I would recommend trying probiotics, too.
Even when on antibiotics, I reduce taking Cipro & Flagyl to once at late evening after some days, when inflammation has calmed down. In the morning I take probiotics instead. While I tried VSL#3 many years ago, now I usually buy a probiotic with many different bacteria stems from a web-store. I feel it gives me a good balance for antibiotics use over some weeks.
And I would avoid pushing hard on the toilet. It only promotes hemorrhoids. Try moving your upper body or breathing deaply, also exhaling completely narrowing the belly. For me that helps to get things moving.
Gas is another subject. I usually don't produce too much, but the problem is I can't get rid of it completely when on the toilet. There is always a bunch of it left afterwards. Even if it does not trouble me, there is a higher pressure inside the bowel. It worsens digestion, promotes inflammation and gives me a higher frequency of BM. So I got used to evacuate gas after using the toilet (at home). As I can't pass gas standing up or sitting, I have to do some 'gymnastics' to let the gas escape in upward direction.