boulders in my colon!

[pixgirl1]

Hi all,Okay this is gross but please help.Everytime time I eat this way my colon stops.I have read previous posts and suggestions but I need something else.I tried this last time by using the 14 day starter kit and taking Metamucil and drinking a ton af water still blockage!I don't want to take anything that i will become dependent on.Also the Metamucil capsules made me gassy.Please help I really want to stick to this without caving because I am so miserable from not going! thanks

[JV1311]

I just take laxatives. Sodium Picosulfate. Yeah, I know, it is supposed to be addictive, yadda yadda yadda, but after I had my gallbladder surgery I just could never go normally again, to the point I had to see a doctor. So I've been using this on and off for 3 years, alternating with senna, as suggested by the doc to minimize addictive effects, and it doesn't seem like I got addicted yet. I will take 1, go 3-6 days without needing it, take another one... and they are supposed to be 3-4 a day, I am doing one or two a week.

[NorthernNisse]

Personally, I totally control this with a serving of SF chocolate. Takes care of things in a couple hours. I tried adding flax seed, to my salads etc., and it helped a lot, but nothing works for me like a little bit of SF chocolate. In fact, I just had some last night to clean things out. It is worth the extra couple carbs and I just plan for the calories......and it is delicious!

It takes time, but your body will adjust and constipation won't be such a problem in the long run.

Josie

[Meritt]

Hi there...

I know when that happens to me I don't have the patience to take anything that is going to take days to work... (Milk of Magnesia, etc.) so I use the good old 'granny' recipe with epsom salt.

1/2 c water
2 T epsom salt
2 T Tang instant breakfast powder or just a tiny bit of the Crystal Lite version - enough to taste which is about 1/5 of a teaspoon.


mix it up - (yes it's salty and thick) and drink it down fast! WHOOO! salty. But within an hour or so you'll have relief - and it ummm isn't 'long lasting' (meaning one trip to the bathroom will suffice and then you'll be fine to go on wtih your day).

PS: You can use anything to flavor it but I found Tang to be the best (lemon juice, kool aid, etc. were all yucky to me).

[tiva]

Eat more veggies! In the long run, the only thing that's going to keep this from happening is fiber. You should be eating 28-42 grams of fiber a day, which means fiber-rich veggies, not just a few supplements. Psyllium fiber and flax are ok, but check the label--you'd have to be taking a lot of supplements and a lot of metamucil pills to get what a bowl full of spinach does for you.

[LeslieT]

Even before this woe, I've had a problem in this dept. It got much better when I was pregnant. The extra hormones apparently have a "relaxing" effect on muscles in the lower intestines and colon that helps things move along. It must just be how my system works, because I typically eat way more fiber than DH (both on this woe and off) and he goes like every day .

I down the flaxseed meal, psyllium husks (as directed by Atkins), eat extra veggies (raw, salad greens), all to no avail. SF chocolate, lemon water, coffee, etc. does nothing for me. Once I go a week or more and start to feel uncomfortable, I go ahead and take a dose of Senacot. That usually helps clean things out and makes me feel alot better. I've worried about it becoming addictive, but what else can I do?

JV1311.....what is a brand name for the sodium picosulfate? Is this like Correctol? That stuff tends to make me sick and I think I end up losing way too much water.

[pixgirl1]

Thanks for the replies.As for the SF choc.I eat those already with no effect.I really don't see myself eating any more veggies.I usually eat a salad with lunch and green beans or collards for dinner.And you are right about the fiber capsules.It takes like six capsules to get 3 or 6 grams I think.
I guess I'm looking for a herbal remedy or something that I can take without addiction.I don't want to get dependent on laxatives.It is just not good for you.Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[Suebird]

I'd suggest using a laxative to get cleaned out, then go get some magnesium supplements. I take 2 a day, along with flax & veggies. I know the Mg helps me, I can tell when I run out of it. Dr. A also recommends Vit C, but I haven't noticed it helping as much.

[JV1311]

Tiva, fiber doesn't do the trick for everyone... when I was on a high protein/high fiber WOE I'd get as many as 40g fiber a day and the mail still wasn't moving. LOL

[tymom]

Try the Hersheys SF choc. Unbelievable in the lax dept.

[sadie_adriana]

I have the exact problem. I eat fiber rich vegtables and salad also, not alot of help. I thought maybe it was because my body was using up alot of the food I ate, and I just didnt "go" as often as I used to when eating the baddd way . I bought some of the "dieters tea" and it worked really good, 6hrs later to be exact LOL. Oh I bought the cinnamon spice flavor , and its yummy.

[lynn1972]

I haven't done this but, there is a web site curezone.com that gives you natural ways to cleanse your colon, liver, kidneys etc.
It talks about possible parasites and bacteria that cause our bowel area organs not to work correctly. Some of it sound hokey, but I have debated doing the liver/gall bladder cleanse myself. They say the liver is linked to weight loss.

Try psyllium husk capsules only start out slow, 1 each day and build up. Also, you can add psyllium to other things like protein shakes, peanut butter if you can have it, etc.

[raindropple]

I just went 8 days without a BM. I was starting to think I was going to have to go to the doctor. Nothing worked...veggies, SF chocolates, vegetable laxative, colace, metamucil, etc.....until I took 2 Exlax. Thats the only thing that works for me. It does give me bad stomach cramps but at least it gets things moving.

[GoodGirl]

I tried everything as you did even psyllium husk capsules, nothing worked. Then my brother told me to try the psyllium husk that you mix with water. This has worked really really well. No cramps and I "move" in a more natural way. You don't become reliant on it and for some reason it works in this form when the same ingrediant in capsule form didn't. I added a shot of sugar Free davinci rasberry syrup to improve the flavor. I see you tried metamucil capsules, but maybe this will work for you. I was worried about being on laxatives for the rest of my life.

BTW Overtime you can become reliant on laxatives to the point where your body won't move without them. Take care of yourself, and absolutely use the laxatives if you can't "go". You will need a trip to the hospital if you go to long without a movement.

GoodGirl

[fingers]

In massage school we were taught how to give stomach massages. Find a therapist who knows what they're doing and make an appointment. One of the girls I was in school with swears by it and she has a lot of trouble in that department.

What the heck, get a whole massage. It's better than real chocolate!

Leslie

[tiva]

It's fine to take a laxative to get things moving if they're really stuck (exlax has senna in it too, and please don't assume senna is fine on a regular basis just because it's natural). But once you've fixed the blockage, it's best to figure out what changes you need to make to keep if from continuing to happen. If the problem only started with low-carbing, most likely it's the decrease in fiber. Other things to try to change in your normal life: vitamins C and magnesium can help, and exercise can make a huge difference. A number of twisting yoga exercises probably do similar things that massage does--a good yoga teacher or book can give you the positions.

[sj76]

I tried everything too and they didn't work BUT...I started eating flax-o-meal for breakfast and I'm more regular now than EVER in my life! It's also very yummy. I buy mine at netrition ..I recomend the cinnamon or the vanilla almond,wasn't crazy about the strawberry.It's a little pricey so I'm going to buy a little spice grinder tomorrow and start making my own. Give it a try,Sue

[jbabbit]

I was having the same problem then I read a post the other day about lemon water. I started 3 days ago drinking a glass of lemon water (8 oz tap water....room temp +2 tsp lemon juice) first thing in the morning when I get up and it moves me every day now...

I don't know if it will work for every one but worth a shot...

[puttchikins]

I also am trying the lemon juice and water more to cleanse my kidneys and liver but I swear by ground flax seed, I and a breakfast porridge most mornings with lots of flax if I don't do that I just sprinkle it in my omlets, add to salads, anyway..Flax seems to work to help any bowel problems...

[AuntBea]

I have found that eating a couple of ounces of Macadamia nuts everyday relieves this problem. Two ounces has about 7 grams of carbs, but if you are counting NET carbs.....they are about 1 gram per ounce.

I've been doing this for the past 3 weeks and I haven't had "boulders" one time!!

The macadamia nuts are a treat....they are delicious with just a hint of sweetness.

AuntBea

[TXniteowl]

Magnesium works for me. I take 4 tablets at night along with my calcium and it keeps things moving just fine. It's cheap and you can buy it at Wal-mart.

[leex9]

i use dieter's tea every now and then. it's green tea, and you drink it before going to bed. when you wake up, you're ready to GO.

[breister]

Epsom salt (= magnesium sulfate) really does help but is very bitter. If you have a hard time swallowing that you can substitue with one bottle of Magnesium Sulfate (in the little green bottle). Most supermarkets carry their own brand but it is not expensive to start with. Pour it over ice and drink it fast - don't stop to taste the stuff. You could do this when you really are having problems, this is not a daily thing. They use it in the hospital to clean out the colon before a colonoscopy in combination with laxative pills.

[Bruno]

I take an additional flax seed oil/fish oil tablet with dinner and that made all the difference for me. 1 with breakfast & 1 with dinner

[Mr_Hill]

Try Super Colon Cleanse from GNC for the short term. (White bottle with green text) It works amazingly well. Then start taking the Keto High Fiber Complex regularly. It is an excellant fiber supplement with no carbs.

[DEP]

ok - wait a minute ........

You mean that I can eat SF Chocolate while doing Atkins without having a major effect on the diet ?

This sounds too good to be true...... can some one explain please?

Like, how many carbs/fat etc there is in a bar ?

[bonniejw2002]

This is a no-brainer. Take 250 mg of magnesium with each meal. Also, there is a supplement at the health food store called Triphala. It tones the bowel. Finish the tablets in one bottle and you're done. The magnesium takes care of the problem and helps build bones.

Between salads and veggies, a magnesium supplement, cod liver oil, Pilates (or yoga), and the occasional hit of lemon in water, I pretty much go every day. It was back when I was eating carbs by the ton that I couldn't poop to save my soul.

[LooksLikePaul]

There is a magnesium citrate supplement called Calm. One tablespoon of this powder is about 615 mg of magnesium citrate.

You fill a teacup 1/2 full with hot (not boilng) water, or nuke it for about 55 seconds to get it hot. Then dump in the 1 Tbs. of powder and let it fizz/dissolve. After it has dissolved, top off the cup with cold water and sip it down. It has a lemony, unsweetened gatorade type flavor to it.

If that doesn't do it after one dose, try again after your next meal and so on. I have never had to take more than 2 doses.

I used to get terrible bouts of constipation and this always worked. For me, though, that has become a thing of the past since starting Atkins.

Now I take about 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons before bed to get my daily magnesium. IMO, this gets absorbed better and faster by the body than the pill form that I used to take.

And of course this is not addictive or habit forming in any way. We all need to take our magnesium.