Weird bowel stuff

Ok, here's the deal. I have to ask on this board because you guys are the only ones I can tell this stuff to! Twice this week, I have eaten and then my abdomen started hurting. it was growling and carrying on and had a distinctive kind of sharp pain. And, then almost without warning, explosive diarrhea and then it grumbled awhile more and ws pretty much over. Both times, I realize about an hour-an hour and a half before I had a half a sandwich with bacon on it, along with meat. I'm wondering if this is a type of dumping syndrome caused by eating bacon or at least by the fat in the bacon. I think these are the only times I've had bacon. I'm seven months out so I'm trying a few new things. The only positive thing about this difficulty is that the rest of the time I am really constipated, to the point that it really hurts to go to the bathroom. So, the diarrhea cleans me out. It is like everything is waiting for this one great push to happen. Sorry to be so graphic. So because of the constipation, I've been taking colace. After the first episode of diarrhea, I stopped taking colace for a few days and then started again a couple of days ago. Prior to the first episode it had been a couple of days of taking the colace. So, I don't know if it's bacon or colace or a combination of both. Between these two diarrhea episodes, I had not had a bowel movement. One episode was on Sat and the other today, Thursday. After the Sat deal, I had to go to help a friend and so I took 2 peptobismol tablets. Any advice, ideas or suggestions for either the constipation or the diarrhea would be appreciated. I really don't want to stop taking the colace because it does help the constipation. Anyone else have anything similar or am just a weird duck. OK, I know I AM a weird duck but you know what I mean--a weird duck in regard to this problem. Teresa Parker 381/268/160  

I don't think Pepto Bismol is a good thing to take on any kind of regular basis. It has aspirin in it. I just had a stomach virus which had the symptoms you describe. It lasted a week! Yuck! I eat bacon alot and have no problem. I nuke it to a crisp. It is the easiest meat for me to eat. I don't know why. Constipation? Tell me about it! I guess I don't get enough fiber yet. My husband says I eat like a bird!

Teresa, I just posted to Amybee about how I think it's fatty stuff that's made me dump a few times, not sugar. I do believe it's possible. It doesn't happen to me all the time, but maybe on an empty stomach or something? I don't know what the pattern is. Just wondering, did they take out your gall bladder? Anyway, I agree about not taking pepto bismol. There are better alternatives for dealing with constipation. Eat your veggies, drink your water, switch forms of iron if you take any, stool softeners, suppositories and even the occasional bit of sugar free candy can help you get unstuck! I'm fairly certain that a few sugar free sal****er taffys I had this weekend contributed to my 2.5lb loss this week! That maltitol really can make you go... Good luck! ~Sue

Fatty foods always make me dump. My doc says it's common. Try turkey bacon if you have to eat bacon. It's MUCH better for you!! Good Luck-KT

You are not a weird duck!! Trust me, I've been having problems on that end myself. But I can understand the hurting when you bm. I don't have a problem with constipation or diarhhea but with rhoids...Anyways, I am off topic here. I think by eating bacon anything excessively greasy or fatty (which bacon is) can cause you to dump. Everyones dumping is different. Excessive sugar and excessive fatty foods will cause you to dump. Try staying away from bacon and see how that helps. Call your doc cuz if you have constipation then you may need a stool softener. And as for Pepto Bismol....thats a big NO NO. I wanted to take it one time and my surgeons office said NO. I think its because (someone posted it above) it has asprin and we cannot have asprin at all. Can you eat a salad? What are some healthy foods that can loosen up stools? I always thought that green leafy foods would do the trick. Eat some cabbage. That usually does the trick especially if you have constipation. Call your nutritionist as well and they can tell you what foods you've eaten that may be binding. Sometimes too much P.B. can be binding. Sometimes cheese is a binder for some. Every person is different but try calling your nutrtitionist. They could give you some foods to eat to help loosen up the bowels. I sympathize with you. I truly do. Good Luck girl! Erin