Constipation

[Guest BERNESES]

I got desperate last week and got a bottle of critrate of mag (10 oz) and the pharmacy said you'll go with that piece of dyamite...... well let me tell you there was no volcano eruption happening for me. Even when you take the stuff for the colonoscopy I had to drink the total amount before I even had cramps and thought about having a bm. mamaw

Oh my gosh- I had to laugh when I saw that! I did the gluten challenge for 2 weeks before my biopsy and didn't go for like 18 days. I ended up in the ER and they gave me that stuff. So, I took it the next day. Tried half a bottle. Nothing. Took second half of bottle. Nothing. Then about 4 hours later I thought I had to fart and all came out on the sofa. I hope i didn't gross anyone out but my husband and i were in hysterics. It''s like, I have C all the time but if I take anything it takes a long while to kick in and then it's just bad news all over!

[penguin]

Oh my gosh- I had to laugh when I saw that! I did the gluten challenge for 2 weeks before my biopsy and didn't go for like 18 days. I ended up in the ER and they gave me that stuff. So, I took it the next day. Tried half a bottle. Nothing. Took second half of bottle. Nothing. Then about 4 hours later I thought I had to fart and all came out on the sofa. I hope i didn't gross anyone out but my husband and i were in hysterics. It''s like, I have C all the time but if I take anything it takes a long while to kick in and then it's just bad news all over!

Well that's a bonding moment for you!

[jerseyangel]

OMG Bev--it's a good thing I wasn't drinking anything as I read that--I'd be wiping down my monitor . This is such a classy disease!

[Guest BERNESES]

I know- Thank the good Lord I have a 12 year old's sense of humor! At least it happened at home. Yes- my hubby is the best. It was like, you gotta laugh cuz otherwise you'd cry. Actually I had to miss class that night and my professor was a jerk about it. Kurt told me I should go to class and try to pull off my trick again.

[jerseyangel]

That would have served him right

[key]

That is a funny story! LOL!

monica

[Kerri A.]

Ok, what am I doing wrong. I am vegetarian and I do eat some dairy. I just don't know what else to eat. What do you guys eat. I try and add apples, brocolli, eat a ton of beans, salads, try adding flaxseeds and prunes. I eat quite a bit of the gluten-free breads.

I am very frustrated though, because I can't stay regular. Before going gluten free I would have diarhea on and off and C. NOw it is just C! I was always nauseated before, had chronic yeast infections, bone pain, bruising, fatigue, etc. So I know I feel better gluten free, but when I struggle constantly with some digestive issue, it really gets depressing.

I have thought about giving up dairy, but I am alreay gluten free, vegetarian, trying not to give up my caffeine and I don't drink any alcohol. My life is just really boring in the food department! Sometimes I just think I should quit eating! I also had to start taking Prilosec for heartburn. I seem to continue to lose weight and just don't seem to feel healthy. I have been gluten free for almost a year in the middle of May.

What do you guys eat? WIthout cheese I feel like I might just starve to death. I really would hate to be on a raw food diet. Basically if I give up dairy, I have vegetables left.

Does anyone else have this problem. I have thought about adding fish to my diet, but I have never cooked it. DOes anyone have a good recipe, that won't taste fishy?

THanks guys.

Monica

After having to eat this weird way for the last eight years would you believe I have started with C for the first time this year! I was doing just fine with everything in my diet but when I turned 36...well...C! What the heck is this all about?? I have added more green, leafy vegetables, dried plums (I don't like calling them prunes...bad memories from grade school!), dried apricots...these work pretty good!! I see there are quite a few good ideas from the other posts too. Experiment a little, you should find something that will work for you.

I completely understand with the cheese thing...I know I eat way too much cheese

It goes good with almost anything.

Good luck!

[key]

Kerri,

Yeah, I just woke up one day and my digestive system is rebelling!! I need to buy some apricots dried, because those have really worked for me before. I don't do laxatives. THey are bad for you. I am going to cut out dairy and caffeine and I think that will work for me. I think my problem is the caffeine. It does something crazy to me. Whenever I have given it up for three weeks or so, I don't have C anymore. I am just such a loser at it! I always fall back into drinking it at some point. I do feel better without it and then get overtired or something and if I just have one soda or one cup of coffee, the cycle starts all over. I just want to be healthy though, so whatever it takes.

Glad to know I am not the only one with this battle. I feel way too young!

Monica

[mamaw]

My hubby told me it just goes to show --- alot of people are full of S--t !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

don't you just love these informal , educational topics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

only in the celiac forums.........

From one big c to all others

mamaw

I think I might have to try one more bottle of Citrate of mag. It was lemon flavor my favorite.... I may have to drink it like ice tea to get it to work on me.... The pharamist just looked in dismay when I told him it didn't work....

[tiredofdoctors]

I love this forum!!!!! I was telling my husband some of these answers -- his response "It's nice to know that we're not the only strange couple out there." I mean, we cheer when I finally go!

I used to have the IBS/C thing -- that's' why it's so different for me. For the longest time, I used to wish it would just go away . . . THAT falls under the category of careful what you wish for. Now, I think Hmmmmm, was it so bad?????

The neurologist is afraid that is that the nerves to my colon are damaged, and it just doesn't know how to make the muscles to work to push stuff through. Guess I just have to be full of &*#! my whole life, and as food goes in, a little tiny bit might come out!

Thanks for the greatest laugh . . . . .Lynne

[jenvan]

I love this forum!!!!! I was telling my husband some of these answers -- his response "It's nice to know that we're not the only strange couple out there." I mean, we cheer when I finally go!

Hey lady! Ha ha! I had to laugh at this--I think my dh and I were the same. I would say after several months gluten-free things got better and are also better dairy-free. The life-saver for me though is pysllium. It seems inevitably I always so down again at some point and it jumps start the system. Do you ever have periods of time where things are better?

[Guest BERNESES]

This place makes me laugh! Imagine if every time you had a BM (finally) everyone cheered for you!

Jen- I can't tolerate psyllium. Does it make you bloated? It makes me blow up like a balloon.

[jenvan]

Berneses-

I like your new pic, its cute

I honestly think it depends on the psyllium brand and mixture. I have tried quite a few different ones in the past and have found one I think works great. In the past, I used to feel miserable for a day when I took it...but the new brand/mixture I found gives me no problems. I think the combination is what's key (my dh and I experiemented a lot in the past with it : ) and what we take now has licorce root and hibiscus in it. Also key in my mind is that it is in powder, not capsule form, and that it is not synthetic, but natural, and that you take the correct amount. Yeah, sounds like a lot, huh?! I think it does take some experimenting for most people to find the right mix/amount. I probably take it one to three times a week, depending on the week. Just mix two rounded tsps in a glass of apple juice. I take it now w/o any fear, no bloating, gas or anything--in the past I worried about the 'side-effects' I felt. Oh, and lastly, not sure what form you were taking, but in the past, lowering the dosage would reduce effects too.

[Guest BERNESES]

Thanks Jen (about the pic and the advice). If you don't mind, would you share the brand you take. Everything I've tried makes me feel sick.

I actually have two questions related to the big C. One is feminine, the other isn't.

I'm wondering if rice is constipating. You know when you get sick and they tell you to do the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea and toast). Is it because it settles your stomach (if the toast is gluten-free ) or because it stops D. I eat a LOT of rice and I'm wondering if that's part of my problem.

The second question is do any of you get very constipated before your menstrual period? I find that I don't go for about five days before I get it and then the day before it comes on, I spend a long visit in the bathroom (not D, just one BIG BM) and then feel icky. I also feel like my stomach is much more prone to upset during that time of the month.

Ahhh, lovely.

[tarnalberry]

The second question is do any of you get very constipated before your menstrual period? I find that I don't go for about five days before I get it and then the day before it comes on, I spend a long visit in the bathroom (not D, just one BIG BM) and then feel icky. I also feel like my stomach is much more prone to upset during that time of the month.

It affects my bowel a bit (I think towards the C end, but I don't remember), but definitely not that severely. It's fairly common for impending menstruation to affect the bowels though - those hormones are powerful things!

[Guest BERNESES]

I actually just read on a PMS website that it IS common for that to happen. Grrovy.

I also found this link which said:Open Original Shared Link

Constipation

Eating foods high in dietary fiber, particularly insoluble fiber, is an effective way to manage constipation. Dietary fiber attracts water, creating soft, bulky stools that stimulate bowel contractions and ease elimination. Fiber provides a good foundation for bacteria to grow on, which is important as sufficient bacterial action results in a larger stool volume and better bowel function. Dietary fiber is classified as insoluble or soluble and both types have notable effects in the body. Insoluble fiber is broken down slowly, if at all, by intestinal bacteria and promotes laxation. Soluble fiber is broken down (fermented) by intestinal bacteria and has little effect on regularity. Two noteworthy soluble fiber exceptions are oats and psyllium seed husks. Both promote regularity and are useful in relieving constipation. Because they are high in dietary fiber, ground flaxseeds can help ease the passage of stools and thus relieve constipation. The recommended dietary fiber intake for adults falls in the range of 20-35g per day, though the average American consumes far less, only 12-15g each day.

Dried fruit, and fresh fruits and vegetables -- particularly peas, beans, broccoli, raisins, and figs -- are excellent choices for elevating dietary fiber and relieving constipation. An added bonus is that these foods are packed with healthy nutrients. Prunes are beneficial for constipation because they serve as gentle laxatives. Drinking prune juice at bedtime is useful for a morning bowel movement, while prune juice at breakfast stimulates an evening defecation. Drinking plenty of water, 6-8 glasses per day, is essential when consuming a high fiber diet. Eating the same amount of fiber each day helps the digestive system adjust to a high fiber diet. Gradually increasing the amount of fiber foods into the diet reduces bloating and flatulence; lightly steaming vegetables breaks down some of the gas-producing components. In addition to dietary fiber, vitamin C and magnesium may help relieve constipation.

A number of additional ways to boost fiber in the diet include:

* Use brown rice instead of white rice

* Consume whole grain breads

* Snack on dried fruits, nuts, and popcorn

* Cook with whole grain flour

* Eat high-fiber cereal with fresh fruit for breakfast

* Substitute legumes (such as beans) for meat

* Select whole fruits rather than juice

* Eat the skin of cleansed fruits and vegetables

* Have a salad with dinner

* Add beans to salads

Foods that make constipation worse are alcohol, canned fruit, bananas, applesauce, pears, guava, white rice, white bread, and taro root (poi).

Mega-Recipes

We believe that it's possible to manage and/or improve certain conditions through what you eat. When we create "Mega-Recipes" for an ailment, we strive to include the maximum number of the nutrients that are shown to have benefit for that ailment. We also expect the Mega-Recipe to contain at least 25% of recommended intakes for those nutrients. See the list of recipes that have met our criteria for this ailment.

What You Should Eat & Why

fiber, insoluble

Insoluble fiber is important because it provides mass to the stool, helping to ease elimination. The fiber absorbs water and holds onto it in the intestine. When enough fiber is consumed, the water-retaining property helps to enlarge and soften the stool so less pressure is required to expel it.

Leading Food Sources of fiber, insoluble: Figs, Rice, brown, Prunes, Peas, fresh, Raisins & Currants, Beans, dried, Wheat

magnesium

Magnesium has gentle laxative properties that help to relieve constipation.

Leading Food Sources of magnesium: Spinach, Almonds, Quinoa, Amaranth, Chocolate, Pumpkin seeds, Oysters, Sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, Buckwheat, Barley, Avocados

vitamin C

Vitamin C acts as a gentle laxative, making it useful in the treatment of constipation.

Leading Food Sources of vitamin C: Cabbage, red, Peppers, bell, red, Kiwi fruit, Oranges, Tangerines & other mandarins, Strawberries, Potatoes

[barbara3675]

Even though I eat gluten-free, take LOTS of magnesium with malic acid (for my fibromyalgia) which would make a normal person not be able to get far from the bathroom....I still get constipated at times. I just take fish oil tablets when this happens and things smooth out right away. The situation gets to normal naturally. It is the best natural answer to this situation I have ever found. Barbara

[blueshift]

I find that an east Indian food diet is best for vegetarians and to kick up on the amount of raw bell peppers in the diet. I eat three bell peppers each day along with 7 jalepenos. You might also try and cut out all flour out of your diet...I mean ALL of it. Your system might not be able to tolerate any.

When I eat a sandwich, I use one slice and surround the rice bread entirely with romaine lettuce and bell pepper.

Oh, by the way folks, Widfire is a restaurant that has a gluten-free menu. Their food is GREAT but expensive...

[munchkinette]

I've always had a problem with C, but now a lot of it is because of my iron supplements. My doctor told me to take colace for it. (docusate sodium) She said it's safe every day. The stimulant laxitives are BAD and some fiber pills are wheat germ or other stuff. I get C without the iron, so I basically won't take it unless I can take the colace too.

[CMCM]

Hey lady! Ha ha! I had to laugh at this--I think my dh and I were the same. I would say after several months gluten-free things got better and are also better dairy-free. The life-saver for me though is pysllium. It seems inevitably I always so down again at some point and it jumps start the system. Do you ever have periods of time where things are better?

Jen...what kind of psyllium do you use, and how much? I had always heard that psyllium was such a small amount it wasn't all that useful, but I've never tried it.

[debmidge]

I have had problems with C since I was 14 - always taking Milk of Magnesia as a teen and eating prunes.

When I got older I had to go to Dr. for hemorrids and other heine problems and he told me that my spincter muscle was not large enough...so I had to have surgery to open it.

He told me that I was probably born that way and that was why I could not eliminate properly.

Also, my Ob/gyn, during surgery found that some intestines where adhesed to each other and she had to un-do them, which also helped immensely.

I questionned her about that, because I never had an abdominal surgery before so why would I have an adhesion.

Her response was that during our natural cycles of ovulation, some fluid seeps into abdominal cavity and can cause the intestines & other parts to adhese to one another.

Those two procedures alone cleared up my major C problems; then I only had to deal with the "monthly hormonal" C.

Just my experience with this ...

[jenvan]

For the folks that asked about my beloved psyllim Carole, Berneses-- I have a put a link to the brand I now use below. I suppose there is a chance that if psylliums in the past haven't worked for you that this might not either...but I will endorse the product on the fact that myself, my husband and my sister in law were all taking other brands with undesireable GI issues like gas, D as a result. Then I switched to this brand (b/c my other wasn't gluten-free) and I thought it was awesome! Works great, but I've never had any GI symptoms or discomfort. So my dh and sil switched and they said the same. I take two rounded tsps in a glass of apple juice--no heaping, but not flat--rounded I always follow-up with water, and I take it in the morning before eating. That's my preference. Depending on how often you take it, the container can last a while. I've had it for 4 mos or so, and it is 1/2 full. Hope it works as well for you two! If you take it, let me know what you think....

Open Original Shared Link

I also agree about periods affecting GI habits. Bernese--read this: Open Original Shared Link

Deb-

You don't have endometriosis do you?

[debmidge]

Jen, No, I had uterine fibroids. Had the fibroids removed and within a year more grew back. Finally had to have partial hysterectomy several years ago and well that ended that problem. Now I have the ovarian cysts due to my age (I'll be 50 this year). Dr. tells me that this is a common problem in my age group as still ovulating, but egg is not fully leaving ovary (gets stuck there) and then it develops a cyst and body "forgot" how to absorb the swelling back like it did when it was younger.

But OUCH they hurt when they are enlarged! I am at point where I wish they took out ovaries too.

I have a very conservative Ob/Gyn who doesn't rush to operate for every problem.....

[debmidge]

Bananas: It's basic of BRAT diet, but in themselves, do they cause constipation if your bowel movements are normal?

[Guest BERNESES]

thanks Jen for posting about your beloved psyllium and the Redbook article. that makes me feel better.

I just read that fish oil is great for C because it lubricates the intestines (it's also good for a whole host of other things like heart and mood).

Deb- I also just read that any component of the BRAT diet is somewhat constipating. I guess bananas are (I'm actually really surprised). But if you go regularly, I wouldn't worry about it as they are so good for you.