Help Please - I am Desperate

Pembily

I am a 26 year old female and since I was about 22 (6 months after I seriously smashed my ankle and had major surgery on my ankle and around the time I cut ALL fat out with WW) I became chronically constipated - 4 years later I would still be consipated - not the nicest thing but I need help - the cramps and the gas is cruel...


I am not looking for medical advice, I have had tubes up and down twice and was told take fygobel as you have IBS (which I do not believe) - that was when I was 22... I had an ulcer at 16 which kinda reoccured last week due to stress, but most of the time unless I eat serious amounts of bad fatty foods my ulcer / heartburn is sound

I eat well - most of the time - not lately but normally!!!

I don't eat wheat, I try not eat dairy, I try not to eat sugar, I can't seem to find my triggers, for example, I had ham oat cakes and salad twice in one day, at lunch I was sound, but after having it at supper I was dying with cramps.

I have tried EVERYTHING all work for a while - doctors (if you recommend a dr please recommend a person - am tired of being classed as a hypocondriac), homeopath, accupuncture, tincutres, going off foods. Nothing has successfully worked longterm, psyllium husks, linseed soaked overnight!!!

I exercise - used to be cycling and now its walking as I find it helps the problem a bit.

It is a very very very embarassing situation and uncomfortable!!!

Please any suggestions on what I can try!!! I am desperate at this stage!!!!!!!

My normal diet would be -
Breakfast - porridge with seeds, eggs or homemade oatmeal, maybe a rasher, baked beans, pudding or gf sausage and the odd time oat cakes
Dinner - turkey, ham, pork, salmon, chicken, beef, vegetables (won't eat mushrooms but that is all) sauce (homemade) maybe some brown rice or poatoa but I tend not to eat poatotes
Supper - soup (homemade), meat, salad (lettuce, rocket, tomato, cucumber etc), small bit of homemade dressing
Snacks - was grapes and pineapple but ye got me off them :eek: so now I have apples and berries, nuts, seeds maybe soya natural yogurt (accupuncturest put me off that)
Exercise - I try do at least 30min most days but due to thesis I havn't gone as often as I wanted but nearly there!!

Thanks in advance

EileenG

Off the top of my head, what about coconut oil? Supposed to be great for IBS, and also for constipation.

Pembily

EileenG wrote: »

Off the top of my head, what about coconut oil? Supposed to be great for IBS, and also for constipation.

How?? As an drink or what? Thanks

EileenG

A lot of bodybuilders will add a couple of spoons to a cup of black coffee before a workout. But you can also cook with it, or mix it with cocoa for a sort of chocolate effect, or even just eat it off a spoon.

Pembily

EileenG wrote: »

A lot of bodybuilders will add a couple of spoons to a cup of black coffee before a workout. But you can also cook with it, or mix it with cocoa for a sort of chocolate effect, or even just eat it off a spoon.

Don't drink coffee, so might mix it with cocoa, or on its own - would it be best first thing in the morning??

Why do we get gas? What causes it?? I am bad right now (I did eat junkey crap but I can be the exact same when I have eaten well)!!!

What is good long term for digestion? I don't eat too much beef as I know its hard to digest!

Thanks so much...

EileenG

Oddly enough, meat is not that hard to digest. It's one of those foods which is almost all digested, so very little poop afterwards, but it should not cause problems.

High fiber foods are a double edged sword for you, as they keep the bowel moving briskly, but are also more likely to cause gas.

Khannie

Consider psyllium husks. Just make sure you take plenty of liquid throughout the day if you do. They are *amazing* at keeping things moving.

Pembily

Khannie wrote: »

Consider psyllium husks. Just make sure you take plenty of liquid throughout the day if you do. They are *amazing* at keeping things moving.

I tried it, how much is plenty - I would drink at least 1.5 l of water a day!!!

Thanks

Zamboni

I empathise with you. Husks, flax, bran, none of it works for some people.
Have you tried Laxose?

Pembily

Zamboni wrote: »

I empathise with you. Husks, flax, bran, none of it works for some people.
Have you tried Laxose?

I would rather not - had to take it in hospital and just find it rank and its not good long term and due to being 26 and planning on living until about 86 I am looking at the long term :rolleyes: Thanks though!

EileenG

Magnesium also have a laxative effect, but should not irritate your bowels.

Pembily

EileenG wrote: »

Magnesium also have a laxative effect, but should not irritate your bowels.

Will look into that thanks a million

rubadub

Pembily wrote: »

I tried it, how much is plenty

Plenty for me was 20g, and everybody was shocked when I posted that. The packet says 1-2g in at least 350ml of water. It puffs up in the water and could be a choking hazard if you add too much to too little water. I survived my 20g dose no problem and certainly got things moving!

There was a big thread on it here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055522503

I just fry stuff in my coconut oil, I like greasy food so do things like fry oat pancakes in loads of oil.

metamorphosis

I was having moving issues a while ago when i had way too much flax. Temple G actually posyed about coconut oil so i took to tsp from the jar to my mouth in the morning and a while later hey presto i went - be careful though - slips!!

EDIT: past week or so iv been taking 3 tbls of psylum husks in water and knocking it back before bed and i find it great when i get up 1st thing in the morning i need to go. I used to take 1 tbls and found it did nothing for me. Loads water though

Darkginger

This is anecdotal, but I used to have similar problems - especially trapped wind, which is SO uncomfortable. Since adopting a low carb diet, my problems have gone away. Obviously, if you're not looking to lose weight, you wouldn't want to restrict your carbs too much - and you already don't eat wheat. Try cutting out the oatmeal, beans and rice (and continuing to avoid potatoes)? I also find that if I get a bit blocked up, eating something heavy on the olive oil (aubergine parmigiana's a good one) seems to get things moving. So does red wine, but you don't want to be drinking that all the time!

I've heard good things about coconut oil too.

Red Cortina

A bit off topic but does anyone know if psyllium husks are suitable for someone on a gluten free diet??

davyjose

TBH, if the OP has an ulcer, all bets are off. Depending on the severity, and location, of your ulcer, the standard diet for most people won't apply to the OP.

Thread should be locked, tbh. OP needs medical advice (see a gastroenterologist)!

Pembily

davyjose wrote: »

TBH, if the OP has an ulcer, all bets are off. Depending on the severity, and location, of your ulcer, the standard diet for most people won't apply to the OP.

Thread should be locked, tbh. OP needs medical advice (see a gastroenterologist)!

HAD an ulcer, my stomach went to crap lately due to serious stress!!!!!! I have been to all the doctors and have been told "oh constipation - take fybogel" basically though for you!!! I know my body and I know when I need to go to my doctor!!!

Thanks everyone for the advice, will start taking 2 good tsps of psyllium husks!!!

corkcomp

davyjose wrote: »

.

Thread should be locked, tbh. OP needs medical advice (see a gastroenterologist)!

no offence to the OP but I agree! No one here REALLY knows what the problem is so its imposisble to say