Constipation-- anyone else having this?

[Krissy66]

Hi Everyone-- it's week four for me on low carb (Medi-Weightloss) and I am so miserable in the GI tract. Rabbit pellets comes to mind. I am drinking plenty of fluids, but I am sure it is the curtailed fruits and veg that has done this to me. I had to use a Fleets Phospho soda along with 2 Correctol, and today I am paying dearly for that decision (at work, mind you!). Is anyone else having this problem?

[ladyathome]

Yes I am dealing with this also. For me, I can't blame it on low carb because I had this from time to time before starting low carb eating. However, it seems a bit worse now. I am eating plenty of veggies, so I should be getting enough fiber. I think I have a slow GI tract. Before doing Low carb, I tried the Activia yogurt, and it really helped. Of course, it's off limits now with low carb.

I have had to take a Correctol a couple of times because it get so uncomfortable. There are several threads here about constipation, so it's pretty common.

Many posters says it's not good to take these laxatives because you can come dependent on them. I have tried other things, and nothing else is working yet. I have been taking probiotics, but no help from them yet.

I am just about to go search the threads and take notes on how much magnesium to take for this. Maybe that will help.

Hope you find a good solution.

[NCgrl]

I'm having this problem myself and really want to go off plan.I'm on day 6 and I can't believe you've made it 4 weeks.I'm totally miserable all the time.

[fluffybear2]

I've always gotten EXTREMELY constipated when doing low carb. Adding a teaspoon a day of processed bran to any food helps keep me regular and RELIEVED!

[Ragdoll24]

Dr. Eades recommends Magnesium. I really like this brand & take just one capsule every evening before sleep. You may want to take more than one if you feel it's necessary. No harmful side effects.

[Ragdoll24]

NSI Magnesium Ultra is excellent

[GGWilson]

Magnesium did the trick for me. First I tried probiotics, which helped greatly but I still wasn't quite as regular as I thought I should be. I was this way before coming back to LC as well. I take one 250 mg tablet nightly and it works wonders. I just use the Nature Made one's or whatever is on sale. I started with 1 in the am and 1 in the pm but felt like it was a little too much for my body so I switched to 1 nightly. Give it a try and good luck!

[clearblue]

Powder[/url]
buy a package and mix it into your food. I fix a glass of 1/2 hot water and 1/2 tomato juice and mix in 1/2 teaspoon of the powder and it solves the problem plus there are no carbs or calories to speak of in the powder.I also add a little Braggs apple cider vinegar,mineral drops a clove of diced garlic into the tomato tea
seeearthclinic.com)for more details on tomato tea.

[AnDee]

Just saw this thread and recently I was very constipated and started using my liquid magnesium caplets (from Vitamin Shoppe). I started with 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening and man-oh-man, did it help me. Now, I take one caplet a day and I'm back on track.
Warning - do not take too many or else you'll have the opposite problem.

[tybeeanna]

Thanks You all

[Mfit4Me]

I'm going thru the same thing. I drink a tea called citrimaxx every 2 days

[Zer]

Originally Posted by Krissy66

Hi Everyone-- it's week four for me on low carb (Medi-Weightloss) and I am so miserable in the GI tract. Rabbit pellets comes to mind. I am drinking plenty of fluids, but I am sure it is the curtailed fruits and veg that has done this to me. I had to use a Fleets Phospho soda along with 2 Correctol, and today I am paying dearly for that decision (at work, mind you!). Is anyone else having this problem?

Nothing excites LC folk like suggesting that water is the answer to constipation. But why not try water? It has helped all who come to me asking for guidance in unpacking a packed colon that has insufficient fluid to move along what has become impacted. Water. HOT WATER. Try a quart in the morning, with lemon juice is nice. If nothing moves within a short time, do not hesitate to slurp another 32oz of HOT WATER and consider how our plumbing MUST react to having HOT WATER poured in one end. Something WILL move, I wager, once the water has hydrated what is not moving right now. I'd suggest doing this on a day when you are free to sit a spell, sip some more, sit a bit. Workdays are not probably the best days to correct a backup of long standing. Good luck.

[deekay28]

Can someone tell me if this Magnesium will cause cramping or undesirable side effects? Is it like a laxative? I had to take one last night because it had been one week of "nothing". And I thought I was gonna die this morning... I want to stop taking the laxative but I'm too scared of the consequences..

[lbendall]

eat LOTS of spinach salad , with nuts/seeds on it with your meals

magnesium baby!

and the hot water thing with a bit of coffee works too


also a shot of olive oil or coconut cream before a strong coffee works too


always try natural methods before forking out money on supps

[wifezilla]

Fish oil, vitamin C, and magnesium can all help. I had constipation issues before LC so I can't blame that.

[kristinaInWa2003]

Originally Posted by Krissy66

Hi Everyone-- it's week four for me on low carb (Medi-Weightloss) and I am so miserable in the GI tract. Rabbit pellets comes to mind. I am drinking plenty of fluids, but I am sure it is the curtailed fruits and veg that has done this to me. I had to use a Fleets Phospho soda along with 2 Correctol, and today I am paying dearly for that decision (at work, mind you!). Is anyone else having this problem?

take about 6 tablets of Citrucel (NOT Citrical)and call me in the morning Seriously, that stuff works great

[kristinaInWa2003]

I've been taking magnesium for a long time, even before low-carb, and was still plugged when I first started...till I took the Citrucel.

[GGWilson]

Originally Posted by deekay28

Can someone tell me if this Magnesium will cause cramping or undesirable side effects? Is it like a laxative? I had to take one last night because it had been one week of "nothing". And I thought I was gonna die this morning... I want to stop taking the laxative but I'm too scared of the consequences..

If you've been backed up it may cause some discomfort at first, but generally it shouldn't. Stop the laxatives, they are just causing problems. Magnesium should, taken daily, should help a lot. Try starting with just one 250 mg supplement and adjust as needed. I take mine at night and find that's the best time for my body. Good Luck!

[kristinaInWa2003]

Magnesium did nothing for me

I was still pretty plugged till I started Citrucel. YMMV

[kiwikid]

Asparagus

[skeeweeaka]

Magnesium citrate made my stomach hurt...so I switched to Milk Thistle and it is much better... Easier to find as well....

TJ

[girl81]

Originally Posted by AnDee

Just saw this thread and recently I was very constipated and started using my liquid magnesium caplets (from Vitamin Shoppe). I started with 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening and man-oh-man, did it help me. Now, I take one caplet a day and I'm back on track.
Warning - do not take too many or else you'll have the opposite problem.

citrate or oxide?

[vpsutton]

Sugar Free Metamucil works for me.

[sarahque]

Something else to think about if you have a problem with constipation - when's the last time you had your thyroid checked?

I didn't realize that was a symptom of an underactive thyroid, until my mother ended up in the hospital with several problems, including constipation that lasted longer than a week. Turned out that her thyroid apparently stopped working a few years ago, and her body just got worse and worse. Now that they have her on thyroid medicine, she's doing much better, including with the constipation.

SarahQ

[emslight]

I've been using a colon cleansing product called Colosan which has been wonderful in flushing me out. Otherwise, try a spoonful of psyllium or get yourself some ground flaxmeal and make flax 'cereal'.