# I Must Wind Down the Wind (Gas) - Need Help Sorta Fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159 "2015-10-01T17:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/1 "2015-10-01T17:29:37Z")
I hate talking about these sort of–unpleasantries–but I need some solid advice somewhat quickly. I am having problems with excess and more-foul-smelling-than-usual flatulence. The especially vexing thing about this is: I will be in a situation tomorrow (Friday evening) where this would be an Really Bad Thing, so I need to fix it effectively and fast. I am pretty well aware of what foods cause problems for me personally and I am mostly avoiding them yet I am still having issues. Since this is a time-sensitive thing I don’t have time to experiment with my diet. I want to take whatever drastic and powerful measures I have to to relieve this is the very short term. So I am open to OTC drugs, etc., that might ordinarily be considered “over-the-top” or not something one would want to turn to frequently. I am traveling right now, but no place “weird”; I’m just in another part of the USA. Still, I wonder if different microbes, trace minerals, food additives. etc., that I’m not ordinarily exposed to are affecting the issue. But, like changing my diet, I don’t have time to experiment with finding out. I’ve heard mixed things about the effectiveness of Gas-X and activated charcoal. I’ve used Bean-O before with no noticeable results. I’ve also read that pro-biotic yogurt can help. I’m hoping that you guys can give me some thoughts on those things and any other solid advice on a quick and effective fix for this. Thank you much! ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/2 "2015-10-01T17:45:01Z")
I was having some intestinal issues and finally resorted to a probiotic. Now prior to this I generally thought it was a bunch of crap (_ahem_), but I have to admit it helped. I think I used the one from Centrum. As I recall (this was about 8 months ago) it took 2 days to really make a change. A coworker went gluten free and noted a substantial reduction in gas production. So maybe a simpler, plainer diet would also help. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/3 "2015-10-01T17:46:08Z")
Get some good multi-strain probiotic pills. Takes a couple a day. This will fix the underlying problem. Getting more fiber will help too. Charcoal is a temp fix. Chlorophyll helps too. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/4 "2015-10-01T17:58:38Z")
Aren’t there odor-cancelling underwear inserts? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/5 "2015-10-01T18:04:30Z")
All of the above and I would also look harder at the diet, break it down one item at a time if you have to and research on line if it causes gas or not. I used to use cream in my coffee and it took me forever to figure out it was giving me stinky farts. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/6 "2015-10-01T18:15:40Z")
If it were me I would buy some Gas-X and probiotics, avoid most foods (eat, like, crackers and peanut butter), drink lots of water (not pop or coffee) and make sure to take a long walk before whatever is going on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/7 "2015-10-01T20:06:21Z")
Sexy time Friday night eh? I would just eat a lot less, and drink only water. Maybe this evening try some natural-as-possible yogurt to get your gut bacteria back in balance. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/8 "2015-10-01T20:40:23Z")
I would get some Gas-X, and recently read that chewing whole cloves, or clove tea or diluted clove oil may help with gas and GI issues as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/9 "2015-10-01T21:08:38Z")
Gas-X says it’s for relief of intestinal gas and bloating. Beano says it’s for prevention of same. I’d be inclined to try Beano first. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/10 "2015-10-01T21:14:17Z")
I appreciate all of the advice so far. Many of you suggest good ways that I can get my “gut health” better overall, and I hope to do that. But this is something I need to try to improve in 24 hours–if that is possible. Would pro-biotic pills help me any in 24 hours or less? Is pro-biotic yogurt better? Is activated charcoal effective in that time frame? What things other than crackers and peanut-butter are pretty safe bets to be low-risk flatulence-wise? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/11 "2015-10-01T21:19:17Z")
Whole husk psyllium is the key. Start with 5 grams (mixed with water or juice), and slowly increase the amount. I take 30 grams. You will pass some gas, but the non-stinky type. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-wind-down-the-wind-gas-need-help-sorta-fast/733159/12 "2015-10-01T21:21:05Z")
Different type of answer: I read–go Internet!–that if you’re bowels are signaling fart troubles, go into a secluded place and to help fart it out _now_, as opposed to later, assume the “praying-to-Mecca” on-knees face bow. It works in a not-secluded place too, of course,