delicate question? | Arthritis Information

Seriously, though, I know that has to be awful all the time. Maybe call back dr tomorrow and see what else they can do???

 

Just a thought.

Let us know how you feel tomorrow!

I hope you have a peaceful night too!

 

The weight gain could be 'bad gut' flora taking over the 'good gut' flora.  Remember those articles about a year back about how overweight people had much more efficient 'bad' gut bacteria?  That is what I think is going on.

 

Because we have a set amount of water in our bodies.  It's either in our cells or in our...stools.  Some people think that constipation is the exact same thing as diarhea - just that the water is distributed differently.  In the body instead of into the waste. 

 

If you want to stop the loose stools and also drop your pain levels - I heartily suggest adding in probiotics.  Go to the store and get a refrigerated version of anything with the most live cultures and the most strains.  You can eat yogurt but if you body is doing this poorly, I think you may be beyond yogurt helping (altho natural forms are better for you, most brands are so processed, the stuff you need in it is useless). 

 

Start slow - you'll get cramping and gas.  It will pass.  When thats over, work your way up until stools are 'normal' and regular.

 

Hugs,

 

Pip

 

You can cut out dairy or other foods you think you might have a problem with and start taking prilosec and zantac to ease the stomach.

 

KweenB - I was just talking about your post the other day - the Made A New Friend and her 5 billion friends!  That was the best post I'd ever seen!  And soooo true!

 

Bubba - you're right, it could be a food allergy so she should start looking for common denominators like your bread discovery.  But I'm not agreeing about the Prilosec etc.  I've decided those meds are pretty scary.  I don't like anything that doesn't allow the liver to regenerate like the cholesterol meds too.  Yes, necessary sometimes - but a lot of the time they're making things worse and trying to get off them is a witch!  I finally got of my Protonix.  Need to fix my signature!  Soon, I promise!

 

Pip

 

I'm not clear on what the yogurt does, exactly...Replaces those bacteria? Or helps them? Or just helps break down food? Would it be good to eat daily even if you don't have loose stool, I wonder? I have the opposite problem because of my iron supplements.

 

I've just posted my own question about this subject, then I noticed yours.  I'm just like you.......loose stools for 4 weeks now, and feel like I have put weight on around my middle area.  I have cramps come on and have to go, immediately!! this happens about twice a day.  I know that inflammatory bowel disease can be caused by a faulty immune system, so like yourself I am a bit concerned.  Gonna see my doc for some advice. 

 let me know what your doctor says.  mine acts like he has no idea why i would have this problem.   1st of all i have been on NSAID for more than 21 years,  i think that could do it not to mention many other drugs.  but it looks like it could just be RA.   i gotta go to the store and get some of that nasty looking stuff gimpy you so kindly showed me a picture of i hope it tastes better that it looks.   thank you Gimpy-a-gogo  have a wonderful day.  susan

It's not "nasty". I have a kefir and berry smoothie every day and I consider it a treat.

So many people have such a tortured relationship with food. If it's not completely processed, loaded with chemicals and sweetened they think it's barely edible.GoGo - Pip, I'm not against capsules either, since I take them every day. (Although I do believe foods are a much superior source). I wasn't pushing food on WonderWoman, she asked me!

However, lately I have been reading a lot about the politics of food, so that's why I tend to get on a bit of a soapbox at times.

Anyway, Kefir is about as "nasty" as yoghurt. Take it or leave it. If you take it, I do hope it helps.

A really good capsule to try is "Florastor". It's kind of expensive and you have to ask the pharmacist for it, but it sooooo works. I don't believe it would be appropriate for long term use, though.Gimpy-a-gogo2008-04-16 11:11:22Didn't think you were preaching - only trying to help.   What I meant is I saw 'what do I take' and my thought was give them a name.  When it works, and it does, most people go, 'hey, need more info and how do I start finding out more.' Aw shucks.

You know what I learned when I read "The Omnivore's Dilemma"? Cows can not digest grass. It's actually the probiotic bacteria in their rumens that does ALL the digesting. (That's why cows that are fed corn have to be given SO MUCH antibiotics and get so diseased from their digest. They are not built to digest corn AT ALL and it ferments in their stomach, cause what is lethal gas if not treated by assisted relief. The antibiotics kill the probiotics in their stomachs, reducing gas production. Eat grass fed beef!). I have known for a while that probiotics are important in human digestive systems, but maybe they are doing more digesting than we think.

On a personal note,last year I started to not be able to digest apples. I could eat them okay, but they were coming out intact from the "other" end, even though I was using a lot of OTC capsules. After months of increasing my probiotic food intake, I can now digest apples again.

There's just so much we don't know about how our enteric systems work, it's food for thought.

(Don't hate me 'cause I'm punny!)thanks gimpy for your help.   thanks for your pictures too.   i will work on it and give it a try.   i thought i was only making a joke about the picture.   we have a store here called wild oats.  i am sure that will be my best bet to find these products.   i made a list.  i will give you the results hopefully soon.  wonderwoman I don't think anyone's mentioned Citrucel. I drink a glass in the morning (I actually like the way it tastes). Helps with constipation and loose stools alike because it adds bulk.Hey Hessalina, long time no see! Psyllium powder, generic from Wally World or Kmart works just fine. Years ago I went through a whole battery of tests, they prescribed that and it seems to work. Once a day at night.  went to the pharmacy asked for florastor no problem they got it  and a vit b shot.   so i am hoping solid stools once again.  wild oats will have the kefir i will have to go in town tomorrow to get it.   pharmacists said this is very safe it just adds to you good bacteria.  she says i can take it once a day forever if needed.  it is completely safe.   i will get the kefir at the health food store this weekend.   thanks for all the help, susan wonderwoman2008-04-18 17:22:47That's great, WonderWoman. Please keep us posted on how the probiotics work out for you.

Thanks everyone for all the info. May and Wonderwoman, I'm in the same boat... loose stools, bloating around the middle. I take a probiotic every day. It is making a difference but some days it doesn't matter what I put into my stomach, I end up with diarrhea.

I have read that probiotics could unsafe for people with compromised immune systems. Evidently the little buggers could theoretically get out of control.

BTW-just an interesting fact I wouldn't normally share but about 50% of human feces is made up of dead bacteria.

This IS the "delicate question" thread...Well, actually, we have about 4 pounds of microbial bacteria in our guts that are constantly procreating and dying, so that doesn't surprise me. Hessalina - oh about 18 years ago i wanted to go on the antibotic treatment for RA.  i read a book all about it.  can't remember the name of the book but antibotic was in the title.   it was written by a doctor.   i took the book to my RD and was very excited about a more positive treatment.   he said No.   my RD asked to read the book which was never returned to me.    where do i find a doctor willing to treat me with probiotics?   do i ask my RD again?    2 days on my florastor looking more like poop.    still breaks up too easily.   i have some gas, no leakage!  thank goodness....   no horrible cramps like before.     my butt is not sore from wiping.  It is a cholesterol lowering medication but does that by adding bulk to the stool and absorbing the cholesterol.  The bulk part is what helps me.  I take it once a day and it is the first thing that has controled my diarrhea in over 2 years!!! Pammy - thanks pip.  it was called the road back by dr brown.  i think then i will take an extra pill since i am having alittle trouble tonight.  thank you for all your help.   i want to feel well again and i am willing to try different ways to do it.  you guys have all been a wealth of information and compassion.   wonderwoman    thank you Damn!  You had 'The Book" - see how they tell us it doesn't work. I'm glad it's working out for you, WonderWoman.

Florastor is a great product but I guess I worry about using only it because it's a monoculture of probiotic. The reason it works well is because it's spores which aren't affected by stomach acids or other medications so it survives and thrives no matter what comes at it.

My purely unscientific concern is that it works by taking up space so the "bad" bacteria can't proliferate as well, but neither can the hundreds of good bacteria either. I usually use one Florastor every two days, and then I take a variety of OTC probiotics which contain acipdolphilus and other probiotic strains. And, as I've mentioned now many times, I also consume a variety of probiotic and prebiotic foods daily.

Some of the bad bacteria, when confronted with something like say, an antibiotic, or a stronger microbe, can revert into invulnerable spore state, then when the threat is gone, revert back to microbial state. That's why it's important to be constantly replenishing good bacteria so the bad bacteria doen't have a "blank slate" to fill up. It's a constant battle for space with these things.

The good news is there is mounting evidence that helpful probiotics also have the same amazing abilities, and when ingested in food have mechanisms which protect them from stomach acids and other hazards on the way to your gut.

Except for the North American diet in the last hundred years or so, every culture has had some form of probiotic food which was eaten on a regular basis. Probiotics are a necessary symbiotic part of health and healthy digestion.

So you're on the right track. keep up the good work!i gotta long way to go before i am on the right track, but thank you so very much for your help, gimpy.  i am finding i do better if i take i pill twice a day.  but the packaging says only once a day.   i have been eating yogurt ( i cannot tell if this helps or hurts).  i am going to go eat some fish oil capsules.    did fine this am then by 5pm my stomach went to war for an hour on the toilet.  that is when i took an extra one.   life with wonderwoman every man's dream    gas, farts, and stinky bathrooms!    wonderwomanThat once a day is for 'normals' who haven't messed up their insides like we have.  We need to do a lot more to keep things in control.  I'm up to 6 caps a day but I'm also on antibiotics.  If you take antibiotics if you catch something, you'll need to compensate for that too.  Is it possible you're lactose intolerant or lactose sensitive? If so, you may be only able to tolerate yoghurt you make yourself that's incubated more than 24 hours (the longer it's incubated the less lactose remains). Kefir is also known to be very low lactose.

If it turns out you must stay away from dairy altogether, there are many non-dairy based probiotic options such as unpasteurised miso, live culture sauerkraut, brine pickled vegetables, and kombucha, as well as, of course, over the counter supplements. took an extra one.   life with wonderwoman every man's dream
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com