Serious Dilemma

Sammy_B · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 48

My biggest problem now is trying to eat foods that i'm not sensitive to, prevent constipation and gain weight and I just cant seem to find a balance. I can gain weight if I eat and snack all day, but a lot of the foods i need to gain weight will constipate me or i am sensitive to them. Right now i cant eat wheat, dairy, soy eggs so that leaves me with very little to consume. Also, if i stray from my diet even slightly i will get constipated. I would love to be able to have some kind of protein shake every morning (pea or hemp protein maybe) but i just know it will constipate me. Fiber does NOT work..I repeat fiber does not work for me...it bloats me up and makes me miserable. I can load up on fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, nuts and I still have difficulty staying regular. I dont know anyone else like this..most people who are constipated can just increase fiber, water or drink prune juice but none of those things help me. my colon is so messed up and i just dont know how to survive anymore. I also have hemorhoids so if i get constipated they swell up..its like a never ending cycle and the only way to stay regular is to eat a very bland boring diet, which prevents me from putting weight on. The only supplement that kinda helps me is Natural Calm but i need to take 5 teaspoons of it every night and it still doesnt guarantee that my stools will be soft. Does anyone have suggestions for me?

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 4059 Location: Washington State

Perhaps you are eating too much of the wrong types of fiber. Too much soluble fiber can cause bloating and all the associated unpleasantness that comes along with it. Maybe you need to boost your intake of insoluble fiber. Flax seed is a great source. My oldest (Non-celiac)daughter had horrible constipation when she was very young. She would only go about once a week, and then it was like passing a baseball. Shocked

We added ground flax-seed to every meal, and the problem was solved within days.

Exercise can also be a huge help toward getting rid of constipation.

Be well.
_________________
-Colleen

Diagnosed 8/05 via bloodwork and biopsy
11-YO son diagnosed 11/05 via bloodwork and biopsy

Sammy_B · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 48

I eat tons of vegetables (insoluble fiber) and tried flax but it doesnt work for me. open to more suggestions.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12531 Location: WI, USA

Have they done a motility study on you? I'm surprised they haven't done a colonscopy as well.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

Sammy_B · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 48

Haven't had either. My GI doc says I won't need a colonoscopy for a few more years. What exactly is a motility test? Even if it shows that I have a sluggish colon, what kind of treatments are there?

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 4059 Location: Washington State

A motility study (I have also heard it called a colonic transit study) simly quantifies how fast things are moving through your gut. Many people have to take a multi-pronged approach to curing constipation - lifestyle changes, diet changes, prescription meds, etc. Constipation can also be caused by other medical conditions - thyroid problems, for example. The issue might not have its root in food at all.

Having read some of your other posts, I will also mention that chronic depression can cause constipation.
_________________
-Colleen

Diagnosed 8/05 via bloodwork and biopsy
11-YO son diagnosed 11/05 via bloodwork and biopsy

caseygirl · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 170 Location: Baltimore

I agree with Colleen, I would suggest seeing a therapist to help cope with all of the issues you are experiencing, as per your other posts.

Sammy_B · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 48

Ok I get it, its been established...I NEED THERAPY!!! LOL - im posting here to get others peoples feedback on they cope with the issues I am dealing with, not for people to tell me I need therapy...I get it. Sorry to be snippy but it just gets old after a while

Just Me · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

I cannot offer you any help or advice, but I can sympathize with you completely. I have been constipated all of my life and fiber makes it worse. I don't know how many doctors I've seen who have rolled their eyes at me and shooed me out of their office lecturing about getting adequate fiber and water. The only thing that has seemed to help is to be absolutely militant about excluding wheat and dairy from my diet--plus fructose (most fruits) seems to be an offender too. I do real well for a few weeks and then all of sudden I'm constipated again. I'm struggling right now and can't figure out what caused it. The only questionable thing I can think of is some CC from eating mini quaker rice cakes. I've thrown those away and now I have to be miserable for several weeks until I'm working right again. What gets me through these times is a spoonful or two (not a full dose) of milk of magnesia each evening. Magnesium definitely helps, cheap supplements are not easily absorbed so the liquid gives the best result in my experience.

I hear you, and feel for your situation. It's not standard digestive workings and doesn't respond to standard, text-book therapy. Hard to deal with, and even harder to find anyone to listen and understand.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12531 Location: WI, USA

Sammy - If you have chronic constipation - and your current doc won't look further into it - I'd look for a new doc.

There are motility drugs if there is a dis-motility issue.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

Sammy_B · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 48

Have you tried Natural Calm? Thats what I use and at least it gets things moving. I use oxypowder sometimes as well, but I had to back off cause i think the citric acid in there was irritating my system.

I still feel like there is something out there that can prevent the colon from reacting to the allergens the way it does, but I don't know what it is. Gotta keep researching I guess, but I spend so much time on the web researching health related stuff that its starting to interfere with my work and my life.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12531 Location: WI, USA

http://www.medicinenet.com/constipation/article.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/constipation/