Opti Fast and Diarrhea

Hello everyone. I have started the optifast as of yesterday. I have had uncontrollable diarrhea since then and wondered if anyone else suffered from this and what did you do? Any input would greatly help. Thanks.

Are you having any stomach cramping or pain with it? I personally cannot eat anything with aspartame in it, it makes me very sick, triggering my IBS with terrible cramps, disgusting gas and nasty diarrhea.

Now, if you don't usually have this reaction to items with aspartame, it might just be the 'liquids in = liquids out" adjustment phase and within a couple of days things should normalize a bit for you. If it's not better by day 5 and you're getting dehydrated, speak to the nutritionist at your centre.

I had really bad diarrhea on Optifast on Day 3 and Day 4.  I wouldn't dare leave the house those 2 days as you just never knew if the bathroom would be close enough.  Does your center allow metamucil in the shakes?  My clinic told me to add some to each shake as the metamucil will help soak up the excess water in the bowel.

 Hi .....for my entire 14 days I have had uncontrollable diarrhea .... my anal sphincter  got alot of work out  these last 2 weeks and even then...sometimes I didn't make it to the bathroom .

To say the least...........very very very embarrassing.......... and something I didn't want to post so I just kept an extra pair of underwear with me at all times and stayed as close to a bathroom as possible.
Sometimes it was so bad that even when I sneezed I would ......well you know........

I am on going into my 4th week of optifast and it's been hit or miss.. its either i have to really really have to go and i don't go for a few days.

Ottawa recommends Metamucil as well but until Tracey posted why...I really didnt think it was a good idea!! Adding more fibre to clean you out when I am about as clean as possible??? Ahdunthinkso

But now that you say its to soak up excess fluid in the bowel....DOH!!! So smart!!!!

It will work both ways.  Soaks up excess fluid in the bowel when needed and helps with constipation as long as you drink a lot of extra fluid.  Once I started adding that to my shakes, the trots ended.

GENIUS!!!
Guess what I am buying/trying tomorrow?? ;)

It is fairly common, when I was taking Opti, I posted about it and was told it even had a name, Optitrots!
I would recommend calling your centre and getting their advice, since what you can take does vary from centre to centre.
Best wishes
Jackie