[Pillows]

Okay, so I remember hearing at a support meeting about how sometimes after surgery and your post op diet, people have issues with bad breath? Why is that? Did any of you have any really bad problems with it? What did you do to help it since you aren't supposed to chew gum? I don't really want to stock fresh parsley in my fridge at all times. Just wondering.
Janae

[CraigT]

Not really bad breath in my case (or at least everyone is being real nice) but holy snockers the farts can be deadly

[DocSanae]

Here's a general medical assessment.

Gastrointestinal gas, called flatus, is due to 3 things.
1. Air that you have swallowed. (It's often swallowed with food, as well as when you just gulp air.)
2. Gas that is formed in the gut as a result of the activities of the normal bacterial flora ("good" bacteria resides in your intestines, and helps digestion.)
3. Some of the gas dissolved in the blood diffuses into the gastrointestinal tract.

Gas in the stomach is mainly swallowed air, so by nature, they are the same as the air we breath. The body tries to get rid of the gas by belching. If there is some food still in your stomach when this happens, the released air may carry the odor of the food you ate.
Also, bad breath can be the result of bad oral hygiene. Dryness of mouth can be another cause, and both can be a result of the WLS, if you do not take care to get a lot of water so you won't dehydrate, and take calcium supplements to protect your bones, and keep the roots of your teeth intact, take iron and B12 to prevent anemia, etc.

Odor of gas from the small/large intestines, in other words, "fart", can be caused by certain kinds of food, and also, WLS may alter the bacterial flora in the intestines so there is a change in the balance of gas and the remnants of digested food. The gases produced as the result of bacterial intervention are carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen. These 3 gasses are odorless. The culprit is the component of the solid matter in your feces (this is the cut and dry medical term) which differs with the kinds and amount of food you ate, and the bacterial flora, which differs from person to person.

With the change in the arrangement of your stomach and intestines, normal movements also will be changed to some extent, and this can also cause excessive expulsion of gas.

Most of the gas that end up in the large intestines are absorbed into blood and expelled from the lungs. Only about 5% is expelled directly.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

[CraigT]

As gross as this seems, this is actually one of the most common PostOp WLS questions, comments, and concerns.

Thanks for the explaination, Doc.

[Pillows]

wow, doc you remind me of my dad. very helpfull and thorough. I once had to come up with a definition for smoking for science class in 5th grade and he went and got me a two paragraph official definition for it along with much supporting information. I started just asking my friends after that one...lol. Naw, that was a very good description of it though. so is there something Craig can take to help reduce the pain of his friends and loved ones?
Janae

[DocSanae]

I think, just "Excuse me."
At least, that was the case when I found myself on the spot...:P
Of course, I get exposed to worse things on my job, and I was at the other end of the table, so I didn't really notice....

[Pillows]

too true.... too true... ya know we love ya right Craig?
Janae

[LEEJA]

oooo boy!!
My poor boyfriend...........I won't even warn him...

[CraigT]

I am wearing my favorite "Pull My Finger T-shirt"

[LEEJA]

lol..................