Can I Prevent Wedding-Night Gas?

I tend to get gassy when I'm nervous, and I don't want to worry about flatulence on my wedding night. What can I do to prevent it?

The lovely truth is that most of us break more wind than usual when we're nervous—and what could be more nerve-wracking than a wedding? But look beyond the stress of your big day, and scrutinize what you're eating.

Chances are you're trying to keep your fat intake to a minimum and instead taking in lots of fibrous foods, which are major culprits in causing flatulence. "Salads, cabbage, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables are associated with greater gas production. Instead of loading up on these foods, cut your intake and eat more lean proteins like chicken and fish."

If you notice that dairy products are making you windy, you might be lactose-intolerant. In that case, you'll want to skip noshing on cheese and ice cream or consider trying Lactaid, a dairy digestive supplement.

Immediate help can be found for flatulence in the form of over-the-counter remedies with the ingredient simethicone (like Windease). If those don't seem to help, you may want to ask your doctor about giving you a prescription-only treatment that's called Mylecon.

After the stress of the wedding has passed, your passing-gas problem should go away. If it doesn't, book an appointment with your doctor to talk about the possibility of your having irritable bowel syndrome. The symptoms commonly associated with this condition are gas, bloating, and visible abdominal distention. But if it gets the proper medical attention, it can be successfully treated. And you can continue to, well, have a gas.