constant diarehia problems

[lyndagayle]

hello...I apologize because I've not been a very active member lately, but I have been continuing on my slow slow weight loss at any rate. I have been on Atkins since March of 2002. At this point I have lost around 20 lbs of about 40 that I need to lose. I am happy with this WOL in all areas except one. My bowel movements keep me in constant pain and anguish. My husband swears that it is gonna kill me. Basically I keep a semi state of diarehia any time I have a bowel movement. This makes my rear very sore. Up til this point I have just went on with the diet and used desitin to deal with the pain. However, it just keeps getting worse. Right now my stomach is cramping so bad..makes working difficult because I have little control over when I need to use the bathroom...I feel like the bathroom is controlling me. Any suggestions on what is happening to me? Possibly too much fiber? What should I do?

[suze_c]

Lynda, although I would like to offer you a sound reason for your stomach and bowel distress, right now I don't have a reason. Perhaps you could do some posts in a journal as far as what you eat in a day, and we can all look at it,and get some ideas of what you are eating that could be causing you this trouble. Have you had any surgeries? Still have your gallbladder? Have you ever had this problem before Atkins? Do you notice it after every meal, or just after certain foods? I know that Tuesday, I got 2 bacon cheeseburgers from Wendys(ate minus the bun),and then a salad too,which I ate without dressing, and a little bit later,I was worried that I was not going to make it into a bathroom, and I was having the cramps and all... and I don't usually have problems like that. Perhaps it is how you are combining your foods... I don't know... like I said, write some menu posts here, and we can look, and offer some suggestions....

[lyndagayle]

yeah...I'm really bad about writing down what I eat...probably why I'm losing so slowly.

yesterday I had the following:

breakfast - I was in a hurry so I ate about 2 tbs of peanut butter for breakfast..I know that sounds gross...but I like it. It is the low sugar kind...4 carbs for 2tbs. I also had a diet coke before lunch.

lunch - I ate a garden salad from our cafeteria with ranch dressing. The salad had lettuce, tomato, a few shreds of carrot and grated cheese, with a dill pickle on the side.

dinner - I ate 2 fresh ground sausage patties that my husband brought home. I also ate a homegrown tomato with it.

snack - I ate 2 pieces of "hot bologna". They have 90 calories and no carbs.

I know this sounds like a weird menu...but anyways..that is what I ate.

[LocaJo]

I don't think I would worry about too much fiber, even though you do it at least some veggies. You're still not gettng very much fiber at all. You might consider adding MORE fiber...metamucil or the like. I know that sounds weird if you have diarrhea, but don't poopoo :) it until you at least give it a try. One of the side effects of eating LC can be EITHER constipation or loose stool. I do get the latter myself, it's the carbs that make me constipated. If a few days or week of that doesn't help, I would the doctor the doctor. For tummy upset and then for sore bottom.

Jo

[Zuleikaa]

It does sound to jme that you're not getting enough fiber. Do get some phyllisim powder without sugar. It also sounds as though you're not getting enough calories. Everyone is different, I know I do better with fewer. But yours sounds too low. Have you put your menu in fitday. Or you could start a journal and ask for input about calorie levels. Are you getting hungry?

The good thing about fiber is that it thickens or loosens stools.

[Talon]

Before I started taking my fiber pills (Psyllium husk) I had this same problem for months, now I only have the problem if I forget to take them. Try them, they may help.

[lkonzelman]

The three things that come to my mind are:

1) peanut butter and caffeine make my stomach a little fragile and maybe you are having an adverse reaction
2) are you drinking enough water?
3) like all before me had stated you aren't getting enough natural fiber like at least your two cups daily of green veggies AND the fiber supplement

Good luck and feel better...

[tofi]

It's the PSYLLIUM, SILLY. :D

I have the same result of low carbing. It doesn't matter if I get the veggie and salad carbs up to 100 gm a day, I DO NOT get constipated. I get the opposite. This is what happens to some people who do LC and it's as 'normal' as being constipated.

The cure for both constipation and diarrhea is: TAKE PSYLLIUM CAPSULES. This substance is "pure fibre" but quite a bit of it is soluble fibre, so it absorbs the excess water in the intestines and forms a sort of 'gel' which gives you a more solid stool. And that solves the 'sore tailpipe' problem too.

But you MUST take it every day. For the first day, take one in morning and one in evening. Do NOT take vitamins or other supplements within an hour of the psyllium as it keeps some of them from being absorbed.

There are other forms of psyllium but the capsules are easiest to take. Psyllium husk powder can be mixed into liquid and drunk right away (or it starts jelling). Metamucil is mostly psyllium. GNC has its own brand and most health food stores do too.

I feel confident in promising that you will get REALLY QUICK RELIEF from psyllium capsules. I suffered for MONTHS and the day after starting psyllium was HEAVEN! It was that quick.



:wave:

[lyndagayle]

Tofi.....Thank you so much for the info... :) Do you have any idea where I could get those pills?I have seen the psyllium in powder form at my pharmacy, but have never seen a pill or tablet form. Where do you purchase yours?

[lkonzelman]

These are the ones I use.

http://www.vitaminproshop.com/033984023154.html

[Talon]

There is a variety of places to get them, GNC carries them. But like a lot of us here, I order on-line - much cheaper that way:

http://www.puritan.com/scriptsp/htmlos.exe/44112.2.4928872341000019457?

[Yesican]

This was a great question (thank you for asking it)...I am having the same "issue" even though I'm taking calcium which usually has the opposite effect.

So much helpful information!
I am going to get the psyllium.

(I love this place)
:)

[lyndagayle]

I appreciate all the help as well. I really love this way of life and that particular problem was my only reservation. I am going to get some of the psylium as soon as possible. I was so tickled last night because I had like balooned up the 166 before my TOM and I weighed last night and I'm actually down a lb to 162... :thup:

[RCFletcher]

Hi!

I agree with the TAKE PSYLLIUM CAPSULES (or powder) which appeared above.

You might like to try live kefir (or live yogurt if you can't get kefir).

If your stools are loose all the time your intestinal flora/fauna might like the top up. Live kefir works for me when I have your problem.

Wishing you luck,

Robert :wave:

[mamakim1]

another thought-
are you taking Magnesium as a supplement? I know that it can cause diahrhea, i love this side effect myself because i take just enough to keep me regular. I know that it can cause diahrhea because it is also used in the treatment of pain in fibromyalgia which i have read a lot about. The treatment calls for increasing your magnesium supplement intake, but warns that if you develop diahrhea to back off a bit. Hope this helps. :roll:

[KatieB]

I also have this problem. Nothing ever stops me up! I think it's because I'm eating more dairy. Believe me, I'm headed for the health food store right after work for psyllium!

Katie