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Constipation. Anyone Want To Give Me Some Advice?

lexibrowning

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lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted

To start, this is my first time ever being constipated.  95% of the time my bowel movements occur multiple times a day (usually after every meal and when I initially wake up), so when I only had 1 the other day, I started to panic.

 

I am on my second day of being constipated and it is AWFUL.  I am so uncomfortable (sleeping was a pain), sitting makes my butt hurt, and my lower back (like where my cheeks are) is sore.  Now, if other people who suffer from constipation regularly were in my shoes, maybe they wouldn't view it as so bad, but for someone who has never experience this, it's not okay.

 

So far I have been able to pass SOME stool, but it has all be soft.  Like the kind that falls apart in the toilet?  That is totally normal for me.  But, I still feel like I need to go.  What do I do?  And why am I constipated, but pooping soft stool?

 

Also, when I sit down, it's almost like I can feel whatever is in there.  This is tmi, but it literally feels like it's in my left buttcheek.

 

I'm about to run out and get some prune juice and I was thinking about eating some oatmeal.  Good ideas? 

 

Does anyone have any better advice?

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HumanDecency Contributor
HumanDecency
Posted

Prune juice can't hurt. Make sure you try gluten-free certified oats if you do make the oatmeal.

 

Hopefully someone has a better idea. A change in diet will probably be the best idea. Google it? :) 

Renegade Contributor
Renegade
Posted

From my experience, prune juice is crap, it only gives you the illusion that you getting it out but most of it is just prune juice itself. Yesterday I tried something new that isnt usually recommended and it worked wonder, 2 tablespoon of organic castor oil. It was a good one but apparently some can have bad stuff in them, not to sure about that. Also probiotics help, so if you aren't lactose intolerant, get yourself a good yogurt.

 

Would be nice if you told us a list of what you have been eating recently as well.

 

Oh and COFFEE, that is also one thing that stimulate your system.

lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted
  • Author

From my experience, prune juice is crap, it only gives you the illusion that you getting it out but most of it is just prune juice itself. Yesterday I tried something new that isnt usually recommended and it worked wonder, 2 tablespoon of organic castor oil. It was a good one but apparently some can have bad stuff in them, not to sure about that. Also probiotics help, so if you aren't lactose intolerant, get yourself a good yogurt.

 

Would be nice if you told us a list of what you have been eating recently as well.

 

Oh and COFFEE, that is also one thing that stimulate your system.

Oh! Here's a list of the past 3 days

Yesterday: 

   Breakfast: oatmeal with honey

   Lunch: Kids 6 piece grilled chicken meal from Chikfila

   Dinner: I ate half of a hot dog because I was started to feel more discomfort

Friday:

   Breakfast: oatmeal with honey again

   Lunch: burger patty

   Dinner: .....cheese grits (the culprit I believe)

Thursday:

   Breakfast: oatmeal with honey again

   Lunch: fish and some fries

   Dinner: burger patty

 

Overall, obviously I need more vegetables and fruit.  I know I do.  In my defense, while I know I need more of those things, this has never ever been a problem before.  Everything just passes right through me.  I drink loads of water.  Like 7-8 glasses a day, sometimes more.  

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

Here's  my thoughts:

 

the  water  you  drink  should  be  pure  water... Not  faucet water.... You  should  drink  half  your body  weight  in ounces in  water  daily. ie  weight 100#   then ypu  should  have  50  ounces  of  pure  water  per  day  . ie: five  swallows every half  hour  or  so.. Drinking  water  by  an 8 ounce  glass  will do nothing  to  cleanse  the  body  nor  do you any good. You will just pee it  out....

You may  want to cut out  oats  until  you give  your  body  time  to  begin to heal. Many  gluten-free  people  can not  tolerate  oats  ever....

 

I  would  suggest  you  try  eating  basic  plain gluten-free  foods  made  at  home. Again  for  three to six  months  to  give  your  body  a  chance to  recover....Make  your  own  organic  chicken   &  gluten-free  foods  &  carry  a lunch  if  you work ..That  way  you  are  not  or  will have less  CC....

 

You  certainly  need more  fruits, veggies, &  proteins.... try  grazing  if  you  can't  or  don't  have time  for  a  meal....

Digestive  enzymes &  probiotics  are  needed...

Have  your  thyroid  checked  ....not  just  the TSH. ask for  that  plus  T-3, T-4 Total T-3, FT3 , FT4,  glucose,  A1C, vit B-12, Vit D...  lipid  panel, ,  CBC

 

now  to  the  big  C..... I  have  chronic  C  which means  there is nothing wrong   (been  tested  hundreds  of times) . I  have  tried  every  thing  in the book. What  I  found  that  has  helped  is: mineral oil ( used  for  babies  with C)... align,  miralax taken  twice  a  day until  results.... not  habit  forming  .......I  actually  was  in hospital  for  over  a week  with  the big C.....   

Now,  when you  describe  how it  feels  I  wonder  about  hemorrhoids. I  think you  should  check that  out for sure...polpys  also....

 

If  you  are not  to  Constipated  warmed  prune  juice  may   a  little... 

 

mamaw

BZBee Apprentice
BZBee
Posted

Fresh, raw fruit! Mineral oil will work too.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

A  few questions/suggestions:

 

(1) No more take out from Chick-fil-a --because take out from fast food places is not "real food". 

 

(2) Is the oatmeal certified gluten-free?

 

(3) Do you eat any leafy green veggies?

 

 

(4)  do you take probiotics?

 

(5) are the grits also Certified gluten-free?

 

(6) cheese binds you up when the gut is impaired from celiac (at first)

 

(7) how long have you been diagnosed and gluten-free?

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Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I'm also worried about the oatmeal considering your history you've posted with shopping and such. If it isn't certified gluten free, it isn't gluten free. The grits can pose the same risk even though they're corn.

 

My first though on why you are experiencing this issue is that it is a reaction to what you did last Friday night. The repercussions of that sort of thing aren't only immediate, even the GI symptoms. I can tell you from personal experience after CC that having horrid D right away is normal for me, but it is then followed by horrid C off and on that can last a few weeks until my body knocks off the nonsense. So no, eating gluten will only compound your problem. Please, follow the sound advice that has already been given rather than debating whether or not to poison yourself again.

 

ETA: for anyone confused by my response, there are two separate threads on the same topic, one asks straight up if eating gluten is the answer.

lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted
  • Author

A  few questions/suggestions:

 

(1) No more take out from Chick-fil-a --because take out from fast food places is not "real food". 

 

(2) Is the oatmeal certified gluten-free?

 

(3) Do you eat any leafy green veggies?

 

 

(4)  do you take probiotics?

 

(5) are the grits also Certified gluten-free?

 

(6) cheese binds you up when the gut is impaired from celiac (at first)

 

(7) how long have you been diagnosed and gluten-free?

1. Check. No more fast food

2. The oatmeal is not certified gluten free, but has never been a problem for me in the past.  I have eaten Quakers oatmeal for a very long time with no issues

3. I tend to avoid green leafy veggies because they make me bloat a TON and slows my digestive track, making me uncomfortable

4. I do not take probiotics, but have been researching into them a lot recently and plan to start tacking them soon

5. The grits are also not certified, but again have never caused me issues in the past

6. I know cheese binds up the digestive track.  Sadly... I really love cheese.

7. I have been gluten free since around February of last year (2012)

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

I think  you  answered several of the  questions  yourself in your last post. Plus  try to  follow  what  other posters  have  stated.... You need  to  take  this  disease  more  serious  ,  buckle  down    &  get  strict  with  what you  are  putting  in  your  body.  ITs  almost  like  you are  playing Russian Roulette  with  your  body. You  will never  get  better  it  you  continue  on the  path  you have been on....

good  luck

stanleymonkey Explorer
stanleymonkey
Posted

If it hurts to sit you probably have hard stool blocking everything else, it's just going to sit there and get worse, no amount of fluid and fibre is going to help. Get some Miralax, some versions are called laxaday. The actual ingredient in PEG 3550. Just ask the pharmacist for PEG they will know what it is. Th advice we were given by a gastro for 2 very urged up kids - take a double dose for 3 days, it will soften everything up and get it out, then take a normal dose for a few weeks to give your bowel a rest and a chance to shrink back to normal. As you've only been backed up a few days I'd try a the double dose for 1 day and a single dose for a week. That should solve you initial problem, but like other posters said you need to make sure the things you are eating are gluten free. C was our kids min sign of being glutened.

With the PEG you can't really overdose, if it turns to liquid poop, just lower the dose a little. We keep PEG in the house for accidental glutenings, my eldest is just getting over one, she was telling us she couldn't eat because her poop was stuck and food had nowhere to go. No amount of water, prune juice etc helped, the PEG cleared things out and she drank more than a liter of water today and has gone to bed a very happy 4 yr old again.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I think  you  answered several of the  questions  yourself in your last post. Plus  try to  follow  what  other posters  have  stated.... You need  to  take  this  disease  more  serious  ,  buckle  down    &  get  strict  with  what you  are  putting  in  your  body.  ITs  almost  like  you are  playing Russian Roulette  with  your  body. You  will never  get  better  it  you  continue  on the  path  you have been on....

good  luck

 

I agree completely.

 

Not checking for foods that are certified gluten-free will continue to gluten you. Cross contamination is serious business.

 

If you have celiac disease, you really need to stop glutening yourself. You are constantly poisoning yourself and fueling the inflammatory response and that is why you do not feel well.

 

Best wishes.

Renegade Contributor
Renegade
Posted

It's not because you ate oatmeal your entire life and it never caused problems that it won't now. I ate non gluten free oatmeal almost every single day for 2 years and i can't even tolerate gluten free oatmeal anymore, so don't assume that because you had no trouble with a food in the past that symptoms can't start showing up, Why do you think most of us who had gluten all their life get problems now, following your logic since we had gluten all our life, an intolerance should have never happened, yet it did.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

It frankly doesn't matter if it bothered you before or not. Oatmeal that is not certified gluten free is not gluten free. You can either take your disease seriously, or not. We just got done with this discussion a week and a half ago. If you want your parents to take your disease seriously, you need to. Stop. Eating. Gluten. That means no oatmeal that isn't gluten free. No grits that aren't gluten free. No fried chicken dinners. No crumbs, no just a little, no skimping, cheating or getting by. Until you care, your parents won't. And why should they?

lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted
  • Author

It frankly doesn't matter if it bothered you before or not. Oatmeal that is not certified gluten free is not gluten free. You can either take your disease seriously, or not. We just got done with this discussion a week and a half ago. If you want your parents to take your disease seriously, you need to. Stop. Eating. Gluten. That means no oatmeal that isn't gluten free. No grits that aren't gluten free. No fried chicken dinners. No crumbs, no just a little, no skimping, cheating or getting by. Until you care, your parents won't. And why should they?

I just thought that since the ingredients on the box didn't list any gluten, that it was okay.  I'll be sure to only get certified gluten-free things from now on.

lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted
  • Author

If it hurts to sit you probably have hard stool blocking everything else, it's just going to sit there and get worse, no amount of fluid and fibre is going to help. Get some Miralax, some versions are called laxaday. The actual ingredient in PEG 3550. Just ask the pharmacist for PEG they will know what it is. Th advice we were given by a gastro for 2 very urged up kids - take a double dose for 3 days, it will soften everything up and get it out, then take a normal dose for a few weeks to give your bowel a rest and a chance to shrink back to normal. As you've only been backed up a few days I'd try a the double dose for 1 day and a single dose for a week. That should solve you initial problem, but like other posters said you need to make sure the things you are eating are gluten free. C was our kids min sign of being glutened.

With the PEG you can't really overdose, if it turns to liquid poop, just lower the dose a little. We keep PEG in the house for accidental glutenings, my eldest is just getting over one, she was telling us she couldn't eat because her poop was stuck and food had nowhere to go. No amount of water, prune juice etc helped, the PEG cleared things out and she drank more than a liter of water today and has gone to bed a very happy 4 yr old again.

I drank prune juice yesterday and today and so far my constipation is now the total opposite.  It still hurts to sit though.  I can't tell if I'm just sore or if there is something still causing a blockage.  Do you know if it would be bad to take Miralax if it turns out I'm just sore?  I think I'd rather be safe than sorry, but I don't want to cause any more issues.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I just thought that since the ingredients on the box didn't list any gluten, that it was okay.  I'll be sure to only get certified gluten-free things from now on.

  

I drank prune juice yesterday and today and so far my constipation is now the total opposite.  It still hurts to sit though.  I can't tell if I'm just sore or if there is something still causing a blockage.  Do you know if it would be bad to take Miralax if it turns out I'm just sore?  I think I'd rather be safe than sorry, but I don't want to cause any more issues.

Now you just aren't listening, young lady! :) Oats are an exception. Even Quaker will tell you there is a very big possibly that the oats contain accidental wheat. Maybe they should label that, but its not required by law.

As for more meds to make the diarrhea worse? Stop that! Give your body time to heal from the problem it had yesterday and the " cure".

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

Since things seem to be moving along, I'd just let it do so. It is possible that you'll be sore and icky feeling for a bit while things get themselves worked out again. Now you can just focus on healthy things to get back to being normal and regular. Try to eat a diet high in fiber, even if that means you are getting your fiber mainly from fresh fruits and veggies. Keep away from the cheese. Just focus on healthy, naturally gluten free foods for now. And drink plenty of water.

twe0708 Community Regular
twe0708
Posted

I great way to get your fruit in is to make a fruit smoothie.  I purchase a magic bullet and love it.  I add about 5 strawberries, 7 blackberries, one banana, and a handful of spinach that you get in the salad section.  Add a half of cup of crushed ice and water and mix.  It is so good and you can't taste the spinach.  I also do the same with vegetable - two sticks of chopped celery, 6 carrots and kale or spinach, add strawberries or half an apple for taste add ice and water.   

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

 I purchase a magic bullet and love it. 

(me too!  it is so handy to make salad dressings!)

 

hey, lexi :)  why are you eating gluten free?  are you under a doctor's care currently?  

lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted
  • Author

(me too!  it is so handy to make salad dressings!)

 

hey, lexi :)  why are you eating gluten free?  are you under a doctor's care currently?  

I have celiac disease and have been gluten-free for over a year now

Renegade Contributor
Renegade
Posted

I have celiac disease and have been gluten-free for over a year now

 

That is going to sound very harsh but no you have not been, you have been limiting it a lot.

 

gluten-free would mean you get certified gluten-free oats not regular ones and even Quaker mention it may contain wheat.

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

I have celiac disease and have been gluten-free for over a year now

i'm glad you are here, then :)  our doctors tend to diagnose us and shove us out the door - "eat gluten free!  you're cured!  good luck!  tty....n!"  lolz - mine couldn't answer any of my questions and were clueless about hidden gluten.  so, happy opposite day - i'm not the C expert, mine 'runs' the other way (the dreaded big D).  i do notice being a little more bound up when i eat cheese, though.  maybe you should skip that for awhile and see how you feel.  are you currently keeping a food journal/have you ever done that?  helps me to figure out what in the world have i eaten  :blink:  

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

Oh and COFFEE, that is also one thing that stimulate your system.

(LOLZ!)  

lexibrowning Explorer
lexibrowning
Posted
  • Author

That is going to sound very harsh but no you have not been, you have been limiting it a lot.

 

gluten-free would mean you get certified gluten-free oats not regular ones and even Quaker mention it may contain wheat.

I was diagnosed with Celiac this summer.  Having to buy only "certified" foods is new to me because last year when I started avoiding gluten, I could still eat some things and be fine.  I am learning as my symptoms intensify what I can and cannot handle.

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      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

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      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
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