so often. If I don't feel that way, I always have small amounts of bloats and gas. It seems like acidophilus has helped you a lot with gas. I tried 3 different kinds and doesn't seem to make a difference for me as far as gas goes and I don't mean small amounts of gas either. I can't seem to find the trigger foods either because they all happen randomly. I will try the pancreatin enzyme for bloating, I've been trying the plant kind and I don't know if that's what's causing this sharp bloats. Are you still taking the enzymes? Have you figured out the triggers and problem areas now? What regimen would you recommend for a person like me? Thanks so much.

 

[Kathleen M.]

I really took the enzymes when I was having to double up some antihistamines and they really made me have the stomach bloat thing.It isn't regular for me, but I was suprised how well it worked.I've not had luck with probiotics in the past, I found Probiotica (which was sold to someone else and is under a new name) Jarrodophilus and DA-IBS seem to work.For some people the "prebiotics" in the probiotics can increase gas, and I do think some of it is getting the right species with your colonic flora (once you get a brand that actually has bacteria in it, and not all do).I used to fart about every 5-10 minutes for several hours before bedtime, but I wasn't feeling bloated.For me it was hard to find any specific triggers for that as it was pretty much a constant. Once the fart frequency was down I noticed some things like Burger King Onion Rings will set me off even though I now normally do not have the evening fart-a-thon.K.

 

[Silkymandu]

I know it must be safe because it's in the stores but, using animal enzymes in humans sort of sound creepy. Is it completely safe? And did you say that FOS in probiotics is what contributes to gas?