Forums:
i All. I have been on list 1 for 5 days and going for my first visit with Dr. B this wednesday. I am SO constipated. I have been feeling ok during the day, the pain is 2-3 on the 10 scale. But I am so constipated by the time I get to after dinner the last two nights I am so congested down there I think it is irritating the bladder. I finally had to use infant glyceryn suppositiories. They helped the first night but the last night my pain lingered after the bowel movement. I really need to stop the glycerin supps but I didn't know what else to do last night I was so uncmfortable :( I had to take a sleeping pill and I have been able to go a lot of days without those lately.
I searched the boards and I guess I can try adding in more vegetables, bigger salads and a soup Dr. B mentioned with celery, brocoli and green cabbage. Ugh. I am eating veggies with breakfast even tho they make me gag. My portions are 1/3 veg 1/3 starch 1/3 protien because I had been losing weight and am a little under, but maybe I should go back to 1/4, 1/4, 1/2 veggies.
I also upped my magnesium for now. Yesterday I drank very warm water as that and coffee used to be my trick and worked pretty well.
My pain is so manageable during the day, and SO bad at bedtime. It really sucks :(
Thanks for any thoughts.
Have you tried coffee? I made
Have you tried coffee? I made the executive decision to try coffee before I went to see Dr B and I was fine with it. You may be ok with it.
Hey there, I can't advise on
Hey there, I can't advise on the constipation as I have diarrhoea instead (what fun this all is!) but what I CAN say if this helps at all is that you're not nuts, there is a definite link between bowel issues and bladder pain, and this has improved SO MUCH for me through treatment. A year past AUgust, I was on holiday in Wales with partner and it was a nightmare - I'd have a BM and then be incapacitated, unable to move in such pain. These days it's more or less fine - maybe a bit sore afterwards for half an hour. Used to feel like I'd had acid poured over me after every bowel movement. Grim!
So hang in there - this will improve. The bowels are the seat of the problem, so it makes total sense that they have a knock-on on everthing else; and they're what dr b's trying to sort out, fundamentally (no pun intended) x
Thanks Sarah! and Dier, if you read this follow up...
I would LOVE to try coffee. Miss it so much, but to scared to try it. You said you started coffee at the beginning of treatment? Were you symptomatic but it just didn't make things worse?? How did you know you were not reacting to coffee if you already had symptoms? Just curious your thoughts. I will ask Dr. B on Wednesday.
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
I could tell that I didn't
I could tell that I didn't get much worse with the coffeee. With other foods it was obvious that I did worsen. I read so many old posts on here that people said they were ok with coffee and so just decided to try and then let Dr b tell me no if she wanted to. Coffee is seriously my favorite thing.
I remember taking the
I remember taking the magnesium pills in the beginning to help aid with the constipation, but bc i really wanted to changes to happen naturally, i didn't take them for too long. I am 1.5 years into treatment, and although there is much improvement, i still struggle some months after having a really good couple of months. I understand this will take some time to be better, as for many many years, I neglegted my constipation problems. One thing that helped me was going to bathroom the same time everyday, even if nothing happens. Also a PT I was seeing in the beginning suggesting a sitting position that helps the bowels to relax and move. While you are sitting, relaxed but not crunched, also place a box or something to raise your feet higher. Oh and having steamed or slightly boiled broccoli for breakfast, then drink warm water over. I can't stand broccoli of all vegetables, its smell and taste gags me, so i drink a lot of water to wash it down quickly, which also helps :)
I stopped coffee for months
I stopped coffee for months before I saw Dr B & while I was on my trip to see her for the first time, I tried coffee. It didn't seem to bother me...I was afraid to try but no reaction. that was almost 4 months ago & I have one cup every morning after my kids go to school & the baby wakes up. It is my quiet tome before the day begins. I also take 1 Twinlab Mag tablet every night before bed 400mg. I figure I can't fix everything at one so I will continue with the help until my other symptoms are better. Besides when I can't go to the bathroom I am pretty miserable. If you are allowed to do little things to make things better! Do them and dont worry about the big picture right now. Just take care of yourself :)))
Amy
thank you Deir and Amy! Do you drink it black?
I used to use cream because it has NO suger (even allowed on some candida diets)but i guess milk in things doesn't come until list 3??
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
milk
I was okayed for milk in my coffee at the beginning of treatment. This actually helped me tolerate the coffee as it cuts the acidity. I would ask her at your appointment. Coffee is my favorite thing too! Especially with a lot of raw milk.
constipation
I have have had diverticulitis and IBS for years and so I'm familiar with it coming out too fast or not at all. Fiber helps of course but the standard above all for me is water. I sit on the toilet with my kindle and a big bottle of water and I begin to drink the whole think slowly and it creates the peristalis(sp?) and it comes out. Constipation is frequently caused by dehydration. Also, lay off meat or heavy protein for awhile, trying veggies, liquids and soft foods and it'll be better.