Digestive issues complainey thread. « Back to Group Discussions

[g&a]

Can I complain for a moment?

I'm feeling rather miserable today.  Have not been digesting well this whole time - not nauseous anymore, but the food just moves really slowly.  I'm eating really small meals (snacks really) instead of meals, have upped my fiber and water and am generally eating very healthily which has kept it all mostly manageable. 

Then I got some gluten.

I will not describe what happens when gluten and I collide, but let's just say it's not pretty.  That was Saturday.  My digestive system is still completely out of whack (Tuesday) and I'm feeling rather miserable.  I think I'm just going to hide under my desk for the day.

All right, rant over.

[dayiscoming2006]

Sorry you're going through that. My digestive system is definitely slower, but not that slow thankfully. Hope you feel better soon.

[Ruheling]

Yuck. I sympathize though. Mine is normally slow and now it's positively glacial. When stuff gets weird, I find myself trying to think back several days to figure out what I ate (or didn't eat). Blergh.

[talldarkeyes]

I cannot eat beans or I get extreme stomach pain and then gas for days. Otherwise my digestion has been pretty good.

[yallcomeback]

I'm in the same boat! I have IBS that goes both ways normally. In pregnancy my gut does not move! I'm so bloated all the time, I can only eat really small meals even when I'm hungry for more. magnesium has definitely helped with the constipation but not the bloating.

[StartingAllOver]

I have been having weird digestive issues too. I will go ages without a need to go, then if I eat a heavy meal...bam. I am stuck in the bathroom for hours. :( 

It makes me never want to eat anything. :-\

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by StartingAllOver 

I have been having weird digestive issues too. I will go ages without a need to go, then if I eat a heavy meal...bam. I am stuck in the bathroom for hours. :( 

It makes me never want to eat anything. :-\

Did you try the magnesium thing? It really does help.

[talldarkeyes]

I use magnesium oil and spray it directly on my lower extremities. I have very rarely been constipated during this pregnancy and I definitely attribute it to the magnesium oil.

[dayiscoming2006]

I take 250-500 mg mag citrate daily and it does the trick for me. I used to get really constipated otherwise. Diet change has helped some too.

[StartingAllOver]

I haven't tried magnesium. Does it just help regulate? My fear would be that it might make my loose bowel times worse if that happens to be the way the wind is blowing...

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by StartingAllOver 

I haven't tried magnesium. Does it just help regulate? My fear would be that it might make my loose bowel times worse if that happens to be the way the wind is blowing...

Well, you could start with a low dose of it (250 mg a day) and see how your body reacts. It's a good supplement for other reasons too. Our bodies need magnesium.

[talldarkeyes]

My understanding of magnesium oil is that you only absorb what you need through your skin so it will not cause diarrhea like oral supplements can. Plus it is cheaper if you make it yourself though certainly not as convenient.

[g&a]

wow, I have never heard of magnesium oil spray, will have to look for that one.

so to follow up, I went home right after typing this post, feeling really awful still.  Next day i was better and had a midwife appt.  She suggested a couple of things, most of which I was already doing, but I thought I'd pass her advice on.

small meals throughout the day

mostly cooked foods

drinks not when you are eating

citrius - eg. lemon in your water

peppermint tea

hydrochloric acid suppliment

that's all I can remember for now.

[Monkey pants]

How does one make magnesium oil? I have terrible digestion. I actually (tmi) poo blood. I got the flu last week that ended in 18 hours of vomiting. So I've been battling dehydration. I try to drink and drink water, home made electrolite water etc. I just can't get back to normal. I also get stressed out which makes my issue worse. Ugh.

[wrenmoon]

I'm a big fan of chamomile tea for bad digestion- it's anti-inflammatory, soothing encourages healing or tissue and is antispasmodic for cramping. Also works for constipation and pain. (Peter Rabbits mother was right.) I would use the loose tea, or double tea bags in a pint of water for a therapeutic dose and sip it all day long.

[talldarkeyes]

Wrenmoon, can you use Roman chamomile instead of German for the same effect? I only grown Roman so that is all I have. I usually reserve it as a sleep aid. Are we talking a tsp. of dried blossoms in 8 oz. water or a stronger dose? I am talking for a single dose, not sipping all day.

Monkeypants, you can order magnesium chloride on amazon and make the "oil" from dissolving the crystals in water, but you may just want to buy a bottle of oil to try first. It can irritate skin at first so you might want to see how you react to it before buying a whole bag. The standard dose is 30 sprays/day.

[wrenmoon]

Talldarkeyes, I'd make a pint at a time and use a tablespoon of loose herb per cup- then drink that through the day. My understanding is that there are slight medicinal differences between the Roman and German but they are broadly interchangeable. Especially if you have grown what you have.