Anonymous wrote:Hi there mommies! My MIL hasn't been doing great, her husband passed away back in December and it's been hard on her. She hasn't always been able to really take care of herself since then, including health-wise. And that's why what I'm about to describe worries me.
She's been passing gas a fairly abnormal amount. No, I'm not a medical professional, but I did take a couple of pre-med courses in college, and it doesn't seem like something to ignore, especially at her age. DH has mentioned in the past that pretty severe stomach conditions are common in their family, and I'm getting quite worried for her health. I've brought this up to DH, but he just acts like I'm mocking his mother when I'm doing nothing of the sort. I love my MIL and I'm scared. What would you suggest doing?
If you two get along well, just mention your concern directly to her and offer some solutions like over the counter remedies or an appointment with PCP or a gastroenterologist. This problem is common past midlife but needs to be investigated as it can be due to an illness or side effect of medication. She is probably aware and embarrassed but doesn't know what to do.
Have her read or listen to some material on this topic. Taking Gas-X, Tums, Phazyme, Miralax, good probiotics and avoiding gassy foods can help.