FINALLY - Diarrhea issue resolved!

Some of you may remember that I have been plagued with diarrhea issues almost since about 3 weeks post surgery -  when I moved from liquid to pureed foods.

Well after much dialogue, a lot of trial and error, several medical tests and a visit to the GI specialist we have finally figured it out........the calcium tablets I was taking were causing the issue.  

Surgeon said he had never seen anything like it.  I was using Twin Labs Calcium Citrate from the Vitamin Shoppe.   Within a day or two of moving to a different brand, the diarrhea was GONE!  It has now been over a week of no diarrhea.....yeah!  No one has really been able to say WHY they were causing such a violent reaction, but at this point I am just happy it is over!

If early indications hold, I may have now done a complete 180 and moved into the world of constipation, but feel that is a bit more manageable.  I am adding more Fiber and can always use a litle M-O-M to get things moving.

 With the anticipated new condition, just remember that laxatives will help you end the constipation, but if you are having difficulty with the actual bowel movement, you should use a stool softener.  They are two different things.  It helps to have both of them in your medicine cabinet.

That's great to hear!  Who would have thought the calcium supplements would be the cause?  Great work by your medical team.  SJBob makes a good point about the laxatives vs stool softeners.  Specific products for specific purposes. 

So glad you're out of the woods on the diarrhea - plays hell with hydration, which in turn impacts your weight loss and overall sense of well-being.  Hang in there - this too shall pass...  (Sorry! just couldn't help myself...)

WOW the calcium pills. I just bought the exact same brand today at lunch. I was trying to move away from the liquid calcium. Thanks for the info. I will be returning it after I get off work. 

Glad you figured it out, and constipation definitely seems more manageable. 

Thank goodness you finally got that resolved. And, I really appreciated that you shared the cause with us. Great to know that some of our supplements can cause such results.

Now, on the constipation issue, I echo the other posts on fiber and using stool softners. But, there's something that really gets me moving. I drink China Slim Tea. I bought it at my local Asian market and it does the trick for me.

Ingredients: Cassia Acutifolia Delile (Hoja de Sena), Folium Sennae, Tinnevelly Senna, Cassia Angustifolia Vahl, Panax Quinquefolium, Radix Panacis Quinquefolii, Malva Verticillata, Fructus Malvae.

Sena is a natural laxative.

You can also buy this tea on-line:

http://www.amazon.com/China-Slim-Tea-Super-Bags/dp/B000E61I1 K