Toilet 🙈

[myprettymess]

I have stage four deep infiltrating endometriosis Maybe a strange one but does anyone go through stages of constipation and diarrhea ? If so any tips ?! Maybe certain foods to eat or stay away from ?

[Amyrebecca246]

In the past couple of years I've developed a dairy intolerance which I think may have been triggered/not resolved by my stage 4 endo. I also find the amount of medication I'm on and the time of the month also impact my bowel habits.

[635703]

Gyne suggested low FODMAP diet. Diagnosed with IBD Crohn’s 🙄 Diet is a controversial one. Together they’re wonderful 🤪

[HHorrod]

Yes I do nearly every day! I try and eat high fibre things to help me go and drink lots by if I'm not careful it can make me go the other way.

[1Poppy1234]

I use lactulose if I can't go and slowly I'm finding the foods that don't help that said I still can't go and some days I'm running!!

[hobbitty]

I think it's a case of trialling certain foods - for me I think it's onions or garlic which 😫😩is unfair because I love them SO much!! I think the food map is interesting, and there's a book called Heal Endo by Katie Edmonds that explains about that

[ChicaPixie]

Hello lovely. Short answer is yes. I have deep infiltrating endo especially on my bowel and rectovaginal passage. In these places it has not been removed during my surgeries.

For years I've gone through stages of bad tummy cramps, diarrhea and then last few years constipation. After my last surgery (hysterectomy) I've only gotten constipated a few times.

What works for me, probiotics in form of yakult I drink these daily sometimes twice a day. I used to take pills but these days you don't know what's in them unless one that's recommended by a doctor.

Gentle stretching Jessica Valant on YouTube. I find her stretching technique really good for my pain when bowel pain striking.

When I am slightly constipated I tend to use Laxido orange sachets, sometimes I have to take them twice daily for it to work. They are laxatives I've been given after my surgery to help things moving again. But I often use these to help and find I'm better in the morning when I had a sachet before bed. They are available in any pharmacy.

I also drink plenty of water 2-2.5 liters per day. One thing in addition that I learnt on here is to understand the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber. As then you can eat more of the foods that help. That really helped me.

Fruits that also have helped me is kiwi and papaya and sometimes bananas. I've read that they help things moving too.

I've changed my diet completely and try not to have cow's dairy or lactose. Working on gluten at the moment.

These are just things that worked and helped me. I often also trial foods to see how I react and I know for a fact that red meat for me is a massive issue so I no longer eat it.

I hope this helps a little lovely and you get some relief, it's not fun at all when you're in that situation xx

[Bondi64]

Ibs is a common side affect of endo, i struggle alot with it. food diaries, low fodmap trials help and looking at the ‘ bristol stool chart’, you learn about diet and your gut pretty fast

If constipated eat more fibre- chia , flxseed, fruit veg etc- trial and error as everyones gut is different but you start to learn what causes issues

Having worked with a dietician for a bit i learnt few bits, most foods take up to 6 hrs to hit intestines, so if i was getting gut/abdominal pain i could relate to roughly back to what i ate

I also learnt milks, and even non milks like oat, etc which arent great as high fodmaps can be diarrhea triggers ( could trigger in 2-4 hrs)

Lowfodmap for example are good for setting a baseline and then introducing foods to see main triggers/reactions

Its about learning what your biggest pain points are, bit of a faff but worth doing

And once you know , you try not to ‘stack’… eg triggers like gluten milks etc- not stacking lots of triggers or high fodmaps throughout the day

also recommend Heal Endo book

[Sunset-lady in reply to Bondi64]

This is such great advice - you are right! It's the stacking that causes problems. This is why holidays are hard x I'm there in my hotel getting chia seeds out of my bag hahaha xxx

[Sunset-lady]

Every day for 15 years UNTIL I did ZOE and discovered that chia seeds worked for me. I soak them overnight in unsweetened almond milk with pumpkin and sunflower seeds and my goodness they do the job. If I eat gluten I'm constipated and if I have dairy I get loose stools. It's a joy. If you try chia only use a tiny bit at a time or you'll be constipated at first but persevere. Xx