daily struggles

[helen1992x]

hi guys! i am new to this so any advice would be fantastic! i suffer with ongoing bowel issues (fluctuating between constipation and diarrhoea, blood and mucus, abdominal pains, nausea, weight loss, fatigue) for the last 4/5 years and still under investigation. what are people’s best ways of dealing with the pain and constipation? i can deal with the diarrhoea, and the nausea is daily and has been for the last 7 months so i’m used to it.. just when i am constipated, there’s blood everywhere and i’m in tears just trying to go it feels like the worst thing in the world! sorry for the graphic description, i am just living on movicol and drinki so much water and, if anything, it can make me feel more sick! thanks x

[Eliana5]

Hi, I am sorry to hear you are going through this. I too live with severe and chronic constipation, have not found anything that works, have to depend on Senna-lax once a week just to flush. I cramp badly after meals..no way to live. Have you heard of a product called "Heathers Tummy Tamers"? It is very good Acacia fiber, and she also puts out a very good quality peppermint oil for nausea and cramping. The acacia Fiber I have seen Very positive reviews for regularity. Also, a good probiotic supplement would work as well, to provide your stomach with good flora. There are many supplements available you can buy online that will make you feel better, and make you regular, as it has good active cultures in it. A good one I like is Culturelle. I also eat yogurt, unsweetened (the sweetened with fruit on the bottom will upset your stomach) look for one that has BB-12 in it, Acidolphilus, Infantis, L-casei, as these live cultures will help with nausea and help keep you regular and also help with loose stools, as well as constipation. If you are lactose intolerant they also have soy yogurt which taste very good, and other kinds of non-dairy yogurt and supplements.

[helen1992x in reply to Eliana5]

Hi Eliana! Thanks for replying to my post. I am unsure if I can take anything with peppermint oil. I suffer with bad reflux and abdominal pains which got worse with taking peppermint oil capsules. I will look into the Heathers Tummy Tamers. Never heard of that before! I did take busocapan but that made my cramps worse. It is no way to live. When it’s at its worst, I can’t eat out. Went on holiday to Greece at the beginning of this month, and I lost 5 pounds in 10 days from only eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast and a slice of bread each for lunch and dinner. Thankfully my GP is very understanding and putting me for everything he can! Is that yogurt like the activia one? I really like that I heard that too much fruit can be a bad thing as well? Shame because i love smoothies! Thanks for all of your advice x

[Eliana5 in reply to helen1992x]

Yes, but Activia is not good at all. I opened a container once and found a maggot in it. They wanted me to send it to them, but no way was I going to do that. They don't live up to their promises on their "Activia 14 day challenge". Look for a high quality yogurt like "stonyfield, or Siggys" Greek yogurts are usually the best. I have heard Align is good too, but prefer the higher quality ones. I use "friendly farms" yogurt because it has the best strain of live culture for constipation called BB-12 and L. Casein. The cows are farm raised. I don't like eating unhappy cows lol..hope this helps a bit..

[Eliana5 in reply to helen1992x]

Actually, smoothies are wonderful for constipation. I usually get the strawberry one or a blender one (strawberry/mango). My GP told me try to get a smoothie every chance I get..

[helen1992x in reply to Eliana5]

Oh really?? That would put me off yogurt for a very long time!! :/ what is the 'activia 14 day challenge'?? I will have a look next time I go shopping this week for some high quality yogurts and more smoothies. I have been drinking the innocent and naked smoothies but my boyfriend wants me to drink something less expensive haha so looking into getting a blender. Just didn't want to get one and then be told 'by the way, you shouldn't be eating that much fruit!' x

[Eliana5]

It was just a commercial promising your digestion would be better in 14 days or your money back..but these claims did not live up to the "hype" and the company (Dannon) faced legal action a few times over it. I tried it before the "bug" incident and it made me feel worse. Not a very high quality yogurt with good cultures. Let us know how things go. It also does not have to be yogurt, you can buy a probiotic supplement with live cultures on line that don't expire as quickly as yogurt. Just look for one with alot of strains and cultures. I hope it works for you..☺

[helen1992x in reply to Eliana5]

Ah I was going to say that's bollox, I didn't feel my digestion improved after eating it! haha I will have a look into it and see what I come up with, anything to ease my stomach cramps and nausea would be fantastic! Thanks very much for all of your advice

[Eliana5]

You're welcome, we are all here to help each other out, so I'm glad I was of some help..☺