CysticFibrosis.com > Cystic Fibrosis > Parenting with Foster Cline, MD and Lisa Greene > Socially Acceptable Ways to Pass Gas!
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Gammaw
Okay. If I have trouble figuring out how to introduce this topic, I can't blame my 7 year old for handling it inappropriately! Lately our CFer has been very gassy and belching rather loudly. It's s frequent problem which I have discussed with his CF doc. Frankly I think we need a visit with a gastroenterologist, but that's another thread. At school, our kiddo has taken to emphasizing his gassiness, out of embarrassment I suspect, and trying to make everyone laugh. It's very disconcerting to the teachers and other children. I have discussed it with him, to no apparent satisfactory resolution. How do you handle this? How can he handle this with the least embarrassment and yet without being disruptive. He becomes absolutely crude and raucous about it. He had to sit out gym class because he was passing gas in teachers faces, making his friends laugh. Surely there are many out there who had this problem in elementary school as well, and hopefully some found a way to deal with it without rudeness and crudeness? Thanks for any suggestions!
Anomie
That's awesome! Your little guy sounds like a laugh a minute. You should be very proud!! And by the way, I don't think there is a socially acceptable way for a 7yo to pass gas so when nature calls just let it rip!!
This situation is "funny" but it is no joke. He could be suffering from "bacterial overgrowth" or could have a stool build up in his colon. He is likely experiencing abdomonial pain as well.
He really needs to see a CF Gastro Specialist. I know, been there done that.
thekidsarealright
Poor guy! I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read your post, though! My cousin did that when he was in school just to avoid the embarrassment (he had a LOT of pancreatic issues) and we were grossed out, but laughed and kinda respected his fearlessness.
My daughter on the other hand gets very upset about it. I have been with her and her friends and she's quiet about it, but there's no denying the smell. Her friends make faces and start asking what the smell is. It makes her upset (she's 7, as well). I think Bill might be on the right track, there. I'm not sure if this helped or if it was something else, but she had a PICC 4 weeks ago and was on oral antibiotics until just last week. When she's on antibiotics and sometimes when her belly just hurts, we give her probiotics like Sustenex. Now that I think of it, after reading Bill's post, she hasn't had gas issues like she had before the probiotics.
The bacterial overgrowth typically comes from being on a lot of antibiotics, especially if the one's that you're on attack gram positive bacteria. Most tummy bacteria are gram negative (good E. coli, C. difficile, etc) and their growth can get out of hand when there's more room and more readily available nutrients around due to the "death" of the gram positive bacteria. The probiotics actually add "good bacteria" to keep a balance and take up space so the other's that typically don't cause harm, don't grow out of control and make you feel worse. Maybe that's why the gas is lessened...from the probiotics. Anyway, it's worth a shot. Good luck with your son!