This topic is about understanding why an ileostomy, affectionately named "Marvin" by the person experiencing it, becomes gassy when meals are skipped. Even without food in the stomach, gas seems to build up, and the person is curious about the reasons behind this.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. Even when the bowel is empty, it can still produce gas. For those with an ileostomy, this gas is noticed more quickly because there is no colon to store it. Hunger pains and a growling stomach are signs that gas is building up.

2. Gas in the digestive system comes from two main sources:
- Air that is swallowed during activities like eating, drinking, talking, or even just breathing.
- Fermentation of leftover food in the gut by intestinal bacteria, which continues even when the stomach is empty.

3. Certain foods and ingredients can contribute to gas production. Artificial sweeteners, natural sugars found in foods like prunes, and high-fiber foods such as cabbage and broccoli are known to produce gas.

4. When fermentable carbohydrates are combined with yeast, as in beer, gas can form quickly. Additionally, carbonated drinks introduce more swallowed or ingested gas into the system.

5. Over-the-counter anti-gas medications, such as Gas-X (simethicone), might help in reducing or breaking up gas bubbles in the intestines.