[Juliana]

Does anyone here have a problem with lots of gas and bloating? My sister called me asking for advice because my oldest niece is having a lot of stomach pain, gas and bloating... and it seems to be exacerbated by stress.

I have IBS so my sis thought I might have some solutions for my niece. My niece has also had a lot of tummy problems -- gastroenteritis, nausea and a total inability to burp -- just like me -- since she was a little girl. So it seems that she takes after me in that respect. I don't have the gas problem though. I get bloated, but not gassy.

My niece is 17 and is very embarrassed by this problem and it's causing her a lot of tummy distress too. She's a pretty, outgoing, smart, social girl with lots of friends and a boyfriend and is constantly worried about farting in public because she's so gassy all the time. Poor thing.

My sis has taken her to the doc but the doc didn't have any recommendations other than taking Beano before meals.

I suggested that she could try a digestive enzyme supplement and acidophilus bifidus from the health food store and adding some fruit like papay and mango (with are soothing and contain natural digestive enzymes) to her diet. So, my sis is going to do that. She has started making her banana/mango/papaya smoothies for breakfast. She's altering the recipe I use because I figured the soy milk I use in my smoothie recipe might not be best for my niece since it's made from beans... and beans make her gassy. She's using low acid OJ and yogourt in the smoothie instead.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Has anyone had this problem and found ways to make it better? Any suggestions would be welcome. I feel so bad for my niece.

[okiedokie]

Gas-X works like a dream. It also now comes in the dissolvable strips. My mom used this and swore by it.

Hope this helps!
Okie