Embarrassed But Need Help

[12bGF]

I have been eating well, drink lots of water & exercise & take vitamins.

Butit is difficult to go # 2 however I do go every day. But it's painful & not easy.

I don't understand! I've been gluten-free for months! Could this be a different problem? At first I susspected my vitamins so I stopped taking them for a while to see but there was no change.

I don't know what's wrong with me!!!

[jenvan]

No need to be embarrassed. I had to answer this post b/c constipation was my life for years ! However, since going gluten-free I have been so much better. I hope the same for you soon. Here is something I posted previously about the issue below. Hope it helps--it has helped me much in the past. Other things--have you been checked for other food intolerances, thyroid issues? That is another probable source of constipation. Are you taking an iron supplement, any other medication or eating any of these foods that can tend to constipate: bananas, milk products? Do you eat fruit everyday, plus food like beans or lentils? I saw you exercise and drink water. Those have helped me too. Hope some of this helps...

I think one of the best things for constipation, natural vs meds, is pysillium halls. It is basically the natural, not synthetic form of fiber. ie. I used to take Citricel, never did much for me. It is synthetic fiber. Psyllium definitely made me feel better when suffering from severe constipation, which used to be pretty chronic for me.

If you are interested, you could buy some at a health food store--powdered psyllium husks/hulls. We order ours from Frontier: Open Original Shared Link. We mix it with Hibiscus powder Open Original Shared Link. The psyillum hulls are straight fiber, bulk up and absorb stool, toxins and carry it out. The Hibiscus powder helps ease this process, has very mild laxative qualities. We put about a spoonful of each in a full glass of apple juice (use slightly more psyillum than hibiscus), and chase with a full glass of water. You may get a few cramps as it carries stool out a few hours later, but for me, it was alway worth it. Best to take in the morning for me. PS--A quick fix for helping go to the bathroom is a few capsules of Magnesium too. Keep drinking water throughout the day.

[jenvan]

PS--If you try the psyillum, experiment. You may want to take more or less than i suggested. It can vary person to person.

[tarnalberry]

I found that balancing my calicum and magnesium intake was important for that - not to mention plenty of water and fruits/veggies. But calcium can be constipating, magnesium ... goes the other way. (I find magnesium to be better for dealing with that sort of thing than, say, Senekot, which my doctor recommended at one point when my hemmhorids were worse.)

[skbird]

I have been going through this recently - I have changed my hormone regemine as well as having some kind of minor virus and things have slowed up quite a bit as a result. It's taken a couple of days but now it appears the magnesium I'm taking is helping out again. Funny stuff, that magnesium. I wish I'd known about it years ago.

If I take 800 mg a night, after a couple of nights things start moving, maybe too quickly. Then I cut it back to 600 or 400mg.

I also take 2-3 tbsp of flax meal a day and drink a good amount of water. I eat fruit and veggies but never enough (depends on what's in the house). And exercise really helps.

Also, as I'm not a big caffeine drinker, I have found that caffeinated green tea or decaf coffee in the morning can sometimes be all I need to get going. But it might not work if you drink that stuff all the time.

Take care

Stephanie

[jenvan]

That's true about the caffeine Stephanie. My husband has to have his morning cup of coffee, if you know what I mean... I'm sure he would love that I shared that with you guys too !

[12bGF]

Thanks for your replys.

It is very possible that I have thyroid problems; it runs in my family. However I have never been checked.

I do take vitamines: multi, C, B-complex & E. I do not take iron. Would iron help? or could it make things worse? I don't really eat that much fruit but I do eat an apple every day. I am allergic to milk so I stay away from it & buy soy milk which I do have often. I love beans & lentals but I don't eat them that much.

I don't make that much $$ & this diet is difficult for me to afford! But I'm working on it & I know I need to include more fruit & lentals in my diet. I didn't even think about flax! I need to try it.

Wow! I had no idea about caffeine. I always figured it was REALLY BAD for you...

[jenvan]

12bGF-

I asked about iron because it almost always constipates and irritates the intestines and stomach. If you get flax, make sure you get the milled flax seed/flax seed meal as Stephanie suggested. The seeds can pass right through your body and don't do you much good. I like to put mine in yogurt or cream of rice. You can also add to baked goods. Have you tried soy yogurt? I assume you're pretty diligient about checking labels for hidden dairy too? As for caffiene, I can't tolerate it, but in small amounts or infrequently for people who can is okay I think. If you are replacing a lot of dairy with soy, make sure that it isn't contributing to the constipation. You never know...

All this stuff can start to add up. $$ I understand. Fruit can be expensive at times. Isn't it ironic that the foods that are the best for us cost the most ?! That's something my husband always says when we leave the health food store with two tiny bags and $50 bill! And the cheapest foods--the prepackaged, hydrogenated, glutened 'hamburger helper' type dinners are the cheapest ?!

Try to buy fruit in season and that can save some. If you are ever really gung ho about saving money and stocking up you could always buy fruit/veggies in season in bulk and can them yourself. (I like to do that with fruits and veggies, but understand not everyone wants to get that involved). Another idea is to freeze fresh fruit while its in season and then thaw it out to eat when out of season and more expensvie.

As for lentils and beans, those are typically "cheap." I'm not sure if you shop at an organic type grocery store for certain products, but if you do, try to get only the things you have to buy there. Then for easy foods, like beans or produce, go to the regular grocery store or a Walmart and get those ingredients. I buy large bags of beans and lentils and get a good price on them. (My favorites--split peas, red/black lentils, black-eyed peas, black beans) PS--In case these stores are near you...the Walmarts and Meijer's where I live do stock a limited amount of gluten-free items.

Brown rice and quinoa are also higher fibers substitutions for white rice. Oh, and have you been eating a lot of corn lately? That will make me constipated and in pain.

Anywho, sorry for all the info !!! One more thing...If you are wanting any easy recipe ideas to include beans/lentils, let me know.

[12bGF]

thanfully there are many Wal Marts nearby.

I really appreciate all the info!!

I love yogurt but lately it's been giving me stomachs so I quit eating it. I have tried soy yogurt but I can't stand the taste!!! I guess I haven't found a brand I like.

I'm so thankful that beans & lentals are so cheap!! I can get them for only $.88 a bag.

I think it's so unfair that people with food allergies & those who want to eat healthy in general must suffer with high prices! It's crazy.

p.s.

I sure hope I'm not allergic to anything esle.... gluten & dairy are difficult enough as it is!!

[burdee]

Hi 12BGF:

If you are 'allergic' to milk you may actually be casein intolerant. Although I had celiac disease symptoms since early childhood, I also had been constipated all my life, so long that I eventually needed hemorrhoid surgery. When I eliminated gluten, I STILL had symptoms of bloating, gas, cramps and constipation. So I tested through Enterolab which just happened to throw in a free cow's milk (casein protein) sensitivity test at the time. Low and behold I was CASEIN intolerant (as well as gluten intolerant). Removing ALL sources of dairy from my diet eliminated lifelong constipation, sinus infections, and sinus 'allergies'. The last time I had a cold, it went straight to my lungs without my usual sinus congestion and headaches. When I tried to substitute soy for dairy I experienced the same cramping and bloating symptoms, so I avoid soy AND dairy. I also use magnesium and Vitamin C supplements to maintain regularity, because all the fiber or fiber supplements in the world would not affect my constipation. I can't tolerate the sorbitol or senna in most laxatives.

So I want to ask you: Do you avoid ALL dairy products, rather than just milk? If you read labels, even soy cheese contains casein. Try avoiding all sources of dairy (milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, ice cream, yogurt as well as processed foods like hot dogs and lunch meats, soups and sauces which contain dairy ingredients. If you carefully abstain from dairy like you abstain from gluten, you may resolve your constipation problems. I also second recommendations to increase fiber consumption, but in foods like fruits, vegies, nuts, high fiber gluten-free grains and beans.

BURDEE

[Guest GFLisa0405]

I'd suggest getting your thyroid checked, especially if you have a family history of it and your eating a lot of soy..soy can slow down the thyroid.

[12bGF]

I mostly stay away from Milk. I never eat ice cream either....

You know.. this just keeps getting worse & worse. I feel like I can't eat anything!

I mean, what am I supposed to eat? How does everyone cope with this?

I really need to be tested for lots of things I guess.

Sorry, I feel really discouraged right now...........

On the plus side, I got some Flax oil & I think it's working!

[jenvan]

12bGF-

Sorry--I know your frustration. It can be really discouraging, and its okay to feel that way sometimes. ...because this disease and what you are experiencing is a valid 'burden', so to speak. i'm not a big cryer or 'emotion-shower' myself, but i remember one day... i was trying to make some gluten-free yeast bread, that failed miserably, then trying to make lasagna (where the gluten-free noodles got screwed up), then trying to replace the bread that was ruined with some gluten-free cookies, and after trying to figure out if some of my ingredients were in fact, okay to use, had the cookies all slide into one big slimy cookie in the oven. it was one of those overwhelmed, ticked off moments. i was feeling so sorry for myself that afternoon i stood in the kitchen and cried in my apron for a little while but if i am tempted to get too discouraged i remember how blessed i am compared to so many--specifically a cousin of mine who is 20 years old, has had 4 kidney transplants, and getting ready for another because of a rare disease she has. she is truly in a miserable and painful state. so it reminds me, i can do this....

It does seem like the list of okay foods for you does keep shrinking and shrinking! Hopefully you will be able to find a few products Gluten-free Casein-free you can cling to ! Ever been to this website? Open Original Shared Link It is for gluten-free/cf (casein free) individuals. Might be a resource to you in the future...

I just sent away for a food intolerance test--I am suspecting myself for milk or other perhaps. After going gluten-free I started having new problems I think are related. We'll see if I'm casein intolerant too. Damn them cows !

glad the flax is helping some.

PS: burdee--thanks for your story too. Its good to hear your experience in reference to ours.

[antmimi]

Another question I might add to the topic is do you wear tight fitting clothing?

That can cause constipation and bowel issues too.

OK that's my 2 cents.

[judy05]

My GI doc solved my constipation problem. He told me to take Citracel tabs(gluten-free), the powder isn't. I go everyday at the same time. You must take a full glass of water. Hope this helps.

[Eliza13]

Bananas constipate??? I had no idea.

[Guest BellyTimber]

12bGF,

Re dairy,

Forgive me not following your story from the start, I've got hardware problems, but this may be relevant to others as well.

A dairy intolerance is sometimes taken as more general than it need be (not necessarily saying it is so in your case) but I found the following experience useful:

I did like my cheese, and several pints of milk most days. I was having various digestive and other problems whether slight or severe.

I tested slightly to moderately casein intolerant as well as extremely gluten intolerant.

Meantime it is assumed as a gluten sensitive person that I'll have lactose intolerance till further notice.

The nutritionist said: choose a time when nothing else complicated is going on in life and do the following:

Have no dairy at all for 5 days. Then have live yoghurt till there's a reaction or stop after five days. Then no dairy for 5 days. Then have butter for five days till there's a reaction or stop after five days. Then no dairy for 5 days. The repeat again for cream. Then for neat milk. Then for cheese.

Live yoghurt has live cultures in it that are turning the lactose into something else and also do fabulous things to the gut. Butter contains almost no casein or lactose and, for a saturated fat, is natural and healthy (especially if organic). Cream is like a cross between milk and butter. Cheese is solidified milk with natural byproducts that can be difficult to handle if sensitive.

At the end of a couple of months (I think I cut back the five days to three and I sort of got a good answer) you will have picture of what to do with dairy providing the casein issue isn't very serious: in my case I have had to cut back in a very big way on the neat milk and the cheese and slightly on cream but not the other things.

I may revisit that in a couple of years when my life is more settled, to fine tune the situation.

I'm only mentioning that because I get the feel some practitioners advise action that goes further than necessary. Hoping that's not unhelpful,