5 Loose Bowels / Day While On Imodium

Your protein shakes, if they contain more than one whey protein, could be the problem.  All of them contain milk protein if they say "whey".  Syntrax Nectars are the isolate kind that lactose intolerant people CAN eat.  Read your labels and choose the ones that have ONLY the isolated form of milk (whey) protein.  See if that solves your problems.

Thanks Sheanie!

I do have a lactose intolerance and I'll check into that furthere, but unfortunately, even on days I don't take in food that contains lactose I have problems.

As it is I don't drink protein shakes and don't eat a lot of food that contains lactose. I take a lactose pill when I eat a Carb Smart Ice Cream Bar. I do eat small amounts of cheese w/out a lactose pill and will watch out for that, but my best guess is the problem is more than a lactose problem.

I think Sheanie is right--your problem sounds like LI. Let me tell you my recent story on this.

I started seeing increased poos, from a couple first thing in the am to at least three, with cramping very urgent, and loose; and then a couple more in the afternoon or evening, and then I was even waking up at 2am needing to go. Ridiculous at 9 months out. I knew I was lactose intolerant, but I too thought I had a handle on it.

But I did some research and found out that I was consuming things that had small amounts of lactose in them that *many, but not all* people who are LI can tolerate. Things like heavy cream to mix my egg protein shakes. So now I take at least 2, sometimes 3 lactase with all my coffee, plus with any kind of cheese, no matter how aged, and have really limited the overall lactose intake--voila, I'm back to 1 or 2 BMs in the morning, and that's it.

I notice that if I overconsume (even with lactase tablets, there's a point at which you just are eating too much lactose) one day, it will take a couple days to really get straightened out again. So I would suggest going three full days with absolutely no lactose. And I mean don't eat a little and take lactase thinking you'll be OK. Just try it and see if you don't get better.

Tara,

I've been told my labs are in order, but just checked them and don't see some of the iron tests you mention listed. I'll check into that.

Can low iron lead to gas and diarrhea or is this something you recommend checking for general health?

Thanks!

Iron is known to constipate. So, taking iron might balance the dhr. Also, if you've had that many BMs a day, the fact that your iron labs are OK seem odd. Iron usually drops with dhr.

I also have to add that I was told that Imodium is not good for the DSer. I can't remember where this come from (so it might not be all too scientific) but from memory, it has something to do with the changed anatomy. I would recommend speaking to your DS surgeon and not a gastro specialist.

I second trying elimination. 

Simple carbs
Dairy (may also include whey protein)
Artificial Sweeteners

Do this for a couple days religiously and see if there is a change.  If you notice improvement, introduce one item each day and see if anything changes.  That will help you pinpoint the culprits. 

On the subject of dairy, this may include some but not all, but you won't know until you introduce new items one at a time.

Valerie,

The only artificial sweetener I use is Stevia... and I take several packets a day. One in each glass of decalf tea I drink (that's 4 - 5 packets a day). In the back of my mind I've wondered about Stevia, but never checked into it. A quick google search lists diarrhea as a possible side effect of Stevia. Have you had any experience with this or heard about that link?

Thanks!

Here's a post from the other day about Stevia:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4119353/Review-on-Sweet -Leaf-stevia-sweetener/

I only used the plant itself and steeped it with tea bags for a slightly sweet tea.  I never used it in concentrated form.  Try eliminating it and the few simple carbs you're eating and see if your number of BM's changes.  Until you do that, we can only speculate.

Oh, and I'd recommend more calcium just for the fact that you're not getting enough, not to help your BM's.